According to sales and finance director Tim Lance the switch from Kodak Storefront to Catfish has opened up new opportunities and capabilities for X1 customers.
Catfish, which X1 installed in November ahead of substantial training on the technology, was unveiled by software specialist ISL at Cross Media 2012 in London. Designed for a B2B or B2C market the platform enables users to design, edit, procure and manage their printed products from a mobile-optimised online platform.
Lance explained that X1, which delivers fulfilment services as well as web-to print since installing Kodak Storefront six years ago, had already moved more than 58 customers onto the new system and was attracting more because of it.
He explained: "We refer to Catfish as delivering web-to-production since it can be used for far more than just printed products. It’s an e-commerce system rather than just web-to-print."
Customers can use the system to order their traditional promotional items such as brochures and branded key rings, mugs and pens, while for its work in the UK and European motor industry X1 is also using Catfish to offer paint protection products for new cars that dealers across the UK order online. X1 then produces bespoke orders despatching them within 48 hours.
"This has given us extra things that we couldn’t offer before and has definitely retained customers," said Lance. "Customers really feel part of the business and can order things any time they want."
Lance said that a major new client contract, part of a national estate agency chain, was won recently on the back of the Catfish installation. "They first came to us because their previous print provider, whilst being a bit cheaper, delivered a poor service with too long deadlines. We’re now producing brochures and window cards for two offices which will soon be expanded to all 11 offices across the UK," he added.
Fifty percent of X1’s £2m turnover comes from print and Lance said that in 2012 the company booked £250,000 of that through web-to-print.
"This year we aim to see 50% of all our print items go through web-to-print this year," he added.
X1 boosts business with Catfish
Slough-based print and design company X1 has boosted business after installing a new web-to-print platform to replace its Kodak Storefront system.
