Gradual’s Switch automation tool is at the heart of the initiative. This system will allow the configuration of external applications from within the same interface through a range of adapters.
Such flexibility has been available to printers for some time through ‘DIY’ workflow creation, although it can be quite time-consuming. By using Switch as the backbone of the workflow, Gradual hopes to simplify the calibration process for clients.
Gradual’s founder and chief executive Peter Camps is keen to stress that Cross-roads is not a competitor to larger single vendors, but has instead been designed to complement these systems. “It is no longer possible to automate workflows from end-to-end by installing software from a single vendor,” says Camps.
The launch of Crossroads was accompanied by an online resource, which already contains information on more than 30 products from a range of vendors that include Callas Software, DevZeroG, Alwan Color Expertise, Adobe, Apple, Enfocus and Quark.
Gradual also intends to create an online forum for users and vendors providing question and answer sessions and generating product discussion.
“The initiative has opened up communication between vendors on how to make modules work together and this is now being communicated to users,” says Camps.
Crossroads will be showcased at a number of user seminars as well as at trade events including Drupa 2008.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Description: a cross-vendor communication platform
Core software: Switch automation technology
Resources: website, seminar and tradeshow events
Partners: Adobe, Apple, Alwan Color Expertise, Callas Software, DevZeroG, Enfocus, Markzware, Quark
Price: n/a
Contact: http://crossroads.gradual.com
