About RICOH ProcessDirector print workflow software

Throughout your print production environment, you are capturing, manipulating and managing information. ProcessDirector helps you do this more efficiently and accurately so you can meet your objectives for cost, compliance, throughput and multi-channel information delivery. Modular, scalable print workflow management software, ProcessDirector provides control over processes and print devices from multiple vendors. It integrates with composition software, inserters and other systems with industry-standard password management and LDAP/AD integration.

Control print production workflow from job initiation to job completion

The web-based graphical user interface (GUI) is the central point from which you can manage information and job-related tasks in real time. ProcessDirector print workflow software provides exceptional control over:

• Data preparation: receive, index and transform data. Import work from external systems through LPR, hot folder or mainframe download.
• Composition: lay out documents and assign business rules.
• Tracking (from receipt of print files to delivery): achieve output integrity for compliance and reporting purposes.
• Print-to-mail optimization: cleanse, correct, suppress and sequence addresses.
• Output management: assign workflows automatically; manage jobs, print queues, devices, transforms, service level agreements (SLAs); and view activities. Send customizable email notifications about job and printer events.
• Insertion: manage inserter control files, load planning, SLAs, enveloping and automated reprints.
• Multi-channel delivery: manage recipient preferences and personalized communications.
• Reports: run automated standard or custom reports on job and document status.
• Archive: conduct view, search and reprint/email activities, and research job and document details.

Additionally, you can eliminate the need for preprinted forms by producing complete, customized forms on plain white paper.

Ease into scalable print workflow automation

The following standard features will jump-start your operational efficiency:

• Drag-and-drop print workflow builder: build simple or complex digital print workflows quickly.
• Document-level output management: manage print production based on the rules you set up for media, finishing and binding.
• Database-driven process control: grow without adding overhead cost thanks to the embedded IBM^® DB2^® database.
• Print Services Facility™ (PSF) print driver: run jobs on Ricoh, third-party and Intelligent Printer Data Stream™ (IPDS™) printers from within ProcessDirector.
• Access to third-party programs: include composition, page formatting and other programs in your print workflow process.

Aim for peak production print efficiency with the following optional features and capabilities:

• Electronic Presentment: create a branded interface through which your commercial print customers can access information on the web.
• Preference Management: manage customer communication preferences for mail, personalized email and online delivery.
• Preprinted Forms Replacement: merge electronic, customized forms with variable data and print once.
• Web services: use the REST protocol to gain access to information from web services APIs, and along with SOAP, to set up data exchanges with third-party applications.
• Password management and LDAP/AD integration: increase control over user access to ProcessDirector accounts.
• Integration with MarcomCentral^®: simplify job submission and management with an online storefront and web-to-print functions.
• Archive: send jobs to archive with associated index information as a step in workflow. Search for and retrieve jobs easily for viewing, reprinting or another action.
• Avanti Slingshot™ Connect: integrate your Avanti Slingshot™ MIS system and ProcessDirector so you can use Avanti to track all of your print jobs in a single system, calculate production costs, manage inventory and more.
• Postal Enablement: extract addresses, present them to a third-party software for cleansing, suppression and sorting, and put correct information back into the workflow.
• Automated Verification: verify completion of statements, personalized mail, books and other documents using a barcode-based process and reconciliation reports.
• Deadline Tracker: stay on top of deadlines based on criteria you set.
• Support for Kodak and Xerox cutsheet printers: manage these devices like you manage Ricoh devices for printing and reprinting.
• InfoPrint Ink Suite: improve InfoPrint 5000 color output quality, lower ink usage and increase ink estimating accuracy.
• PDF Mailroom Integrity: manage print and mail processes at a document level using native Adobe^® PDF.
• AFP Indexer: create page groups and indexes in Advanced Function Presentation™ (AFP™) files so you can navigate to pages that contain specific index values, then reprint as needed.
• AFP Editor: take AFP datastreams into a visual tool and make changes.
• Inserters: automate the insertion of documents and inserts into envelopes.
• Manufacturing Optimization: control and track individual documents within a job.
• Transforms: use Adobe PDF, GIF, TIF, SAP, JPEG, PCL, PostScript^® and Metacode (requires InfoPrint XT) to print data easily.
• Designer: link your workflow to GMC Inspire to control the composition process.
• Reports: improve capacity planning, efficiency and troubleshooting with data about job events, user actions and printer activity.

Eliminate preprinted forms

When you opt for the Preprinted Forms Replacement feature, you won't need to swap out plain paper for specialized forms. Print custom forms on the fly, and reduce storage costs, resource waste and errors associated with preprinted forms. Save more with the ability to manipulate data in the workflow — sorting and grouping to capture postal savings, for example.

Simplify installation and use with vendor neutrality

Install ProcessDirector on popular Linux^®, AIX^® and Windows^® systems, and manage print jobs for Intelligent Printer Data Stream™ (IPDS™) printers, PDF and other devices and platforms. Vendor neutrality ensures that you can:

• Run production print jobs with no awkward transitions or incompatibilities.
• Set up and assign job properties and issue JDF job tickets (using JDF, XRX and KDX commands, if necessary).
• Search for similar jobs across platforms so you can replicate tasks to save time.

Monitor and manage print jobs from anywhere

No need to chase information on the shop floor. Just access print job status details in the GUI and share them with others, while reducing redundancies and minimizing errors. Complete these and other tasks easily:

• View and control jobs and output devices centrally with the ability to track every job through production visually.
• Build automated rules and conditional workflows using drag-and-drop icons, and assign tasks within workflows. For example, route high-volume jobs automatically to a continuous feed printer.
• Manage and control print and mail processing using both Advanced Function Presentation™ (AFP™) and Adobe^® PDF natively, with no transforms.
• Create templates with document properties and editing rules for text, images, barcodes, masking areas and more when you use an Adobe plug-in.

Streamline information handling to lower costs

ProcessDirector eliminates human touch points throughout the print production cycle and facilitates multi-channel delivery:

• Qualify for the highest postal discounts by presorting mail electronically before it’s printed.
• Extract address information, interface with third-party software for cleansing and insert correct address information as a step in workflow.
• Manage file-based or non-file-based inserters, enabling an automated reprint process.
• Include recipient preferences for print, email or online delivery in workflow, and send information automatically without delay.

Reconfigure your production print workflow software anytime

No matter where you begin with ProcessDirector print workflow management software, you can add new capabilities as you grow or easily tailor what you have to accommodate changing workflow or compliance requirements. To augment the standard and optional features, our professional services team can deliver feature extensions or customized capabilities. Explore offerings such as Automated Document Factory Implementation and Customization or Workflow Automation.