Gradual Software introduces new product line at IPEX 2006
Ghent (Belgium), February 15th, 2006 — Gradual Software, specialists in software solutions for automating the publishing process, will present an all-new product line at Ipex 2006 (April 4-11) in Hall 7 on stand B50. The company is launching a new family of software products under the brand name SWITCH, which enable users to implement workflow automation solutions tailored to meet the production needs of individual work environments.
The SWITCH family of products was developed based on market feedback and research that explored the ways in which publishing environments operate. The goal was to develop products that would deliver immediate cost savings and efficiencies by quickly and easily standardizing various functional processes. The result is SWITCH software, which automates the everyday tasks of multiple participants in multiple organizations—even those who use a variety of systems and tools. For ease of implementation, automation can be introduced gradually as needed, through a highly visual user-friendly interface. A user’s return on investment is dramatically accelerated as more processes are automated.
According to Peter Camps, Gradual Software Chairman and CEO, the new SWITCH product family is closely aligned to market needs: “Today’s prepress and publishing environments are more complex than ever. Despite the use of sophisticated workflow systems, many simple everyday tasks are being overlooked. Further, the complexity, cost of entry, and implementation time for these systems is often too great for many users. The new SWITCH family of workflow automation tools was developed based on extensive feedback from CaslonFlow users. They offer a simple but powerful multi-platform alternative that can be individually tailored, yet are still affordable, easy to implement, and integrate well with existing applications.”
Multiple platforms and easy upgrades
From the initial release, all members of the SWITCH family will be cross-platform, running under Mac OS X 10.4 and higher (both Power PC and new Intel-based Macs), in addition to Windows 2000/XP Professional and higher. This capability enables all-Mac environments to benefit from tailored workflow automation, while delivering the same advantages to mixed-platform workplaces.
The SWITCH software family has been designed to provide important standalone functionality within each product, as well as an easy upgrade path between the various tools—both those available at Ipex and to be introduced later. Each product provides specific key benefits at different price points. Additional details concerning the available options and upgrade procedures will be announced soon.
During Ipex 2006, Gradual will showcase the first two solutions in the new SWITCH product line:
LightSWITCH efficiently automates one of the most common everyday tasks anyone in professional publishing faces: receiving and sorting files from clients and partners. Built-in tools automatically check an unlimited number of FTP and email servers. Files are downloaded as they arrive and are sorted according to file type, naming conventions, etc. LightSWITCH can also respond to incoming files by sending notification emails that acknowledge receipt or report problems, and forward files as instructed to the next party.
Key benefits of LightSWITCH are:
- Provides savings through automation of file reception and trafficking
- Reduces repetitive tasks and frees up staff for more creative work
- Improves client communication through automated receipts and error alerts
- User-friendly setup with the option to customize as needed
- Automates file retrieval from multiple FTP sites
- Easily supports email-based file submission
- Receives files sorted in folders based on file type or naming convention
- Protects investment with clear upgrade path for increased automation needs
For users who want the next level of functionality, FullSWITCH provides several additional built-in tools. For ease of implementation, it lets users visually design workflow automation processes with a user-friendly drag-and-drop process. Incoming files are automatically received and sorted, and the application allows seamless integration with a number of key third-party applications, including popular products from Adobe, Apago, callas, Enfocus and more, which configured from within FullSWITCH.
Key benefits of FullSWITCH are:
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Provides savings through increased automation
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Allows implementation of automation at the pace of the organization
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Standardizes processes and reduces human errors
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Eliminates repetitive tasks and frees up staff for more creative work
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Protects investments in third-party products
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Preserves flexibility and freedom to choose best-of-breed technology
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Allows design and configuration of workflows in a visual, user-friendly way
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Enables users to manage and maintain automation processes more efficiently
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Manages overall flow of files within an organization and to/from customers
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Monitors workflows for problems and maintain statistics
At Ipex, the company will also preview PowerSWITCH, another solution within the SWITCH family. PowerSWITCH brings advanced automation features and workgroup support to users, while retaining the same ease-of-use as the rest of the SWITCH products. PowerSWITCH has built-in scripting support to enable automation of a much wider range of third-party applications, as well as integration with databases, digital-asset management systems and MIS networks. It also adds support for incoming metadata (such as JDF and XMP); this metadata can then be used to route files through a flow or set processing parameters for files in a more versatile way. PowerSWITCH can be accessed from users' workstations via an easy to use workgroup client. This client will allow members of a workgroup to submit files, make routing decisions and follow-up on the status of their files. PowerSWITCH is expected to be commercially available in the summer of 2006.
Gradual Software is best known for its popular CaslonFlow workflow automation software, which is now evolving to the next-generation, cross-platform, SWITCH family of products. CaslonFlow users will be able to upgrade to the appropriate SWITCH products as they are introduced at Ipex 2006 and beyond. More details on available options and upgrade procedures will be announced soon.
About Gradual Software
Gradual Software was established in November 2004 to develop and deliver software for full automation across the numerous stages of professional publishing. Gradual’s automation solutions are designed to benefit all participants in the publishing workflow, including content originators (authors and designers), content processors (editors, designers and layout artists), brand owners (publishers and marketing departments) and service providers (printers). As the next-generation successor to its original CaslonFlow product, Gradual now offers the SWITCH family of workflow automation software.
Gradual Software is privately held by its management team, and is located in Ghent, Belgium. For more information, please visit www.gradual.com
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