Table five of the roundtable conference focused on the topic, MIS (Print Management). During the hour-and-a-half-long discussion, various topics were covered, including functions, key benefits, and the challenges that printers encounter when transitioning to  management information systems (MIS).

While there is no doubt that MIS can bring significant benefits to printing companies, the delegates addressed the needs, challenges, effectiveness of the process and how all systems could add value to the business.

Sumit Lad of Three Sixty Extreme Solutions spoke on the challenges printers face during inventory planning. He said, “A streamlined process allows printing companies to track their inventory of raw materials, as well as finished goods. This ensures that the company always has the materials it needs to complete jobs and avoids overstocking or understocking."

DK Nagle of Nagle Systems said, "One of the major challenges is a lack of  commitment towards transitioning and implementing new systems. It is the responsibility of the print owner to take charge and ensure that employees understand the significance of the transition.”

Tushar Bhotica of Shree Arun Packaging Company highlighted the importance of choosing the right people to operate the system. He said, “Obtaining data is just one aspect of the process; equally important is mining and analysing it, and implementing corrective actions at every stage of the process. At my company, we have hired dedicated people who understand the process and manage it effectively. The process might take weeks, months or even years sometimes, but it is all worth it when we get the desired results.”

Parmeshwar Patidar, managing director of Indus Analytics said, "The focus in the printing industry has shifted beyond MIS to include ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and DSS (Decision Support System). It is crucial to establish the right processes and ensure accurate data to successfully implement these systems."

"While the initial cost of purchasing or implementing a system may seem high (in terms of hiring or investing), it is often realised later that the money saved by optimising the processes is far more valuable and profitable," added Patidar.

Speaking on how different types of MIS can be used in organisations, Patidar highlighted how ERP systems can be integrated and utilised to meet the information needs of different levels of management. He said, “MIS requirements vary across different levels of management, as owners do not necessarily need to oversee every task at the ground level and can instead focus on higher-level tasks that are relevant to them. ERP simplifies this need.”

The delegates concluded that organisations should leverage MIS to support planning and operational-making decisions with the efficient use of capex. The processes need to be optimised in a step-by-step manner (module-wise) to understand the loopholes, so that they are not carried forward into the next step of the process.  

The need for adequate research, brainstorming and finding the right people to operate was the takeaway from the session.