Crawford Technologies Expands Support of Xplor International

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Lutz, FL – October 26, 2018 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced that Crawford Technologies has renewed their Elite Sponsorship and upgraded to a Gold Sponsorship through 2019.

The Xplor Elite Sponsor program, launched in 2006, supports year-round educational programming to Xplor members and the industry as a whole. The program also provides funding for the Xplor Member Scholarship program launched in 2011, providing university scholarships for Xplor members and their immediate families.

“The Xplor organization brings together valuable business and technical expertise for anyone involved in the creation, management and delivery of customer communications, and we’re pleased to support them as an elite sponsor.” says Ernie Crawford, M-EDP, CEO and President of Crawford Technologies.

“Crawford Technologies has been part of the Elite sponsor program for the last seven years.” says Skip Henk, Xplor’s President and CEO. “Their ongoing support shows their commitment to both the association and the industry as a whole. The Elite sponsorship program allows Xplor to deliver year round programming as well as fund the next generation of industry professionals through the Xplor University Scholarship program.”

Those interested in learning more about the Xplor Elite Sponsorship Program should contact Lou Brandow, Director of Sales, at Lou@xplor.org or +1-352-246-5298. You can also contact Xplor HQ directly at +1-813-949-6170.

About Xplor International
Xplor International is a not-for-profit association that provides thought leadership to the customer communications industry. As a community Xplor provides advocacy, education, training, mentoring and networking opportunities.

Our members are decision makers and recommenders who are involved in the conception, design, implementation production and delivery of multi-channel client, member and customer communications.

Xplor’s mission is to enhance organizational success and advance the careers of our members by providing research, publications, industry certification, professional development, web-based events, and conference programming. Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida, with affiliated offices around the world. Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/XplorInternational
Twitter: twitter.com/Xplor_Int or @Xplor_Int

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Director of Marketing
+1-813-949-6171
Chad@xplor.org

Xplor to offer First Timer Recognition Program for XPLOR19

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The Program Provides Complimentary Conference Passes to Qualified Applicants

Lutz, FL – October 23, 2018 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced the return of the First Timer Recognition Program for their annual conference, XPLOR19, that is being held April 23-25, 2019 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

XPLOR19 is the premier event for CCM and digital document professionals.The two-and-a-half day event is the perfect blend of 40 educational sessions, panel discussions, and general sessions focusing on the latest in best practices and trends in the CCM and digital document industry. The event also features a keynote speaker, evening networking events, a networking lunch, and over 35 of the industry’s best solution providers and the show floor.

Tweet this: @Xplor_Int will once again be offering FREE conference passes to qualifying applicants through the First Timer Recognition Program. See if you qualify and join me at #XPLOR19 at Mandalay Bay in #Vegas! http://bit.ly/2CY0QcA

Since 2016, the First Timer Recognition Program has given away over 200 conference passes, a $1099 value, to end user attendees. Xplor will once again recognize qualified first time attendees by providing them with a complimentary full-conference pass and an open invitation to come and see what XPLOR19 is all about. The complimentary conference pass entitles the recipient to attend all Xplor educational sessions, general sessions, keynotes and networking events.

“Since its inception, the design of First Timer Recognition Program was to bring in new end users in order to provide different perspectives and insight to our programming and participating partners.” says Skip Henk, President and CEO of Xplor International. “We are seeing many of these attendees returning the next year, bringing their colleagues to experience our world-class education and networking as they themselves did the year before.”

To qualify, applicants must not have attended an annual conference over the last 5 years, be employed by an enterprise or end user company, and stay at one of the host hotels. Hotel rooms can be secured through the Xplor block with costs ranging $89 to $139US plus a $19 resort fee. Interested parties must apply by March 22, 2019. The number of complimentary registrations is limited to (50) and will be awarded on a first come first served basis. You can apply here: www.cvent.com/d/sbq9ny

For more information regarding XPLOR19, or to register, visit www.xplor.org/xplor19. Questions should be directed to Register@xplor.org or +1-813-949-6170 between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM (EST), Monday through Friday.

Vendors interested in being an exhibitor should contact Xplor’s Director of Sales, Lou Brandow at +1-813-949-6170 or via email at Lou@xplor.org.

About Xplor International
Xplor International is a not-for-profit association that provides thought leadership to the customer communications industry. As a community Xplor provides advocacy, education, training, mentoring and networking opportunities.

Our members are decision makers and recommenders who are involved in the conception, design, implementation production and delivery of multi-channel client, member and customer communications.

Xplor’s mission is to enhance organizational success and advance the careers of our members by providing research, publications, industry certification, professional development, web-based events, and conference programming. Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida, with affiliated offices around the world. Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/XplorInternational
Twitter: twitter.com/Xplor_Int or @Xplor_Int

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Director of Marketing
+1-813-949-6171
Chad@xplor.org

Xplor University Scholarships Awarded by Xplor International and Xplor Canada

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Lutz, FL – October 18, 2018 – Xplor International, in conjunction with Xplor Canada, today announced that they awarded eight member scholarships for the 2018 school year. The 2018 recipients include:

  • Katy B. – Ryerson University
  • Katarina B. – Ryerson University
  • Rachel E. – University of Minnesota Twin Cities
  • Katherine K. – Clemson University
  • Ariel M. – Saint Mary’s College of California
  • Hamzah N. – University of Calgary
  • Adele S. – Ryerson University
  • Sean W. – York University

In 2010, Xplor decided to go beyond its traditional member offerings to help promote and support the next generation of industry professionals. The Xplor Member Scholarship program was founded to provide financial assistance to Xplor members and their immediate families who are pursuing careers in the field of document and communication technology including such studies as web design, marketing, IT, business, print, cyber security, etc.

The program is funded by the generosity of Xplor Elite Sponsors and in partnership with Xplor Canada.

Qualifications for an Xplor Scholarship include being an Xplor member (or immediate family) and maintaining a 3.0 GPA at a four-year or two-year college or university degree program in the United States or Canada. Scholarship recipients were selected based on their application submission, response to an essay question, academic achievement, participation in school activities, and service to the community.

“The Xplor scholarship program remains a great member benefit yet is one of the most under-utilized ones we offer.” says Skip Henk, President and CEO of Xplor International. “Thank you to our Elite Sponsors and Xplor Canada for their partnership in supporting this great program and we hope to award even more next year!”

Xplor 2018 Elite Sponsors include: Platinum – NEPS, Gold – Crawford Technologies and Quadient, Silver – Canon Solutions America, Compart and RICOH.

About Xplor International
Xplor International is a not-for-profit association that provides thought leadership to the customer communications industry. As a community Xplor provides advocacy, education, training, mentoring and networking opportunities.

Our members are decision makers and recommenders who are involved in the conception, design, implementation production and delivery of multi-channel client, member and customer communications.

Xplor’s mission is to enhance organizational success and advance the careers of our members by providing research, publications, industry certification, professional development, web-based events, and conference programming. Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida, with affiliated offices around the world. Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/XplorInternational
Twitter: twitter.com/Xplor_Int or @Xplor_Int

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Director of Marketing
+1-813-949-6171
Chad@xplor.org

Call for Presentations is Now Open for XPLOR19

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The Two-and-a-half day event to host forty sessions, a vendor forum, and networking events

Lutz, FL – October 17, 2018 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, has issued a “call for presentations” for their annual event, XPLOR19, taking place April 23-25, 2019 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The event will feature three tracks which will include forty educational sessions and a keynote, in addition to the vendor forum and daily networking events.

Tweet this: @Xplor_Int has opened up the 2019 Call for Presentations! Share your knowledge and experiences at a new venue in Las Vegas! Speaking could net you a free pass! #XPLOR19 http://bit.ly/2CR0Fj2

Xplor has opened up the call for presentations with the ability to submit as either a Session Presenter or a Panelist. Xplor is also continuing to offer session presenters the option of a 25-minute Lightning Learning or a 50-minute Deep Dive timeslot.To view a full list of conference topics or to submit, please visit the Call for Presentations website. Due to past demand, we can only accept one entry per person for session presenters, so choose your best one! Those selected will be notified of the status of their submission in November.If selected as a session presenter or a panelist, business end users will enjoy the conference with a complimentary Platinum Passport.  Industry partners/vendors will receive a discounted rate of $575 for the Platinum Passport, which is a savings of up to 50%!

Not quite sure you want to present? Get some advice from Xplor’s President/CEO here.

Three Educational Tracks
In preparation for XPLOR19, Xplor is seeking speakers from the business analyst and vendor communities on topics across three different topics of interest:

  • Business Technology Track: Accessibility – Options, Analytics – What Analytics You Need, Audits – Surviving SOC/HIPAA/FISMA Audits, Document Re-Engineering – Utilizing Re-Engineering Tools, Security & Compliance – Best Practices
  • Delivery Technology Track: ADF – Updating Your ADF, AFP – Update, Color Management -, Adding Color Management to Your Workflow, Communication – Design, Mailing – Best Practices, Mobile & eDelivery – Best Practices, PDF 2.0 – Updates, Print & Mail – Optimization, Print Enhancement – Options, Technology – Inkjet & Toner, Workflow – Using Workflow to Maximize Throughput
  • Marketing Technology Track: CCM – Best Practices, Customer Experience – Best Practices, Developing a Customer Experience Strategy, Omni-Channel Marketing – Best Practices, The Basics of CCM and How it Impacts the Business, Why is Digital Transformation Important?

Three Panel Topics
XPLOR19 will feature three panels throughout the event that the Call for Presentations will accept applications to participate in:

  • Accessibility & Compliance: The World in Which We Live
  • Customer Experience: A Moving Target
  • Industry Trends: A Changing CCM Landscape

Vendor Forum
The event will also feature a vendor forum that is designed to capitalize on the wealth of knowledge within the Xplor vendor community. Limited to 40 vendor partners, these forums provide an opportunity for both attendees and vendors to share ideas and information on applications, industry trends and products.

Networking Events
Xplor’s Conference is known as the number one networking event in the industry. The 2019 event will once again continue that tradition as participants can attend educational sessions during the day while networking at lunch and evening events.

For more information or to apply as a speaker, please visit http://www.cvent.com/d/xbqp29. For more information about the conference, please visit www.xplor.org/XPLOR19. Any questions should be directed to Register@xplor.org, +1-813-949-6170, between the hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (ET), Monday through Friday.

Vendors interested in exhibiting or being an event sponsor should contact Xplor’s Director of Sales, Lou Brandow, at 813-949-6170 or via email at Lou@xplor.org.

About Xplor International
Xplor International is a not-for-profit association that provides thought leadership to the customer communications industry. As a community Xplor provides advocacy, education, training, mentoring and networking opportunities.

Our members are decision makers and recommenders who are involved in the conception, design, implementation production and delivery of multi-channel client, member and customer communications.

Xplor’s mission is to enhance organizational success and advance the careers of our members by providing research, publications, industry certification, professional development, web-based events, and conference programming. Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida, with affiliated offices around the world. Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/XplorInternational
Twitter: twitter.com/Xplor_Int or @Xplor_Int

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Director of Marketing
+1-813-949-6171
Chad@xplor.org

Registration Now Open for XPLOR19 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas

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Xplor’s Re-branded Event to Feature a New Location, New Format, and New Agenda

Lutz, FL – October 10, 2018 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced the dates and location for their 2019 annual conference. The re-branded annual conference, XPLOR19, will take place April 23-25, 2019 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Tweet this: @Xplor_Int announces their 2019 annual conference will take place at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, April 23-25. Their #XPLOR19 event features a new location, new format, and new agenda. http://bit.ly/2QGRPr5

XPLOR19, the Premier Event for CCM & Digital Document Professionals, is a two-and-a-half day event that brings together end-users, analysts, consultants, industry experts, and vendors who will share the latest best practices and trends in the customer communications and digital document industry. It will feature 40 educational sessions, a keynote speaker, daily networking events and leading-edge vendors in the vendor forum.

After being on the east coast for over twelve years, XPLOR19 is heading west to the Mandalay Bay Resort and Conference Center in Las Vegas. Rooms are available at four MGM venues including the Mandalay Bay, Delano, Luxor, and Excalibur with room rates ranging between $89-$159 per night.  All are in close proximity to the conference center.

In addition to a new location, XPLOR19 will also feature a new format as well as a new agenda. For 2019, conference sessions will begin on Tuesday afternoon followed by an opening reception from 7:00-9:00 pm. The conference format blends general and breakout sessions with daily networking opportunities.

“After 12 years in Florida we decided to shake things up with a new location, name, format and agenda” says Skip Henk, President/CEO of Xplor International, “We are working on another major change which we will announce in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.”

For more information regarding XPLOR19, or to access the registration site, please visit www.xplor.org/xplor19. Questions should be directed to Register@xplor.org or +1-813-949-6170 between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM (ET), Monday through Friday.

Interested in speaking at XPLOR19? Submit during our Call for Presentations and you could receive a full-conference pass. Visit http://www.cvent.com/d/xbqp29 for more information.

Vendors interested in being an exhibitor should visit the Vendor Forum Website here: http://www.cvent.com/d/ngq61k. Additionally, Xplor’s Director of Sales, Lou Brandow, can be contacted at +1-813-949-6170 or via email at Lou@xplor.org.

About Xplor International
Xplor International is a not-for-profit association that provides thought leadership to the customer communications industry. As a community Xplor provides advocacy, education, training, mentoring and networking opportunities.

Our members are decision makers and recommenders who are involved in the conception, design, implementation production and delivery of multi-channel client, member and customer communications.

Xplor’s mission is to enhance organizational success and advance the careers of our members by providing research, publications, industry certification, professional development, web-based events, and conference programming. Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida, with affiliated offices around the world. Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/XplorInternational
Twitter: twitter.com/Xplor_Int or @Xplor_Int

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Director of Marketing
+1-813-949-6171
Chad@xplor.org

The Xploration Tour is coming to Toronto on October 24th in Conjunction with Xplor Canada’s Fall Meet-up

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First Canadian stop will dive into the latest trends and best practices in Customer Communication Management

Lutz, FL – September 27, 2018 – Xplor International, today announced the Xploration Tour will make its first-ever stop in Canada on October 24, 2018. The event will be held at the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, ON and front-end Xplor Canada’s Fall Meet-up. Attendees can register here: http://www.cvent.com/d/mgq1yb

Attendees will have the choice to attend the Xploration Tour Toronto from 11am to 5:30pm, Xplor Canada’s Fall Meet-up from 4:30 to 9pm, or both. The one hour overlap will feature a panel session moderated by Pat McGrew of Keypoint Intelligence and attendees of both events are welcome.

The Xploration Tour Toronto is co-sponsored by Crawford Technologies and Messagepoint. Crawford Technologies is also sponsoring Canada’s Fall Meet-up.

The 2018 Xploration Tour, from 11am to 5:30pm, will delve into the latest trends and best practices in Customer Communications. CCM is no longer an option and is playing a more integral role in the Customer Experience.

The event will begin with a session presented by Keypoint Intelligence, who will share their latest research, which will then be followed by lunch. Two additional sessions will focus on industry trends as speakers share their thoughts on why CCM is important, how companies can get started, and what the best practices are when implementing a CCM strategy. The Xploration Tour will finally wrap up with a panel moderated by Pat McGrew.

As the Xploration Tour wraps up, Xplor Canada will begin their fall meet-up from 4:30pm to 9pm. Xplor International has invited all of the fall meet-up attendees to attend their closing session in which Pat McGrew of Keypoint Intelligence will be moderating a panel that sums up the day’s findings. Following this session, Xplor Canada will begin dinner and networking before watching the horse races!

“CCM is no longer an option. Companies that are not looking at it are behind curve”, says Skip Henk, President/CEO of Xplor International, “Whether a company already has or is looking to implement and/or enhance their CCM strategy, this one-day event will provide insight and direction.”

For more information about the Xploration Tour, visit the Toronto Tour website.

For information on becoming a future Xploration Tour sponsor, please contact Lou Brandow, Director of Sales, at Lou@xplor.org  or +1-352-246-5298.

About Xplor International
Xplor International is a not-for-profit association that provides thought leadership to the customer communications industry. As a community Xplor provides advocacy, education, training, mentoring and networking opportunities.

Our members are decision makers and recommenders who are involved in the conception, design, implementation production and delivery of multi-channel client, member and customer communications.

Xplor’s mission is to enhance organizational success and advance the careers of our members by providing research, publications, industry certification, professional development, web-based events, and conference programming. Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida, with affiliated offices around the world. Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/XplorInternational
Twitter: twitter.com/Xplor_Int or @Xplor_Int

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Director of Marketing
+1-813-949-6171
Chad@xplor.org

Registration Now Open for Keynote Breakfast Panel at Print 18

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“Disruption of an Industry: Print Technology, Re-engineering, and Workflow”

Lutz, FL— September 5, 2018: Xplor International today announced that registration is now open for their complimentary keynote breakfast panel during the Print 18 event. The panel will take place on October 1, 2018 from 8:30am to 11am CDT. Print 18 is September 30 – October 2, 2018 at McCormick Place South in Chicago, IL. Attendees can register for the complimentary breakfast panel here: http://www.cvent.com/d/5gqdlb.

This breakfast session is presented at no charge, thanks to our sponsors Canon Solutions America and Crawford Technologies. Space will be limited to the first 200 people who register.

The 2018 topic has expanded from the initial announcement of the Xplor breakfast panel and will now cover inkjet, re-engineering, and workflow as well as other print technologies.

The print industry is under ongoing disruption by technology and processes that allow legacy processes to be streamlined and communication distribution to be optimized based on customer preferences, legislative changes, and market opportunities.

Some of the disruption is in print technology with the rise of inkjet, the expansion of EP, and the ability to print on more substrates at higher speeds with more color.  At the same time, some of the disruption comes from workflow automation opportunities that allow for legacy document re-engineering as well as automation that leads to operational efficiencies.

Join us at PRINT 18 as Pat McGrew, Senior Director at Keypoint Intelligence, shares her perspective on the industry and engages our vendor panel to share their thoughts on where the industry is, what the future holds, and how their offerings are bringing success to their customers.

When:  October 1, 2018
Where: McCormick Place South, Chicago, IL – S105abc
Time: 8:30 AM-11:00 AM CDT
Registration Fee:   Complimentary (Registration Required)

Questions and requests for additional information can be directed to Xplor Headquarters via phone at +1-813-949-6170 or via email at info@xplor.org.

About Xplor International
Xplor International is a not-for-profit association that provides thought leadership to the customer communications industry. As a community Xplor provides advocacy, education, training, mentoring and networking opportunities.

Our members are decision makers and recommenders who are involved in the conception, design, implementation production and delivery of multi-channel client, member and customer communications.

Xplor’s mission is to enhance organizational success and advance the careers of our members by providing research, publications, industry certification, professional development, web-based events, and conference programming. Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida, with affiliated offices around the world. Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/XplorInternational
Twitter: twitter.com/Xplor_Int or @Xplor_Int

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Director of Marketing
+1-813-949-6171
Chad@xplor.org

 

Xplor to Once Again Host Keynote Breakfast Panel at Print featuring Keypoint Intelligence – InfoTrends

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Inkjet: Disruption of an Industry

Lutz, FL— June 20, 2018: Xplor International today announced that they will host a complimentary keynote breakfast panel during the Print 18 event, September 30 – October 2, 2018 at McCormick Place South, Chicago. The panel will take place on October 1, 2018 from 8:30am to 11am CDT. Registration will be open in the early part of July.

Inkjet technology has proven to be one of the most disruptive innovations within the printing industry over the last 20 years. It has evolved with significant improvements in print quality, range of media, speed, workflow, as well as reductions in operational costs across applications and market segments. As a testament to how influential inkjet has been in the market, Keypoint Intelligence – InfoTrends forecasts that inkjet will account for 58% of the 871 billion impressions expected to be printed on production digital printing equipment in 2021.

Join us at PRINT 18 as our panel of inkjet users share their experiences with the technology. They will share best practices in determining what to print, selecting a system, optimizing workflows, and other considerations when making the investment!

This sponsored breakfast session is presented at no charge, thanks to our sponsors. Space will be limited to the first 225 people who register. Additional sponsorship opportunities remain open for the event. For more information on becoming a sponsor, please contact Deborah Green, Director of Sales, at +1-770-444-3845 or deborahgreen@xplor.org.

When:  October 1, 2018
Where: McCormick Place South, Chicago, IL
Time: 8:30 AM-11:00 AM CDT
Registration Fee:   Complimentary (Registration Required)

Registration will open in early July and will be accessible from the Xplor website (www.xplor.org). Questions and requests for additional information can be directed to Xplor Headquarters via phone at +1-813-949-6170 or via email at info@xplor.org.

About Xplor International
Xplor International is a not-for-profit association that provides thought leadership to the customer communications industry. As a community Xplor provides advocacy, education, training, mentoring and networking opportunities.

Our members are decision makers and recommenders who are involved in the conception, design, implementation production and delivery of multi-channel client, member and customer communications.

Xplor’s mission is to enhance organizational success and advance the careers of our members by providing research, publications, industry certification, professional development, web-based events, and conference programming. Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida, with affiliated offices around the world. Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/XplorInternational
Twitter: twitter.com/Xplor_Int or @Xplor_Int

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Director of Marketing
+1-813-949-6171
Chad@xplor.org

Speed of Change 3 – A Whole New Pandora’s Box

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Submitted by Harry Stephens, President/CEO of DATAMATX
April 26, 2018

It’s been over a decade since I wrote a column titled “The Speed of Change.” In it, I discussed how technology was completely changing our relationship with time, which in turn, was changing our business processes dramatically.  In 2007, the technologies we were figuring out how to integrate were the Internet, PDAs and the new iPhone. Fast forward four years to 2011, when I wrote a column called The Speed of Change 2.  In 2011, it was a whole new set of tools, like mobile applications and media tablets, social networking and cloud services, that were demanding our attention.  Within a short time, these tools, and more, were all part of our daily lives, setting a completely new standard.

Of course, since 2011, the speed of change hasn’t stopped. In fact, it’s accelerated. And while things have become easier in many ways because of these advances, things have also become scarier. In fact, what I am calling The Speed of Change 3 has opened a whole new Pandora’s box.  While technological advances have provided our businesses with the potential to create more efficient systems, they have also opened new avenues for data protection threats.

We all read about these data breaches daily. Recently, I just read that the average data security breach takes less time to pull off than it does to prepare a cup of coffee, with 93 percent occurring in less than one minute. Conversely, it can take a business a very long time to recover from one. In the business we are in, where sensitive data is part of our daily work, a data breach would spell disaster. Therefore, every company, no matter what size, needs to have a security program in place. While there is no one security product or control that can prevent data breaches, it is critical that in our type of business we do what it takes to maintain the highest level of security possible with processes and procedures that eliminate vulnerabilities in a timely manner.

At DATAMATX, we have always dedicated extensive resources and implemented additional processes to ensure our clients continue to have the highest level of confidence in the managing and processing of their data. This has included successfully meeting rigorous compliance requirements year after year with third-party audits to continue to achieve FISMA, PCI DSS 3.2 and SOC 2 + HITRUST CSF certifications as well as investing heavily in cyber liability insurance.

It also includes making continued extensive upgrades to our comprehensive information security policies and procedures, establishing a continuous monitoring program and developing a risk based approach to protect the data and physical security of our three facilities. Additionally, for many years now, we have had a disaster recovery plan in place, with three comprehensive, fully redundant facilities and now have a more defined business continuity plan to ensure we meet the ever increasing client SLAs and audit requirements. To be sure, all of this took an investment on our part in time, effort and money.  But what is the potential cost of a data breach in terms of time, effort and money—and a company’s reputation? I shudder to think. In a recent meeting at our facility, a cyber insurance expert we invited to speak presented a data breach case study of 50,000 PII records being exposed with a final cost of $29 million dollars with crisis management, customer notification, lawsuits and regulatory fines being paid.

Technology is constantly changing and with those changes come security and privacy threats every organization faces. At DATAMATX, we focus a great deal of our attention on ensuring data security compliance standards. And, yes, it requires an investment from a business standpoint that affects the bottom line.

However, if you want to play the game today in the service provider industry—and not be viewed as simply the low-cost provider—you must think about whether your company is doing enough to protect your clients’ data. Because it is their expectations that security is an integral part of your business model that has set the bar. So, let me leave you with this thought:  If you want to be successful in the transactional and direct mail business, then it is important to understand that security and compliance are now in the driver’s seat—and the real bottom line.

Until next time – Harry

Harry Stephens

Harry Stephens is President/CEO, and founder of DATAMATX, one of the nation’s largest privately held, full-service providers of printed and electronic billing solutions. As an advocate for business mailers across the country, Stephens is actively involved in several postal trade associations.  He serves on the Executive Board of the Greater Atlanta Postal Customer Council, Board Member of the National Postal Policy Council (NPPC), Member of Major Mailers Association(MMA), and member of the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service.  He is also immediate past president of the Imaging Network Group (INg), an association for Print/Mail Service Bureaus.  As an expert on high-volume print and mail, he has frequently been asked to speak to various USPS groups, including the Board of Governors, about postal reform and other issues affecting business mailers.  Find more information about DATAMATX at www.datamatx.com. 

Brian Platte Lifetime Achievement and Xplorer of the Year Awards Presented at Xploration® 18

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Lutz, FL — April 17, 2018: Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today named the recipients of the 2018 Brian Platte Lifetime Achievement and Xplorer of the Year Awards. These awards were presented at Xplor’s Annual Conference, Xploration 18, on Tuesday, April 17th during the awards ceremony.

Tweet this: Brian Platte Lifetime Achievement and Xplorer of the Year Award Recipients Recognized at Xploration® 18 #Xplor18 #Awards http://bit.ly/2HnpF0R

The Brian Platte Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2007 and is given to an individual, or individuals, whose efforts and contributions have significantly changed the course and development of the digital document industry. This award is open to Xplor International members as well as non-members.

This year, two Brian Platte Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented.

The first recipient is Basit Hamid, founder of Elixir Technologies. Basit is an innovator in customer communications and has transformed the lives of young professionals while spear-heading humanitarian initiatives around the globe.

As a member of Intran’s development team, he helped design the company’s impressive font and image editing system, which culminated in the release of MetaForm, the first commercial WYSIWYG document composition solution. In 1984, Mr. Hamid and his business partner, Eric Searle, left Intran to found Elixir, launching ElixiForms, the first WYSIWYG forms system on a standard PC, in 1987.

For the past fifteen years, Elixir has partnered with a major medical hospital in Pakistan to administer the TELMEDPAK project. This initiative brings medical help to remote areas of Pakistan affected by the Afghan war by conducting seminars for healthcare professionals and offering concept lectures at medical conferences and institutions.

The second honoree for the Brian Platte Lifetime Achievement Award is Bob Gullikson.

Bob began his journey in early 1990’s running a transactional print operation. He was challenged to develop a plan for the future and help engineer new technology that would give his company a competitive advantage and drive revenue.  The initial concept his team developed included many presentation modes that didn’t exist at that time and he had to make believers out of skeptical executives in order to garner support for his vision which not only included printing on paper, but also the electronic delivery of documents.

The system simplified the design process to minimize Cobol hard coding and shorten the development time for new documents and changes.  Once approved, FDR’s Enterprise Presentation platform was designed and implemented in 18 months.

In addition to Bob’s professional achievements, he has been a consistent supporter and volunteer to community organizations and charities.  Bob is an honorably discharged U.S. Air Force veteran who served during the Vietnam War.  He was chosen to serve on Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey’s Military Academy Nomination Committee and participated for several years.

The Xplorer of the Year honors individuals or companies that have demonstrated significant service to the association, dedication to the Xplor mission, and recent notable achievement promoting the interest of the electronic document systems and customer communications industry.

This year’s Xplorer of the year is Scott Draeger, M-EDP.  Mr. Draeger served on the International Board of Directors, retiring two years ago. He is the number one supporter of industry certification and is responsible for the certification of over 35 EDP’s and 150 EDA’s through the EDP Challenge, which Quadient has supported for the last four years.

Scott’s out of the box approach has incubated the idea of the Xplor University Design Competition as well as many other changes to the association in response to an ever-evolving industry.

“I’d like to congratulate Basit, Bob and Scott for their achievements as they are well deserved.” says Skip Henk, EDP, President/CEO of Xplor International. “Our industry as a whole, and the world around us, are better places due to each of their efforts.”

Other Xplor annual awards, recognized and announced at Xploration® 18, include:

Technology of the Year
Winner – Crawford Technologies / Auto Tagger
Honorable Mention – Solimar Systems / SOLitrack 2.0
Honorable Mention – Racami / Alchem-e
Honorable Mention – Indellient / BlueRelay

Application of the Year
Winner: UNUM / Crawford Technologies
Honorable Mention – Volusia County Schools / RICOH USA, Inc.
Honorable Mention – Broadridge Customer Communications / Compart

About Xplor International
Xplor International is a not-for-profit association that provides thought leadership to the customer communications industry. As a community Xplor provides advocacy, education, training, mentoring and networking opportunities.

Our members are decision makers and recommenders who are involved in the conception, design, implementation production and delivery of multi-channel client, member and customer communications.

Xplor’s mission is to enhance organizational success and advance the careers of our members by providing research, publications, industry certification, professional development, web-based events, and conference programming. Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida, with affiliated offices around the world. Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/XplorInternational
Twitter: twitter.com/Xplor_Int or @Xplor_Int

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Director of Marketing
+1-813-949-6171
Chad@xplor.org