Prism WIN SBE FAQs

Q. What is Prism WIN SBE? A. Prism WIN SBE is a Management Information System (MIS) designed specifically for smaller operators in the printing and graphic arts industries. It is a modular package that allows customers to select module combinations to suit their specific business needs. At a later date, extra modules can be easily added to an existing installation, and an upgrade to the full Prism WIN MIS is available once your business grows. Prism WIN SBE encompasses a full accounting suite, estimating and jobbing, job costing and tracking, inventory and purchasing, scheduling, sales management and sales ordering. In addition to the standard software there are also two browser based modules: eService Desk (online quote request and sales ordering) and Browser Time Manager (online production time and materials capture).

Q. How does SBE differ from Prism WIN? A. SBE is a cost effective solution that gives you the power of the PrismWIN engine in a tailored package. SBE allows you to focus on running your business rather than your MIS. With standards set during implementation you can rely on the software to provide the correct information every time, and as your standards change these can be easily updated. Experience has taught us that some printers don’t need all the functionality of the full PrismWIN system – why pay for things you are not going to use. SBE restricts some of the full PrismWIN functionality to provide you with an MIS that functions like PrismWIN, but with the functionality you need. SBE has been designed to use standardised configuration tools and implementation techniques. A faster implementation time means you are up and running with the software sooner and more cost effectively.

Q. What type of print business suits Prism WIN SBE? A. Prism WIN SBE is a very flexible system that can be configured to meet the exact requirements of all types of printing including: sheet fed, roll, web, digital, flexo’, screen, label and packaging and in addition is suited to use by pre-press/design, bindery and print broker/management companies. There is also a system developed specifically for medium to large businesses… Prism WIN.

Q. Can Prism WIN SBE track my production costs effectively? A. Yes, if the integrated accounting option is chosen. Prism WIN SBE collects costs from Shop Floor production as well as Inventory and Purchase Ordering. Prism WIN SBE’s fully integrated accounting means that when a transaction is processed and posted, values are immediately updated to the GL. Production costs and Work In Progress can then be viewed at anytime directly from General Ledger through Prism reporting functions.

Q. Can I track jobs in progress in real time? A. Yes. Prism WIN SBE offers two easy methods of checking the progress of jobs. The Production Management module’s Gannt chart details time worked and estimated time to complete, and is updated with a job’s progress in real time. Shop Floor Management’s Job Tracking and Plant View windows detail jobs currently being worked on by cost centre/machine, also in real time.

Q. Will I be able to publish Prism WIN SBE information to an intranet that allows employees to track their productivity? A. Yes. Both Microsoft SQL and Oracle database platforms can be queried using SQL scripts and ODBC. The results can be published directly to an intranet web page, allowing your employees to track their progress in real time.

Q. How would I track my best customers/sales reps? A. Standard reports in Prism WIN SBE allow you to view customer and sales representative performance in respect to the number of quotes/jobs, value of these quotes and jobs, payment history and budget/target values. Custom reports can also be written to show specific information as required.

Q. How does Prism WIN SBE update transaction processing? A. Prism WIN SBE is a “batch” processing system – transactions with similar attributes are grouped into batches that are then posted either manually or by a posting process. This batching method has the advantage of allowing operators to check batches and transactions before committing/posting them and updating the database. This catches any problem transaction before it updates all of the modules in the database, removing the need to reverse out transactions created in error.

Q. What methods are available to capture production time and cost for a job? A. Prism WIN SBE offers several options for capturing time and cost… Keypads, Virtual Time Managers (VTM) and Press Counters are all currently available for use with our Shop Floor data collection system. For a Mac environment, a Browser Time Manager (BTM) module employs browser technology to capture time and cost information.

Q. Can my customers order stock or request quotes via the web/internet? A. Yes. Prism WIN SBE’s e-Service Desk module allows your customers to log into and process stock and quote requests over the internet. The transactions update the Prism WIN SBE database in real time and update the customer with order/quote information when the transaction is completed. You can also have samples of the stock displayed with its code on the inventory list screen, or use the Prism interface to “on-line proof” artwork for the quote. The e-Service Desk module also allows customers to check their account information (e.g. outstanding quotes/jobs, orders, invoice information or payment history) directly from the internet.

Q. What kinds of reporting are possible with Prism WIN SBE? A. The many “standard” reports in Prism WIN SBE cover information commonly requested by Prism WIN SBE customers, but these reports can never cover all possible reporting requirements. So Prism WIN SBE employs its own proprietary reporting language that allows reports to contain graphs and boxing, font, size and positioning control, colour and graphics. Prism can specify and complete report requests for you. With the database being open to ODBC reads, information can be sourced from the Prism WIN SBE database and presented in programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Access, as well as other third party programs.

Q. Can I develop my own applications for Prism WIN SBE? A. Yes. Prism WIN SBE’s data structure and business rules are open to development through the use of Prism WIN Connect – our proprietary API. Applications can be written in standard programming languages (HTML, .NET, VB), and will pass information to Prism WIN SBE via the API so that the standard Prism WIN business rules are adhered to. This ensures that only ‘sensible’ transactions can be created by these applications protecting the integrity of your data.

Q. Can I schedule work in Prism WIN SBE? A. Yes. The SBE Production Board is a simplified version of the full Prism WIN Production Management System. It takes into account the prerequisites (e.g. proof ok, plates ready), other task dependencies, available shifts etc. A useful “what-if” mode allows you to see the results of switching variables, such as putting on an extra shift or changing job order. SBE Production Board allows jobs to be displayed as a Gantt chart, so you can see the schedule, connections and requirements at a glance.

Q. What platforms does Prism WIN SBE run on? A. The application can be run on either the Oracle 9 or Microsoft SQL database. These are industry standard databases that ensure the ongoing security and integrity of your data. They also allow the use of third party tools such as Crystal Reports to aid in data mining and report writing. Prism WIN SBE is a Windows-based program that will run on a variety of Windows operating systems including Windows 98, 2000, NT, XP, 2000 and 2003 Server. Prism WIN SBE may also be installed in a “thin client” environment using Citrix or Windows Terminal Services. The Prism WIN SBE database is also open to ODBC connectivity allowing it to be resourced from third party software such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Access.

Q. What about the existing data in my current MIS? Can I bring that across? A. It is possible for master data to be imported in to Prism WIN SBE. If your current MIS product, or other electronic form (MS Access, Excel, etc), holds static information (customers, suppliers, sales contacts, inventory codes, etc) and this information can be exported, then Prism staff can help you translate the data for import in to Prism WIN SBE. At ‘go live’ Prism can also import outstanding balances for customers and suppliers as well as create opening balance journals and comparison figures for previous year in General Ledger. WIP job headers are created so that costings from your legacy system are included with any new transactions created in Prism, thereby making the changeover seemless.