In 2001 CCS Digital Ltd (CCS), a uk based digital printer, began to search the market for a solution that could handle fully automated file delivery and manage thousands of unknown images a day direct to production. CCS needed a system that could drive the calendars and associated products to press from its sister company Create a Gift, the photo gift site. At that time there appeared to be no affordable web to press software available. Existing solution’s workflow processes were clumsy and required extra hardware and storage.

With CCS’s understanding of what a printer needs for production they decided to write their own bespoke system. This bold step required a significant investment in time and money. As the software evolved and functionality increased CCS saw an opportunity in the market for reselling the system to other printers. CCS had created a web to press solution, unique in the respect that it had been written for printers by printers.

The first implementation of the system externally was in 2006. CCS was approached by Suzuki GB to help them develop a website to assist their dealers to service the after sales market. Suzuki was keen to protect its brand and control the quality of the material the dealers distributed. CCS developed the software so that the dealers could access templates, edit documents on screen then order direct mail and marketing materials on-line. The ability to personalise these materials by merging them with customer data would improve the response levels. The simplicity of the system encouraged the dealers to increase their marketing activity and Suzuki was able to monitor and review the levels of marketing spend within their dealer network.

Following the success of the Suzuki implementation the commercial applications and revenue opportunities were clear and this warranted creating a separate business entity, RedTie Limited, to develop, market and resell the system. Once the RedTie system had been launched as a commercially available product the various industry bodies and publications became aware of it’s presence in the market place. The RedTie system was quickly acknowledged and described as an exciting new development that could change the future of how print was sold and managed.

Originally written for HP’s Indigo range of digital presses there was considerable interest in the system by HP themselves. Amazed by the depth of functionality and ingenuity of design HP challenged RedTie to implement the system across their Graphic Arts marketing function throughout Europe. An initial trial was carried out and was a great success, saving 54% on like for like costs over a monitored 6 month period. HP was so pleased with the results they rolled out the system across Europe and now plan to extend the use of it to other divisions of HP globally.

The next major player to invest in the system was the household name, authors of financial software solutions, Sage UK Plc, who also needed to manage the marketing activities of its network of UK distributors.

Once stability and reliability were proven the system was installed in a number of small and mid sized printing and marketing companies in the UK and America. These printers have clearly shown that using the RedTie system has opened new customer opportunities and increased business, while improving their workflow and lowering overheads.

With the internet changing buyer’s habits in all areas, it is time for print to move into the 21st century. The industry has been slow to change because the IT investment within a print business was seen to be too complicated and costly. There is now a strong pull from the Blue chip buyers who want to reduce costs, control their brand and reduce their carbon footprint as well as from smaller businesses who want to “shop” on-line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Agencies and Marketing managers also know they need to move forward with this technology as marketing messages need to be focused and delivered locally.

This makes the RedTie system ideally placed to become the market leader in this change.

The business is focused on driving as many transactions through the system as possible, encouraging the print buying process onto the web from business and consumer applications whilst also taking a small charge for each order delivered to production.

The target market is any one from Blue Chip to small business to even consumer, allowing ordering print through a regular web browser.