How to choose the best MIS for your printing business

As a printing business owner, you’ve got fingers in a lot of pies. From juggling quotes and invoices to managing schedules and production, this manual work can ultimately take your focus away from growing your business. So why not let a management information system (MIS) tie it all together?

Investing in the right MIS can be a game changer, allowing you to easily manage the day-to-day from one cohesive platform and get your operations down to a fine art. Not sure where to start? Don’t worry – let’s unpack the key features of an MIS, and what to look for when choosing one.

How an MIS can benefit your business

Think of an MIS as the control centre for your printing business. It’s like having a super-organised manager who doesn’t take holidays or ask for a pay rise. It brings together all your tasks into one platform, creating a smooth flow of information that helps you make better decisions.

A good MIS for printing companies typically includes modules that bring together all of your manual prepress tasks, allowing you to:

Offer speedy estimates and quotes

No one likes waiting around for a quote—especially not potential customers. A good MIS lets you generate quotes quickly and accurately by factoring in material costs, production time, and finishing processes. That means happier customers and a smooth sales process that ensures you’re profitable from the start.

Manage jobs more efficiently

Job tracking: the bane of every print business owner's life. An MIS will centralise job tracking so you can easily monitor the status of every print job in real time, from production right through to dispatch. Keeping your team on the same page means fewer errors, fewer delays, and fewer grey hairs for you.

Avoid Low Stock Levels (Without Hoarding)

How often have you run out of ink at the worst possible moment? Or realised you’ve got enough paper in stock to cover the moon? An MIS helps manage stock levels for paper, ink, and other materials, so you always have just the right amount.

Streamline production

Automate the scheduling of print jobs to make the best use of resources and streamline production flow. You’ll notice faster turnaround times, and those fancy machines you invested in will always be put to good use instead of gathering dust.

Instantly create invoices

Nobody gets excited about invoicing, but it’s got to be done. An MIS can integrate with your accounting software to make invoicing a breeze. You’ll be able to track payments and manage cash flow without the late-night headache. Staying on top of your business’ financial health has never been simpler.

Generate detailed reports

Want to know how that big order really went? Or if the new customer is as profitable as they seem? A good MIS will let you dive deep into reports on job costs, production efficiency, customer trends, and overall profitability. It’s not about drowning in data—it’s about having the right insights at your fingertips to make better decisions.

Choosing the best MIS

No MIS is an island. A top-tier system will make it easy to integrate with the other software you use every day—whether it’s your CRM, accounting programs, web-to-print platforms, or even specialised prepress tools like Artworker. It’s all about connecting everything seamlessly, so you don’t have to manually input data across multiple systems (because who has time for that?).

Take into account:

Compatibility

Make sure the MIS can connect with your existing tech stack. Tools like Artworker can work wonders if they’re able to easily slot into your workflow. The right integration can mean less data duplication and fewer headaches.

API access

Ideally, look for an MIS with open API access. Sounds a bit techy, but this essentially means you’ll be able to build custom integrations as your business grows and evolves. It’s like keeping your options open for the future.

Real-time data sync

Information should flow seamlessly from one system to another. Updates in one area should be instantly reflected everywhere else. Real-time sync means everyone is kept in the loop, reducing confusion and those dreaded “I thought you sorted it!” moments.

Streamline your prepress with Artworker

Alright, let’s talk prepress. We all know it can be a major bottleneck if not handled properly. And while an MIS is great at many things, sometimes you need a more specialised tool to really polish your process—especially at the prepress stage.

By integrating your MIS with a prepress SaaS solution, like Artworker, you can.

1. Create a Smooth Workflow: From client artwork submission to the final print run, everything flows seamlessly. No frantic back-and-forth emails or missing files.

2. Automate Checks: Say goodbye to the dreaded manual checks for specs that waste time and invite human error. Automating these checks reduces costly errors and makes life easier for everyone.

3. Boost Turnaround Times: Efficient proofing and quick fixes mean happier clients and faster deliveries. The less time spent faffing about in prepress, the more time you have to grow the business.

Ready to level up your prepress? Drop our team a message or book a free demo to see how it works for yourself.