It is time to design an infrastructure where it is you who decides what your IT can do and not vice versa. We believe that with output management from InterForm this is possible.

1. Systems are currently designed for screens

ERP, BI, SCM and other systems are designed to process and present data on the screen. These systems are really good at doing so. It seems clear that they have invested most heavily in disseminating information on the screen and see output management as less important.

In most of these systems the output-related functionality is minimal and imposes a range of limitations on users. At the same time the design part is, in many cases, very difficult to work with. This is one reason why consultants can and do charge high prices for what are minor adjustments.

ERP houses have acknowledged that output management is not part of their core business by engaging in partnerships with OMS providers like InterForm. Unlike various systems providers, the core business of OMS providers is everything that happens after the data is displayed on screen. This means that when the external environment dictates new standards for PDFs, introduces new barcodes or new hardware then this automatically is prioritized.

2. Centralise the handling of the output

By having a product designed to handle output across systems within existing IT infrastructures it is possible to achieve an efficient and simple document distribution flow. All documents and forms are designed in InterForm and can be merged with data from different systems as needed or desired.

In other words, with InterForm it is possible to generate outputs which contain data from different systems or databases without having to write APIs or make any special efforts at integration. Companies need only know about ONE product for handling all of their output. By centralising output you automatically have the ability to combine multiple distribution channels like laser printing, label printing, PDFs and email in single- and multi-distribution flows.

3. Creates economies of scale

By consolidating applications and workflow, economies of scale can be gained immediately. Because OMS is designed to allow users to work with the product in a simple and straightforward way, agility and responsiveness are improved instantaneously.
 
By designing and maintaining all forms — labels, print, PDF or emails, all through one system —a company can realise significant savings. Without InterForm, a new logo or phone number would require manual changes be made to all forms across all systems; but with InterForm it is done centrally and, instead of days of "downtime", the system is up-to-date in minutes. By building forms with references or subforms daily maintenance is significantly optimised, as is the total number of forms.

4. Individualisation of print

With OMS it is possible to print or create PDFs in letter format in the United States, for example, or A4 format in Germany or China — or in German or Chinese — all while using the same data. Users can also individualise the output based on customer name, zip code, country, etc. 

The expanded functionality is designed to handle large volumes of output in a streamlined manner.

5. Application independent

Systems tend to be replaced when there are changes in company size, workspace or technology, even while the corporate identity remains the same. By deploying OMS, users are no longer tied to any ERP or other system — you can change your IT infrastructure at will without affecting your existing forms and workflow routines or needing to recreate them for your new system. 

Many IT systems are limited to their own sphere of activity. InterForm makes it possible to access information with a convenience which was not previously possible.