Prepress
Kodaks Graphic Community Builds Business in Web 2.0 World
Tuesday 24. February 2009 - Users can easily set up distributed print, load balance better and fill open press time
Home to nearly 40 Kodak customers in Europe and live since late last year, Kodaks Graphic Community is a Web 2.0 community for graphic communications businesses. Kodaks Graphic Community is an online world where users can build strategic relationships with business partners anywhere to create new revenue opportunities.
Kodak is providing membership in this community free to all users of KODAK INSITE since Version 5.5. Community members can browse the membership, identify partners with whom to develop business relationships, and then link together to create efficient marketing and production supply chains that can foster expansion and growth.
Kodaks Graphic Community is a true Web 2.0 environment, established to promote efficiencies and collaboration between Kodaks workflow customers. Discussions are ongoing between North American and European Kodak customers to set up a print network. Kodak does not charge any transaction fees nor does it define the terms or manage the business relationships between the members of the community.
“Personal and business networks on the Internet are an essential way that many people interact in todays world,” said Judi Hess, General Manager, Enterprise Solutions, Kodaks Graphic Communications Group (GCG), and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. “Kodaks Graphic Community is built just for graphic communications businesses, so it is the perfect way for Kodak customerswhether they are very experienced or novice networkersto capitalize on the potential that online communities offer.”
When INSITE Software users join the community, information they provide about their business can be viewed by other members on the secure Graphic Community website. Users can browse the network to make business connections based on key criteria, including location and production capabilities. Members can then link together to form their own peer to peer networks, allowing them to exchange job content and information in an efficient and automated way.
Print service providers in Kodaks Graphic Community can establish networks to provide geographically distributed print services, load balance their production during peak periods, fill available press capacity during slow periods, set up “Virtual Print Service Provider” businesses, and even outsource products that they are unable to produce themselves. For example, printers who dont have a digital print capability can begin offering those services to their customers, yet have them produced via a community member until they have the demand to support the purchase of their press.
Kodak is seeing increased interest from marketing service providers and agencies looking to offer marketing services, such as campaign management, to fellow Graphic Community members. Brand owners, especially those already using KODAK DESIGN2LAUNCH Solutions, are expressing interest in the community because it facilitates a connection with “qualified” service providers.
For enterprise marketers, Kodaks Graphic Community provides an efficient marketing supply chain that makes it easier to manage integrated cross media marketing programs across the entire lifecycle, from design and development through production and measurement. Printed collateral ordering and production can be automated and optimized to reduce logistics, costs and waste.
“Kodaks Graphic Community promotes a new ecosystem for the growth of graphic communications business, allowing users to broaden their reach, and improve services and offerings,” said Jon Bracken, Vice President of Marketing, Enterprise Solutions, GCG. “Its a virtual meeting place for printers, marketers, brand owners, and agencies to communicate and collaborate better. By working together, we believe members will be able to improve production, shorten time to market and increase profitability for all participants.”