ERP systems for small printing businesses in the offing

Most major businesses in the country already have their ERP system in place. It’s time now for the small and medium businesses to automatise their processes. Of course, a company like SAP has almost a monopoly in the market. But SAP systems are complex and expensive. Now, there are new companies with custom-made solutions for the printing industry.

At PackPlus South 2014, held at Hyderabad from 17 to 20 September, two such companies showcased their offerings.

Mumbai-based Sergusa Solutions supplies print inspection for automobile dash board, mono and duplex cartons, density measurement for newspapers and commercial printers. At the exhibition, Sergusa displayed its SolPrint management information system (MIS) software, which has been designed and developed in the UK, exclusively for the printing and packaging industry.

Launched in India recently, the software is for small and mid-level businesses in commercial as well as packaging printing. Jaideep Kulkarni of Sergusa said the system can be used to streamline a business process. “There are several parts to printing, from other placement to pre-press, post-press to supply and inventory management. The SolPrint system can make monitoring of these different processes very easy,” he said.

SolPrint is a comprehensive and modular system which covers all aspects of print MIS. The modules include CRM, estimation, job costing, purchase orders and inventory, production planning and shop floor data capture with proprietary devices and/or JDF/JMF technology. The solution is available as both a purchased or hosted/rental solution.

On the other hand, Indore-based Param ERP Solutions provides indigenous software for the same. Param ERP provides on the site customisation and the package covers complete solution for packaging, commercial, publishing and corrugation industry. The solution incorporates all of the fundamental aspects of running a business, where processes are controlled, production scheduling is more efficiently managed and inventory is more accurately assessed.

According to Vinod Nawab of Param ERP, the software package is best suited to shop floor team to manage business activities with minimum data inputs. Param ERP also provides an estimation tool for Indian printing industry, which covers all types of packaging and commercial jobs in single module.

At PackPlus South, Param ERP launched ERP for corrugation and flexographic industry. Param Label ERP has been designed for flexographic printers and converters to streamline their processes, better manage their inventory, track job status, control wastages at different stages and grip over finances, capacity utilisation, etc. Nawab said they are the only MIS solution provider in India with such a vast and flexible range in modular format to meet the demand of every printer in India.

At the exhibition, though Nawab complained about the lack of visitors, he said the company participated in the event because it was long due to cover this part of India.

Nawab said, following the exhibition, Hyderabad-based Zodiac Reprographics and Shri Chaitanya and Company installed Param ERP. “With these installations in Hyderabad and Telangana, we now have presence in 17 states in India with a jubilant 100 installations mark,” said Nawab.