A new fibre optic network is the backbone for future operations of the ‘trade only’ printer providing instant, reliable online services and faster job turnarounds for customers nationally.
The major investment sits alongside the company’s recent investment in a new production site in Port Melbourne, which includes state of the art print production equipment and LEP’s unique lean manufacturing principles. According to a press release, the installation of the fibre optic network will revolutionise the company’s website and online ordering system, and will dramatically improve and stabilise customers’ online experiences.
LEP Colour Printers’ Forest Glen site in Queensland will go live later this week, and the company’s new Melbourne site is expected to follow suit by the end of the month.
The use of fibre optic technology and ongoing upgrades to the internal operations of LEP’s production processes is paramount for the company’s future success, said LEP Colour Printers’ Chief Executive Officer, John Bromfield.
“This significant investment in fibre optic technology ensures that LEP’s communications and production facilities are future-proofed,” said Bromfield. “It is a clear statement of the company’s ongoing commitment to state-of-the-art print services to the trade, and a way to improve our turnaround times even further, so that our customers can, in turn, provide a better service to their clients.”
Michael Greenan, IT manager at LEP Colour Printers, said that the investment in fibre optic technology is the culmination of several years’ work in developing a unique online customer experience and transparent production network at LEP Colour Printers, unhindered by telecommunications issues.
He pointed out that LEP’s online order service, LEP Online, is not simply an off-the-shelf product, but was built from the ground up to provide seamless integration from the customer’s order through to manufacture, finishing, packing and delivery, as well as invoicing and payment.
“What we are doing is dramatically improving the back end, or ‘backbone’, of the company’s network. We have a lot of exciting work happening, but customers will probably hardly notice the improvements we’re making because they will have a seamless experience,” he said.
“Our customer website and online ordering services have been in the cloud since 2012, and we have another network for our own production requirements. This new fibre optic development gives us a totally reliable, failsafe system that is faster than ever.
“It’s no good offering 24-hour printing unless your shop front is available 24 hours a day.
Customer experience is gauged by how easily they can navigate through our sites, how easily they can retrieve information, purchase products and follow their orders, subsequent print jobs and delivery requests,” he said.
Previously, the company has averaged over 98 per cent of all orders meeting their advised turnaround time, and 80 per cent are despatched sooner than expected. LEP says its customers will now enjoy an even better online experience and their orders will be handled even more efficiently.