Sunday, 07 Sep 2014 20:54 GMT

Andy King

Brendan Perring talks to Andy King, joint managing director at Shuttleworth Business Systems, about how management information systems (MIS) should not be seen as a dark art

Embrace the light

For some print-service-providers (PSPs), using management information systems (MIS) is something they see as complicated and difficult; can you demystify the technology for them?

Many companies are naturally hesitant and reluctant to implement MIS or change an existing system. Shuttleworth understands that every PSP is different and their requirements are therefore unique to them. We take time to listen to what they want to achieve and make sure that we adapt and implement a system that is suitable whether they are a small or large company. Implementation is also easier than many clients think. We provide full training and understand that changing technology can be a daunting process. However, most clients tell us that the process was much easier than they ever imagined and, of course, the benefits often go beyond their original expectations too.

MIS should not be seen as a ‘dark art’ and true demystification really does start at the beginning with honesty in the initial configuration of the MIS. Realistic figures must be used as the basis for the MIS for it to be accurate. Having these actual figures in the initial set-up ensures that easy-to-understand costs and accurate figures are produced throughout the system. The sign-makers and wide-format printers may not always like the figures they see, but this correct information will help to identify ways to progress their business and ultimately improve their efficiencies and profitability.

MIS should not be seen as a ‘dark art’ and true demystification really does start at the beginning with honesty in the initial configuration”


What kind of efficiency and profitability gains can small, medium, and large-sized companies expect from your software?

It is difficult to put an exact amount on the profitability gains from an MIS. On implementing an MIS our customers regularly report results such as 99 percent improvement in admin errors, saving up to 50 per-cent of time on estimating, huge reductions in invoice queries and late payments, and improved delivery accuracy, efficiency, and costs. In some instances, MIS has even been reported to help grow business in excess of 20 percent year-on-year.

Gains can come in a variety of forms across all types of business and even a small change will ultimately increase profits. Of course, it depends on how a business is operating before there’s a transition to Shuttleworth’s system, but for companies that are embracing MIS for the first time there are huge advantages. Things like admin savings, speedier more accurate estimates, improved reporting, and efficiency can all help PSPs to maximise every sales opportunity that comes into the business.


Shuttleworth has designed its systems to handle high levels of complexity, while giving users a simple and easy-to-use interface



MIS is a long-term investment too, and it is important that PSPs continuously challenge their MIS. They need to make time to add upgrades and make use of all the new features in the latest software. In addition, it is important that they make the most out of automating and integrating as many functions as possible in order to reduce administration and costs.
  
Many of our clients are also making full use of the latest opportunities presented by our mobile apps, improved automation and bespoke integration into their clients’ systems to automate ordering and other communications.

As a long-established family firm, you have been one of the key developers of MIS; how has the technology evolved over the years?

We have seen massive changes in the last 30 years. For a business in the visual communications industry, it is no longer about marketing your production ability and what resources you have to offer. It is about providing value for money goods and services backed up by world-class customer service.

At Shuttleworth we work in partnership with our customers to come up with solutions to improve each individual work practice. In the early days, our MIS was all about satisfying the fundamental needs such as estimating, costing, and accounts. In those days we provided our solution on a hardware platform that was built to our requirements. Nowadays, it is completely different; we utilise industry standard hardware and operating systems.

This has thrown open the doors to integration with a myriad of other systems such as standard accounting packages, or more industry specific standards such as JDF and JMF. As well as providing these core modules, today we are proud to be able to give bespoke solutions through our new dedicated development team.

In the past servers were always in situ at our clients, but today there are elements of our software that are hosted in the ‘Cloud’ or with our apps using portable devices like the iPad.

Of course, all of these different possible configurations are great if they are utilised; to best help our clients, we try to remain objective and offer the best solution not just the latest one. 

This is a competitive sector; how are you battling the competition?

Shuttleworth is continuously working to be at the forefront of technology to ensure it can deliver its customers ‘so much more than MIS’. 

Shuttleworth has a strong set of core values upon which our business is founded. They provide everybody within the company with a clear set of guidelines on how the business has to operate, which in turn allows us to build a team that is motivated to provide the products and services that our customers need and expect. We ‘battle’ our competitors by having a stronger team, one which innovates in all areas, from technology to services, and one that really wants to see our clients benefit from being in partnership with Shuttleworth.

What is your most important piece of advice for sign-makers and print-service-providers who are currently struggling to balance their books?

If somebody’s struggling to balance their books then I would advise them to take a long, hard, honest look at why that is. There are so many possible reasons for businesses to struggle, which in many cases can be addressed, but first of all owners need to identify what the problems are.


Andy King counsels companies to ‘avoid denial’ if they are struggling to balance their books, explaining that he very often sees customers only need to make a series of small changes that result in, ‘improvement of efficiencies, which ultimately can see real increases in profit’




Avoid denial and make the necessary changes whilst you have the opportunity. It can be a small change that results in improvement of efficiencies, which ultimately can see real increases in profit, something businesses today cannot afford to ignore.

Avoid denial and make the necessary changes whilst you have the opportunity. It can be a small change that results in improvement of efficiencies, which ultimately can see real increases in profit, something printers cannot afford to ignore”



Key Company Stats

  • Date founded:  1981
  • Number of staff: 45
  • Record customer growth: 20% year-on-year
  • Number of MIS installations: 800+
  • Annual turnover: £4m
  • Founder: Stuart Shuttleworth


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