Quocirca print-business analysts predict “The future of the print industry is not about a single device, but about an intelligent, integrated, and purpose-driven ecosystem that is secure, data-driven, sustainable, and adaptive.”
But achieving a secure, adaptive, sustainable ecosystem for printing businesses can be difficult. Over the years, print-service providers have adopted various estimating, inventory management, and job-onboarding tools that may not integrate easily with software used for pre-flighting, scheduling, color management, production, shipping, and invoicing.
As print businesses evolve, there is no one-size-fits-all solution that meet the end-to-end automation needs of businesses with different combinations of printing, finishing, converting, and fabrication equipment.
The Durst Group’s Open Sofware Initiative offers a solution.
What is Durst’s Open Software Initiative?
Durst’s Open Sofware Initiative is a cloud-based vendor-neutral, modular platform that offers print service providers, resellers, system integrators, and OEMs access to powerful and flexible Durst-developed “Smart Factory” modules. Each module allows seamless integration to third-party solutions – regardless of printer type or manufacturer. The platform focuses on interoperability, open APIs, and integration readiness.
.”Our vision is to create an open, future-proof software ecosystem for the entire printing industry — designed by us, by available to everyone,” explains Christoph Gamper, CEO and co-owner of the Durst Group.
In a standalone booth at PRINTING United Expo, Durst Group will offer live demonstrations of the Smart Factory modules and expert-led workshops for resellers, OEMs, and integration partners.
For example, modules include:
Smart Shop: This module offers print-specific B2B and B2C e-commerce solutions with integrated tools for marketing automation, complex product quoting, analytics, SEO (search-engine optimization), and marketplace integration. With its built-in graphical online editor (also available as a standalone solution), customers can design personalized print products directly in their web browser. Orders are submitted as print-ready PDF files.
Lift ERP: This cloud-based printing-industry ERP (enterprise resource planning) system can manage all aspects of print operations, including order management, resource planning, production, logistics, and delivery. Lift ERP streamlines workflows, connects departments, and enables data-driven decisions.
Prepare: This subscription-based module is an automated solution for time-consuming tasks such as preflighting and editing incoming PDF files and preparing variable data, Based on advanced PDF preflighting and editing technology developed ty callas software (a Durst Group company), this module reduces repetitive manual tasks and boosts productivity.
Produce: This subscription-based color management and high-speed RIP module combines high-performance file processing speed with unparalleled spectral color management technology. It integrates preflight, normalization, production optimization, and color workflows into a single streamlined platform.
“With the Open Software Initative and Smart Factory portfolio, we are not just offering products, we are creating an open framework that allows partners to contribute their own solutions, services, or integrations,” says Michael Deflorian, Director, Business Unit Software and Solutions, Durst Group. “We are proud to have callas software as a strong OEM partner, and through them, we can now offer complete PDF workflow solutions — not just core technologies — to our OEM network. This is a true blueprint of how we envision future OEM partnerships within the Open Software Initiative.”
Durst’s Open Software Initiative will featured in Booth 2266 at PRINTING United Expo October 22-24. Expo attendees can see live demonstrations of all software modules and attend expert-led workshops for resellers, OEMs, and integration partners.
“We explicitly invite resellers, integrators, and partners to meet us at Printing United,” said Chris Schowalter, Global Sales Director, Durst Software & Solutions. “We will showcase real-world use cases and offer immediate collaboration opportunities — from turnkey products to beta programs all the way to OEM integration through callas software.”
Partnership with GMG Color
One of the first companies to partner with Durst is GMG Color, a leading developer of high-end colror-management solutions. Durst has integrated GMG’s spectral color management technology into the Durst Workflow software. It will also be added to the open Smart Factory portfolio of the Open Software Initiative.
“By integrating GMG into our Durst Workflow and Smart Factory platform, we are delivering a new level of color consistency — fully automated and highly scalable, says Deflorian. “At the same time, this marks a real-world example of a true best-in-breed integration in the spirit of Open Software initiative. It underlines our ambition to deliver the best software solutions on the market — not just for Durst customers, but for the entire print industry.”
As a key component of Durst’s modular Smart Factory architecture, GMG color technology will enable new levels of automated, color-consistent production, regardless of what printing system or substrate is used.
Darrian Young, Global Partnership Manager at GMG notes, “This partnership brings together two companies with innovation and quality at the core of their DNA. The integration into the Durst Workflow and Smart Factory architecture enables a consistent, media-neutral production process.” He believes this will be a real game-changer for printing businesses.
For more information, about GMC Color, visit: GMG Color – Color Management Software & Proofing Solution
For more details about the Durst Group and their printing systems and software, visit: Durst Group: digital print natives