ASI SmartBooks and ProfitMaker

ASI Computer Systems (asi/30238), Cedar Falls, IA; (319) 266-7688; www.asicomp.com

Cost: Contact vendor for pricing.

What it is: These business management software packages allow companies to manage all intricate business processes with a single flexible and powerful business application. They integrate accounting, sales, marketing, order entry, inventory, purchasing, shipping, reporting and product sourcing from ESP into one application.

What’s new:

• Atwork tracking, decorator instructions, size/color matrix and tracking on additional charges/costs for wearables orders
• Drop-ship, inventory and customer-owned inventory order management
• Custom user-defined order tracking
• ProfitMaker is fully customizable, and its uniquely tailored system upgrades are always available.

Key features:

• Fully ESP-enabled, and pulls product data directly from user’s database or ESP when adding products
• Data for each customer pre-fills the purchase order to cut checks instantly
• Moves from “Quote to Cash” without requiring rekeying data
• Pre-set with more than 100 most-used reports, which can then be customized.

Buyer’s note: This software is designed for companies in the advertising specialty industry looking to save time and money by managing the entire front-office and back-office functions with a single flexible and powerful application

User review: “We’ve evaluated a number of other business management options,” says Barbara Sedgwick Brown, CEO of MadeToOrder Inc. (asi/259540) in Pleasanton, CA. “ASI Computer Systems has offered us the most cost-effective price/performance ratio. In fact, we’ve been using ProfitMaker for over 30 years.” Her company’s main concentration is Fortune 1000 companies, and they specialize in drop-shipping promotional products. “The commission portion of the software is robust and has never failed us,” she explains, “and the customer service at ASI Computer Systems has been very helpful over the years.”

Fast Accurate Bids for Embroidery

Fast Accurate Bids LLC, Bellingham, WA; (360) 752-3310; www.fastaccuratebidsforembroidery.com

Cost: $249, with no monthly fee, free customer support and 30-day free trial.

What it is: This estimating software for embroiderers and other apparel decorators allows users to create finished, professional-looking bids that are ready to print or email to customers in less than two minutes. This package was designed by software professionals working in collaboration with embroidery industry expert Deborah Jones. The embroidery version of Fast Accurate Bids was launched in 2015.

Key features:

• Support for all types of bids, including mixed item bids and itemized pricing
• Allows for creation of pricing profiles for different types of customers and jobs, such as typical pricing, schools, nonprofits and contract work
• Built-in pricing, based on a wide survey of industry data, can be used without changes; beneficial for shops uncertain about what to charge
• For shops with established pricing, even the most complex pricing structures can be easily and reliably matched
• Updatable item pricing for alphabroder, American Apparel, S&S Activewear and SanMar.

Buyer’s note: The full version of Fast Accurate Bids is recommended for businesses that offer both embroidery and screen printing. Fast Accurate Bids for Embroidery is suited to both new and established embroidery companies. It’s quick to set up, and easy to learn and use.

User review: Michelle Bradley, founder and owner of West End Plaza (asi/358224) in Metropolis, IL, offers screen printing, vinyl lettering and embroidery, and plans to expand her shop’s signage capabilities. Most of her orders are filled locally, including for small businesses, the community college, area schools, churches and organizations. “I’ve been in the business for only one year,” Bradley says, “and Fast Accurate Bids has helped with the learning curve of pricing. It’s so hard to know how much to charge, but Fast Accurate Bids has helped me become competitive and make a good profit.” Bradley says the learning curve was minimal, and that after 45 minutes of an Internet meeting with the owner of Fast Accurate Bids, she was sold on the service. “The time it saves is wonderful because it takes everything into account behind the scenes,” she says. “I’ve done bids on jobs from 30 shirts to 500 shirts with confidence and ease.”

Kornit QuickP Designer 2.1

Kornit Digital, Rosh-Ha’Ayin, Israel; (972) 3-9085800; www.kornit.com

Cost: Contact vendor for pricing.

What it is: QuickP Designer allows quick processing of image files for printing on Kornit printers. It enables easy, fast and complete offline preparation of image files based on automatic processing; upstream file preparation is separated from printing, allowing higher productivity. The latest version supports Paradigm II and offers the ability to generate white separation for screen for Paradigm II dark garment printing; it also offers an ink estimator tool for Paradigm II.

What’s new:

• Spot-color editor and single point of control
• Scale by pallet size
• Semi-transparency support
• Compatible with Windows 8.1.

Buyer’s note: QuickP software provides greater automation while enabling the creation and use of pre-defined setups. Those setups define the machine and image settings for printing on the majority of media available in the market without wasting time on the printer itself. The fast and easy printing of files doesn’t require further processing requirements, and there’s no need for external RIP-ing applications.

Kornit QuickP Plus 2.0

Kornit Digital, Rosh-Ha’Ayin, Israel; (972) 3-9085800; www.kornit.com

Cost: Contact vendor for pricing.

What it is: This complete design, order, create and print system includes intuitive design creation for garment decorators, an intelligent variable data system for quick and easy mass personalization and a workflow platform designed to improve company-wide organization and productivity.

What’s new:

• Workflow system manages the order process
• Library system for designs and fonts
• Inventory control system connected to design creation software
• Library of garments, each with individual printer setup configurations.

Key features:

• Bar-coding capability that eliminates manual loading time and operator error
• Variable data system for mass personalization.

Buyer’s note: Kornit QuickP Plus 2.0 was created specifically to support Kornit’s direct-to-garment printers and NeoPigment process. This package is designed for shops looking to improve the designing, ordering, creating and printing process for personalized pieces. With one software program, operators can connect their Kornit direct-to-garment printers to a centralized design database, as well as to their customers, as part of the Kornit Digital Complete solution.

OnSite 8.1

ShopWorks, West Palm Beach, FL; (800) 526-6702; www.shopworx.com

Cost: Based on total number of concurrent users; cloud version starts at $347 per month or operators can choose to host data on their servers.

What it is: This business management software allows shops to manage order entry, purchasing, production, sales, marketing and accounting. Operators can run their entire operation with a single integrated package designed specifically for embroidery, screen-printing and promotional product distributor firms. There’s a new cloud-based version of the package available.

What’s new:

• Improved touch screen for the production floor
• Enhanced customer online proofing of designs and orders
• Accounting improvements.

Key features:

• Compatible with Windows and/or Mac platforms
• Cloud-based, or runs on shop’s server
• Integrates with websites.

Buyer’s note: Over 750 companies in the advertising specialty industry, including apparel screen printers, embroiderers, promotional product distributors, award and recognition companies and others, have used OnSite. This software is a good fit for any shop that sells items featuring logos.

User review: Paul Newson is the managing director at Brazen Clothing in Wellington, New Zealand, a screen-printing company that also offers on-site embroidery and digital printing for the athletics, workwear, retail, corporate and promotional industries. “ShopWorks has been fantastic,” Newson says. “Their OnSite software is the best investment I’ve made in over 20 years of business, better than any machine purchase or any other improvement. OnSite’s service and attitude has always been excellent, even though we required a few modifications because we have different tax requirements from users in the U.S.”

PulseID

Pulse Microsystems Ltd., Mississauga, Ontario; (905) 821-8300; www.pulsemicro.com

Cost: Contact vendor for pricing. In the U.S., contact Hirsch International, www.hic.us.

What it is: PulseID is a collection of versatile applications and design engines used to automate embroidery, digital printing, rhinestones, engraving or other garment decoration businesses. Users can choose the PulseID elements to improve productivity and efficiency of their business.

What’s new: PulseID is now available as a subscription-based, software-as-a-service model.

Key features:

• Enables software and application developers to add embroidery and digital print functionality to their own websites and internal applications
• Allows customers to complete personalized designs on a shop’s website in minutes
• Standardizes critical production processes to increase efficiency and eliminate costs associated with manual errors
• Provides detailed reporting on machines, designs and operator efficiency, ensuring a business receives its highest level of productivity.

Buyer’s note: PulseID is custom-designed to integrate into a shop’s current production processes, no matter the company’s size or style.

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