My colleague Howie Fenton and I recently completed Workflow Investment Survey 2014. Over 325 organizations, including both commercial companies and in-plant facilities, participated. The survey was generously sponsored by Xerox.
One of the most important issues we investigated was which workflow investments have been most worthwhile and which have been least worthwhile. We learned that the answer is never about the investment alone but also about how well an organization has:
• Researched the investment—Is it right for us given our specific client base and resources?
• Cultivated the internal skills and commitment the investment requires.
• Integrated the investment with existing processes from “initial inquiry to final invoice” to “create a best-in-class customer service experience.”
To measure overall experience with workflow investments, Howie developed the Investment Worthiness Index, calculated as the number of organizations that rate a workflow investment most worthwhile minus the number that rate it least worthwhile. Among the organizations we surveyed, Web-to-print, PDF workflow, print MIS, and variable-data software had the highest indexes, while E-publishing, cross-media marketing software, and augmented reality had the lowest.
Our report explains why a high Investment Worthiness Index doesn’t mean an application is a sure thing and a low index doesn’t mean it isn’t worth a look. It also summarizes why participants rate an investment most worthwhile or least worthwhile, how much they’ve invested in each workflow area over the last three years, and how much they plan to invest in each area over the next three years.
We will publish Workflow Investment Survey 2014 later this summer. Please check www.napl.org for availability.
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