Organized for conflict, errors and overspending
Successful companies have a Marketing department tasked with generating top line revenue, and a Procurement department whose mission is to contain costs, including those for printing and mailing.
Problems with printing jobs begin different ways. They can start with the designer writing specifications before consulting with the printer. They may begin when Procurement gets the specifications, then simply shops for the lowest price.
Procurement is probably unaware of what Marketing is trying to achieve. And though not every print supplier is capable of doing the work, every salesman says “Yes! we can do that.” That’s why, outsourcing is common practice amongst printers and brokers. On average, 30% of every printing job is outsourced, adding one (sometimes several) hidden cost layers.
Printing is too complex to boil down to a few lines of specs. What’s more, there are usually options neither department has considered. The two departments have different sets of expectations. Not only don’t they speak the same language, but they both have blind spots when it comes to current technologies, which in turn leads to a third factor: Overspending.
Printing Sales People are not in a position to guide, consult or inform. Their job is to sell in-house capabilities . This creates a built in bias for recommendations.
Printers and brokers are often caught in the middle of a company’s conflicted expectations. And they bring their own agenda: Get the job–get it done–get it billed. Salesmen are not in a position to guide, consult or inform. Their job is to sell in-house capabilities . This creates a built in bias for recommendations.
Sometimes an independent consultant can help bridge the gap by providing expert advices. Savings could be significant and more importantly, restore the connection between Creative and Procurement. Contact GMA today