[SYS21] Re: [SYS21] A/P Check Printing options...

Thanks, Rick, for taking the time to compose such a thoughtful reply...
Your advocacy of the use of 'formsware' is well founded...
ROI is kind of hard to sell at this point as you correctly surmised...
Thanks again...







"Rick Allen" <rick.allen@sandvik.com> on 09/04/2002 04:53:06 PM

Please respond to jbausers-l@midrange.com



  To:          jbausers-l@midrange.com

  cc:          (bcc: Jeff Klipa/Harvard)



  Subject      Re: [SYS21]   A/P Check Printing options...
  :








Hi Jeff

I wasn't going to buy into this as you have already received numerous
responses regarding the forms software solution.

I am a great exponent for forms software. It allows manipulation of output
from ANY system. In our case we run a package called AutoForm from
Advanced Printing Solutions in the UK. Their Australian distributor
disappeared very soon after our implementation back in 1997 and we have
been looking after it ourselves with sporadic email support from the
vendor. In any case the concept, once grasped, is very simple and
straightforward. In our instance we run the package on a NT server. We
have multiple Input Queues set up which allows us to trap and handle spool
data sent that is NOT recognised as valid forms data. In our case, our
implementation runs not only the forms printing for our Australian
business, but is also accepting input via 4 different queues from the
AS/400 for our SE Asian operations and outputting to 4 different printers
in 4 different countries (soon to be 5). We also utilise the faxing module
to send our Purchase Orders automatically. There are also email and
archiving options which we have not yet implemented. The key to forms
software is that any valid text data can be manipulated/overlaid according
to a set of rules. You can even auto consecutively number your forms to
give, for example, a form number on an invoice as distinct from the
invoice number. This is a requirement in Philippines as you have to
register commercial document sequence numbers with their IRS (Yes, they
call theirs the same as the US).

I am not going to try and promote this specific package, all I am trying
to do is to promote the idea of forms software in general.

It is very easy to say that US 4,500 can get you a burster. Stand back and
analyse what current, preprinted stationary could be replaced by an
electronically generated form. Look at the cost of the preprinted
stationary and compare it to the cost per page from a laser printer. The
difference will be the savings to your bottom line each year. In our case,
removing just 3 preprinted forms gave us an ROI of under 2 years! Since
end of 1999 we have been reaping the benefits. The other huge benefit is
that there is now NO need to modify JBA PRTF's to fit the preprinted
forms. It is now a simple matter to revert to generic JBA PRTF's and map
those with the forms software GUI interface. Next upgrade to JBA - NO MORE
PRTF's to do! (Well - not as many anyhow)

I understand from your previous messages that your company may be in a bit
of turmoil at present (read: NO spare capital) but the long term benefits
of implementing the forms software are just too good to pass up. With all
the myriad of offerings in the US, my only recommendation is to pick a
package that has been around for some time with multiple references of
customers running SYS21 as well. Look for local (at least close) support
and training also.

Good luck Jeff

BR

Rick Allen
IT Manager
VA Eimco Australia