Rapidity launches automated print platform Printflow

Printflow is suitable for organisations of any size
Printflow is suitable for organisations of any size

Rapidity has launched a new end-to-end automated print platform that enables their clients to access a customised portal to create and order their own marketing collateral, such as business cards and brochures.

The London-based printer said Printflow, the name of which harks back to the company’s original name prior to its 2012 rebrand, enables users of all sizes to have complete autonomy over every single stage of their print workflows from order to invoice.

The business said the platform, which integrates existing software packages with “fully developed bespoke solutions that are tailored entirely to their clients” is “more than just a standard web-to-print platform” and allows clients to “dramatically reduce” the administration and associated costs of print purchasing.

Some of the key features of the new system include a fully customisable interface, an optional budget control and budget allocation system, branding controls, and dynamic, editable and intuitive print templates.

It also includes access to live management reports, optional use of custom URLs, and various delivery options, from post to courier, local to international.

Also security compliant, with GDPR, ISO 27001 and SSL standard security features available, Printflow features a full secure credit card payment facility and is accessible 24/7, from anywhere in the world, making it suitable for organisations of any size.

Rapidity managing director Paul Manning told Printweek: “Printflow was our founding name in 1986, and remained our name until 2012, and we’re quite wed to it. We’ve still got the domain and the trademark for it; it’s always been on the side and we’ve always wanted to bring it back and this seemed like an opportunity for that.

“And this is about a print flow; it isn’t just about web-to-print, this is about solutions for businesses around print automation and back-end processes.

“What we tend to find is that there are a lot of businesses where the print buying has been decentralised, but they’d still like to have control over it. But it’s not just about ordering online, it’s also about managing the processes that flow on from there.”

He added: “The system is agnostic in terms of front-end although we tend to predominantly use Infigo Software. But we do also use others; last year we did a test site for a customer where we integrated with Shopify. It can be anything, because it’s a solution.

“And we’re tying together using the likes of Enfocus Switch, Tharstern MIS and integrating with UPS, FedEx, Royal Mail and increasingly now integrating with customers’ systems.”

Printflow’s official push out to market will be at the B2B Marketing Expo at London’s ExCel in March, where Rapidity will be exhibiting as Printflow by Rapidity.

However, the company initially rolled out the platform at the end of 2019 and several of its clients, including Shell, Cluttons, CBRE, Magnet and Able Skills, are already using it.

The cost to use Printflow varies with each use case due to its bespoke nature, but Manning said Rapidity tries to keep it “as competitive as possible”.

The reigning Printweek Awards Company of the Year, Rapidity was established in 1986 and offers a range of services to London-based businesses. Just over a year ago the business took on an HP Indigo 12000 at its Sidcup site, which it expanded onto with the acquisition of Lefa Print in early 2018.