Webcom Limited Showcased at Microsoft “Heroes of Innovation” Event
February 28, 2005. Toronto, Canada
Webcom Limited of Toronto, Ontario was recognized with its technology partner, Ideaca Limited, earlier this month by Microsoft Canada Co. at the second annual Heroes of Innovation event. Microsoft took this opportunity to showcase successes of its business partners and their respective clients in applying Microsoft technology to improve productivity and overcome unique business challenges. Webcom’s “heroic” deed was in response to an efficiency challenge, solved with an integrated ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system and dubbed as POEM (Production Order Estimating Management) by Webcom’s ERP Business Manager, Mark Delvecchio.
Webcom Limited provides a complete integration of publishing solutions for print and online production of books, catalogs and directories. They recognized the urgency to protect their competitive position five years ago, deploying technology as a means to level the playing field against its U.S. counterparts.
“POEM is a multi-million dollar program initiated in 2002 which continues to pay dividends,” commented Delvecchio. System improvements help customers identify project efficiencies, reduce costs and provide an opportunity for more of a consultative discussion with Webcom industry specialists. Customer service has improved dramatically with 80% of cost estimates now being completed within minutes rather than weeks. Additional system enhancements will facilitate an anticipated 33% improvement in the automation of the job production workflow within the first 6 months of implementation when they go into effect next month.
With the Canadian dollar value reaching record highs, Webcom is poised to meet competition head-on with heightened productivity. This is accomplished not only with POEM, but through a corporate commitment to leverage all IT-related advantages and applying the resulting efficiencies to the integrated publishing solutions Webcom provides its customers.
“We have made a conscious effort to lead the Canadian publishing industry with new technology, as evident from an extensive list of industry firsts spanning three decades. Today we face the challenges of pressure to reduce prices and absorb costs related to the rising dollar. It was paramount that we achieve significant efficiencies with our ERP systems, as we have done with POEM.” said Jeff Wilkins, President of Webcom Limited.
About Webcom Limited
Webcom Limited is a leading provider of integrated publishing solutions – in print and online. Our customers increasingly require more than traditional printing of books, catalogs or directories. Building on proven competencies as a leading book manufacturer since 1977, Webcom makes that step beyond to employ integrated e-publishing technologies. Webcom has sales offices in both Canada and the U.S., with its head office and 195,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility located in Toronto. Print less and publish more in a single step with Webcom Limited.
www.webcomlink.com