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Xplor President talks to Crawford Technologies President, Ernie Crawford

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Interviewed by Skip Henk, EDP, President and CEO of Xplor International

I have had the pleasure of watching Crawford Technologies over the years becoming a leading provider of customer communications solutions. Their latest solution, SmartSetup, was recognized at the 2023 Xplor CCM Summit with the Technology of the Year award.

Founded in 1995, Crawford Technologies has grown to become a renowned provider of solutions for enterprise communications processing (ECP). Ernie Crawford, Founder, President & CEO of Crawford Technologies, shares his thoughts about ECP and the need to process customer communications for smartphones and tablets.

Skip – What is enterprise communications processing and how is it different than customer communication management?

Ernie – Enterprise communications processing (ECP) is a comprehensive approach to giving enterprises the tools they need to manage and deliver all forms of business communications to their customers, across various channels like email, print, mobile apps and more. It streamlines and automates the entire communication workflow, from composition through post-composition, postal automation, job combining and assembly to delivery and tracking. 

ECP has become very popular because most organizations have multiple CCM platforms and composition software, and it is very costly and inefficient to get them all to provide multi-channel and omni-channel capabilities that are consistent with each other—if that is even possible. It is highly desirable to have a single point of control and that is where ECP comes in.

ECP helps organizations improve their customer experience with consistent on-target, timely communications through their customers’ preferred channels.  At the same time, we see organizations benefit from reduced operational costs by eliminating redundant and manual tasks. This translates into tremendous cost savings that enable the money to be used to improve other areas of the business, such as accessibility.

On the other hand, CCM focuses on the composition of customer communications, involving tasks like planning communication strategies, designing compelling content and adhering to branding guidelines. It’s essentially the creative hub where the communication materials take shape, addressing the customer’s journey and information needs.

Skip – What’s the challenge with using PDFs for electronic delivery?

Ernie – PDFs were created in the 1990s to provide a standard format for sharing documents electronically between computer systems. Today, nearly 80% of consumers prefer reading emails, newsletters and other forms of corporate communications on their smartphones or tablets. Combined with 92% of internet users accessing the internet using a mobile phone, that means there has been a dramatic shift from consumers using computers to smartphones to read news, check email, respond to text messages, communicate on social media, access corporate portals, shop for goods and services and browse the web. This shift, or mobile revolution, makes it a requirement for organizations to make sure that all their customer-facing communications are optimized for mobile devices. As an ECP company, Crawford Technologies ensures that we provide the tools and capabilities for organizations to make that happen. The beauty of doing that in ECP is that we can be made aware of when a user is on a mobile device and provide that format dynamically.

Skip – OK, what format should our readers be using for electronic customer communications?

Ernie – Composing customer communications and formatting them into AFP or PDF is still a regulatory requirement for many organizations in order to match the printed documents. They are a document of record for record retention. Therefore, AFP and PDF are not going away.

We have embraced the concept of processing print files and transforming them into responsive HTML for mobile device communications, without altering the original document in any way.  A good example is a customer of ours which is a very large financial institution. Our software converts their print-ready transactional customer communication documents into responsive HTML for mobile devices. It is done in real time when a customer requests to view their statement from their smartphone.

Skip – Why not compose customer communications in HTML?

Ernie – You could invest in composing customer communications in an HTML format, but that would result in maintaining and storing a print and HTML version of the communication. This approach will increase your labor, storage and operational costs when corporate mandates are to reduce costs and be more efficient. For example, one of our customers estimated that it would cost them in excess of $20 million to generate, maintain and store two communications with the same data.

Skip – Good point.  Any closing thoughts for our readers?

Ernie – Enterprise communications processing is a versatile technology that can be used to improve customer communications in a variety of ways. We provide some of the best, cutting-edge technologies in the industry. If you are looking for a way to streamline your communication processes, deliver communications for smartphones and tablets and reduce costs, then our ECP solutions are a good option to consider.

The future of electronic customer communications is undeniably mobile. Organizations must recognize this shift in consumer behavior and adapt their strategies accordingly. Embracing responsive HTML for electronic communications is not just an option—it’s a necessity for staying relevant in a rapidly changing digital landscape. It’s time for organizations to leave behind the constraints of PDFs, embrace responsive HTML and usher in a new era of mobile customer communications.

Skip – Thank you, Ernie, for taking the time and sharing your thoughts. Best wishes to you and the Crawford family for a happy holiday season.

To learn more about making your customer communications mobile-ready, register for the upcoming webinar, Mobile Revolution: Enhancing Customer Engagement with Responsive HTML, hosted by Crawford Technologies on December 7 at 1 p.m. ET. It will include tips and tricks to transform PDFs into responsive HTML and show how it can be done using Crawford Technologies’ enterprise communications processing software.

Until next interview! Take care.

skip_Henk_Photo_2011

 

Skip Henk, EDP
President/CEO
Xplor International

An Interview with Harvey Gross on upcoming Customer Communications Virtual Summit

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By: Skip Henk, President and CEO of Xplor International

Xplor Elite sponsor and longtime supporter Crawford Technologies is hosting a virtual customer communications summit on May 6th outlining strategies for staying in touch with your customers.

I had the opportunity to speak with Harvey Gross, Vice President of Products for Crawford to learn a bit more on their decision to put on the event and what people can expect.

Skip: Harvey, what is Crawford’s purpose in putting on the Customer Communications Virtual Summit?

Harvey: Well Skip, in a nutshell – we kind of missed getting together with our colleagues in the industry ad hearing about the new things that everyone has been working on.

Skip: This whole virtual world is coming to the forefront, on a lighter note, what should one wear to this event?

Harvey: This is a really important question given the current environment we are all living in right now. Let me share the good news – what you wear is totally up to you! Be as comfy as you want! You don’t have to wear a suit and tie, a name badge and what’s even more important – there’s no need to worry about social distancing, so you don’t have to wear a mask. That is unless you have a really cool mask that you like to wear around your home or office.

Skip: What is the Customer Communications Virtual Summit and why should you attend?

Harvey: Another good question. While many of the industry events you were planning to attend this spring and summer have either been cancelled or postponed, it doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on gaining the insights from recognized industry experts, customers and enterprise leaders about the technologies and best practices that can help organizations grow and thrive. And to be quite honest, we here at Crawford Technologies miss having the opportunity to share these experiences with you and we know our colleagues do as well. But we didn’t want this to be just be another invitation to a webinar.

We decided that the best way to get everyone together would be to host a full day, complimentary Customer Communications Virtual Summit where our industry experts can share their knowledge and experiences related to improving customer experience, understanding and achieving regulatory compliance and optimizing customer communications across 3 tracks – Output Management, eDelivery and Document Accessibility. With 30 sessions focused on thought leadership, case studies, user experiences and collaboration opportunities, the Virtual Summit is more than just another webinar – it is an ideal and timely opportunity to easily stay on top of the latest industry trends and topics.

Skip: Who will be speaking?

Harvey: We are thrilled to have an amazing lineup of the most respected customer communications industry experts and enterprise leaders for this event. Our Keynote speaker, Matt Swain, managing director and practice lead at Broadridge Communications and Customer Experience (CX) Consulting, will share his perspective on the future of communications relative to business priorities and customer preferences in the wake of COVID-19 and how some temporary measures are likely to morph into new norms for communications in the future. Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from Kaspar

Roos, founder and CEO of Aspire Customer Communications Services; Gina Ferrara, senior analyst at Madison Advisors; Pat McGrew, managing director of The McGrew Group; Laney Feingold, lawyer and writer at the Law Offices of Lainey Feingold; and Pina D’Intino, founder of Aequum Global Access.

Our customers will also be sharing their insights and strategies for optimizing customer communications including John Slaney from Content Critical Solutions, Kathy Lovell from Regions Bank, Birkir Gunnarssen from Truist and Ken Schmidt from Ameritas. And you will also hear from our partners – BlueCrest, Canon, BCC Software, Nuxeo, Delphax Solutions, enChoice, Microsoft, Pitney Bowes Software, Deque, AO Docs and Open Access Technologies.

Skip: Any closing remarks?

Harvey: Make sure to check out the agenda and register for this exciting industry event. And if you need another reason to attend? You definitely won’t have tired, aching, blistered feet at the end of the day.

Register today and I hope to “see” you at our first Customer Communications Virtual Summit on May 6th.

Until next interview! Take care.

skip_Henk_Photo_2011

 

Skip Henk, EDP
President/CEO
Xplor International

Ricoh USA Joins Crawford Technologies in Sponsoring Xploration Tour in Omaha

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Lutz, FL – October 2, 2019 – Xplor International today announced that Ricoh USA has joined Crawford Technologies in sponsoring the Xploration Tour stop in Omaha on October 15, 2019. The event will be hosted by Fiserv. Attendees can register at www.xplor.org/tour. 

Courtesy of our sponsors, the one-day event located at the University of Nebraska Omaha Scott Campus, boasts a continental breakfast, educational sessions, a lunch, and networking. 

The 2019 Xploration Tours focus on the best practices and technologies that drive Customer Communications. Each of the five city programs feature speakers who will share their experiences and expertise in creating effective and efficient communications.

The Omaha event will kick off with Kemal Carr, President of Madison Advisors, as he talks about the PSP state of the market. This session will provide attendees with an understanding of how to approach the complex process of creating and implementing a document print and mail outsourcing strategy that accounts for their unique needs. Attendees will also learn how to measure the success of a strategy.

Additionally, we will hear sessions from the USPS and Fiserv, as well as from our event sponsors Crawford Technologies and Ricoh USA before wrapping up with a panel of the day’s presenters.

“We are excited for Ricoh USA to be joining us in Omaha for this Tour stop,” says Skip Henk, President/CEO of Xplor International. “We look forward to seeing everyone at this event, so a big thank you goes out to Ricoh USA and Crawford Technologies for allowing us to offer the event at no charge.”

For more information about the Xploration Tour, or for your complimentary registration, visit www.xplor.org/tour.

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

Next Stop for the Xploration Tour is Omaha on October 15th

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Lutz, FL – September 12, 2019 – Xplor International today announced the next Xploration Tour stop is October 15, 2019 in Omaha, Nebraska. The event will be hosted by Fiserv and is sponsored by Crawford Technologies. Attendees can register at www.xplor.org/tour. 

The 2019 Xploration Tours focus on the best practices and technologies that drive Customer Communications. Each of the five city programs feature speakers who will share their experiences and expertise in creating effective and efficient communications.

The Omaha event will feature Xplor’s President & CEO, Skip Henk, as he presents CCM and the Customer Experience, which will focus on current CCM trends, the attributes of a meaningful customer experience and the impact it can have on an organization.

Additional sessions include presentations from Crawford Technologies and Fiserv before wrapping up with a panel discussion of the day’s speakers.  The event includes a continental breakfast and lunch.

“Once again, we are able to offer the opportunity to attend at no charge, courtesy of our sponsor Crawford Technologies,” says Skip Henk, President/CEO of Xplor International. “We look forward to seeing everyone in Omaha, so be sure to use promo code CRAWFORD when registering.”

For more information about the Xploration Tour, or for your complimentary registration, visit www.xplor.org/tour.

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 at Print 19 Panelists Announced

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“Driving Your CCM Success with Workflow and Inkjet Technologies”

Lutz, FL— September 9, 2019: Xplor International today announced the panelists for their complimentary keynote breakfast panel that will take place on October 4, 2019 from 7:30am to 10am CDT in room N426abc. Print 19 is October 3 – October 5, 2019 at McCormick Place North in Chicago, IL.  Attendees can register for the complimentary breakfast panel here: http://www.cvent.com/d/6yq440.

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

The event’s moderator is Gina Ferrara, Senior Analyst from Madison Advisors, and panelists include:

  • Steve Coburn, Director, Production Print Product Management, BlueCrest
  • Ernie Crawford, M-EDP, CEO/President, Crawford Technologies
  • Avi Greenfield, EDP, Senior Director of Product Management, Quadient
  • Kevin Roman, Manager, Software Solutions Group, Canon Solutions America

“We are very excited to be a part of the Print 19 show once again and look forward to a great discussion on workflow and inkjet technologies,” says Skip Henk, President/CEO of Xplor International. “I’d like to also thank BlueCrest, Canon Solutions America, Crawford Technologies and Quadient sponsoring this event and all of their continued support!”

Questions and requests for additional information can be directed to Xplor Headquarters via phone at +1-813-949-6170 or via email at events@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 at Print 19 Keynote Breakfast Panel Now Open for Registration

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“Driving Your CCM Success with Workflow and Inkjet Technologies”

Lutz, FL— August 30, 2019: Xplor International today announced that registration is now open for a complimentary keynote breakfast panel during the Print 19 event. The panel will take place on October 4, 2019 from 8:30am to 10am CDT with breakfast from 7:30am to 8:30am. Print 19 is October 3 – October 5, 2019 at McCormick Place North in Chicago, IL.  Attendees can register for the complimentary breakfast panel here: http://www.cvent.com/d/6yq440.

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

Continuing and building on the discussion from the 2018 event, this panel covers how companies are under increased pressure to address market opportunities, satisfy customer preferences and address constantly changing legislation through the use of technology.

Effective implementation of workflow processes and the use of expanding inkjet capabilities can reduce costs, increase operational efficiency and provide more effective communications.

Join the Xplor at PRINT 19 panel as industry analyst, Gina Ferrara, shares her perspective on the industry and engages our vendor participants as they share their thoughts on where the industry is, what the future holds and how these technologies have brought success to their customers.

When:  October 4, 2019
Where: McCormick Place North, Chicago, IL – N426abc
Time: 7:30 AM-10:00 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.

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

The 2019 Xploration Tour to hit Toronto on July 17th

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Lutz, FL – May 20, 2019 – Xplor International, today announced the Xploration Tour will return to Toronto on July 17, 2019 after a very successful single-day event last year. The event will this time be held at the City of Toronto Archives. Registration is set to open June 1st.  

The Xploration Tour in Toronto is sponsored by Crawford Technologies. Two additional sponsorships for this event are still available.

The 2019 Xploration Tours will focus on the best practices and technologies that drive Customer Communications. Each of the four city programs will feature speakers who will share their experiences and expertise in creating effective and efficient communications.

The event will begin with an industry overview which will provide a baseline for the event, focusing on the current state of the industry. Additional sessions will focus on best practices and technologies, as speakers share their thoughts on why CCM is important, how companies can get started, and implementing a CCM strategy. The Xploration Tour will finally wrap up with a panel of the day’s speakers. After the Toronto event is complete, there will be a tour of the city archives building. The event includes lunch, courtesy of the event sponsors.

“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.”

Additional cities for the 2019 Xploration Tour include:

  • Dallas – September 5th, hosted by Broadridge Financial
  • Omaha – October 15th, hosted by FDR
  • Minneapolis – November (Date TBD), hosted by Taylor Communications

Each city will include 4-5 educational sessions, including an industry overview, as well a lunch. Some cities will offer facility tours. Programming may vary slightly between cities. Xplor members attend for free, and there is a nominal fee for non-members.

For more information about the Xploration Tour, visit www.xplor.org/tour.

For information on becoming an Xploration Tour sponsor for Toronto, or any of the other posted cities, please contact sales@xplor.org or +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

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

Xploration® 18 Sponsored by Industry-Leading Vendors

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Lutz, FL – March 28, 2018 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced the line-up of conference sponsors for Xploration® 18, being held April 17-19 at the Rosen Plaza in Orlando, Florida.

“The support of our sponsors and the vendor community is critical to the success of not only this event but Xplor as an organization.” said Skip Henk, EDP, President and CEO of Xplor International. “We thank and appreciate each of our Xploration 18 sponsors for their commitment and support.”

Xploration® 18 Conference Sponsors include:

  • Registration:
    • Conference Bag– Canon Solutions America
    • Lanyard/Badge Holder– Quadient
    • Conference Guide – Cincinnati Financial
  • Food and Beverage
    • Tuesday Lunch – RISO
    • Thursday Breakfast – Quadient
  • Networking Events
    • Opening Reception – NEPS, Inc.
    • Wednesday Happy Hour Reception – Crawford Technologies and RenderX, Inc.
  • Conference Programming
    • A Morning with Keypoint Intelligence-InfoTrends – Quadient
    • Track – Customer Experience – Compart
    • Keynote Speaker / Jeff Evans – Ricoh USA
    • Industry Awards – Broadridge Financial

There are a couple more sponsorships still available. Vendors interested in either a sponsorship or becoming an exhibitor should contact Xplor’s Director of Sales, Deborah Green at 770-444-3845 or via email at deborahgreen@xplor.org.  

For more information regarding Xploration® 18, or to register, visit www.xplor.org/xplor18. 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.

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 Announces 2018 Technology and Application of the Year Award Winners

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Recipients to Be Recognized at Xploration® 18 in Orlando on April 17th

Lutz, FL — February 27, 2018 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced the recipients of its 2018 Technology and Application of the Year Awards. The awards will be presented at a ceremony Tuesday, April 17, 2018, during the Xploration® 18 event at the Rosen Plaza in Orlando, Florida.

Tweet this: @CrawfordTech has won the #Xplor18 Technology & Application of the Year Awards! Honorable Mentions include: @RicohTweets @Broadridge @SolimarSystems @Racami1 @Indellient A BIG Congratulations to all! They will be recognized at Xploration 18 on April 17th! http://bit.ly/2EWvAfj

Application of the Year Award:

The Application of the Year Award is presented to an individual, a company or an organization to recognize outstanding achievement in the imaginative application of current technology and/or unique implementation of existing document and communication systems. This award is open to members and non-members alike.

Xplor will award two honorable mentions in addition to the 2018 winner.

  • The winner of the 2018 Xplor Application of the Year is UNUM / Crawford Technologies for their innovative approach in consolidating several data centers, automating over 2000 applications, and creating a process for ensuring efficiency and document integrity when outsourcing. The solution utilized Crawford’s QA in the Cloud and Operations Express products and demonstrated a significant collaborative effort between both companies.
  • An Honorable Mention is being awarded Volusia County Schools / RICOH USA, Inc. for their WebCRD with QDirect implementation that automated workflows and increased time and efficiency, allowing Volusia to take on work from local governments and non-profits to help drive revenue.
  • A second Honorable Mention is being awarded to Broadridge Customer Communications and Compart, NA for their patent pending “Rapid OnBoarding.” This application significantly reduces the time-consuming steps of producing a factory-ready file and document, all from a proprietary point-and-click user interface.

Technology of the Year Award:

The Technology of the Year Award honors an individual, company or organization that has conceived and developed an original concept leading to a significant advancement in the industry.  This can be a new program, product, or technology that notably enhances the capabilities of document and communication systems.

Like the Application of the Year award, Xplor will present multiple honorable mentions, in addition to the winner of the award, due to the large number of submissions.

  • The winner of the 2018 Xplor Technology of the Year is being awarded to Crawford Technologies for their Auto Tagger for Accessibility product. Auto Tagger allows all types of PDF files to be automatically tagged and converted to Accessible PDF (WCAG 2.0 and PDF U/A) or Accessible HTML5.  Auto tagging saves time and opens the door to making all electronic documents equally accessible to any and all users.
  • An Honorable Mention for Technology of the Year is being awarded to Solimar Systems for their SOLitrack 2.0 with Batching and Mobile Modules. Solimar’s SOLitrack™ product, is a database-centric output management system that uses a PC client view interface to control and track print files on desktops or allows them to be viewed through a web-based interface on mobile devices with SOLitrack Mobile. The Batching Module creates rolling-queues based on mailpiece aggregations that dynamically schedules jobs.
  • An additional Honorable Mention for the Xplor Technology of the Year award is being presented to Racami for their Alchem-e CCM Platform. The platform ties together all other software and hardware within a company to form a master system that forces standards in companies necessary for automation, quality control, and speed to market. The platform reduces IT costs and has many features that assist employees so they are more informed, make better decisions, and run the business more efficiently.
  • An additional Honorable Mention for the Xplor Technology of the Year award is being presented to Indellient for their flagship product BlueRelay. BlueRelay offers a powerful suite of workflow and document management tools that simplifies document approval processes and improves quality and compliance of customer communications. The efficiencies gained at one of Indellient’s clients allowed them to experience “an increase of over 300% in workload without increase to headcount.”

“Once again, the awards committee had a tough time selecting winners from the volume of submissions we received,” said Skip Henk, EDP, President and CEO of Xplor International. “I’d like to thank all who submitted and congratulate our winners and honorable mentions.”

Xplor International will also be announcing the recipients of the Xplorer of the Year and Brian Platte Lifetime Achievement awards at Xploration® 18 on Tuesday, April 17, 2018.

For more information regarding Xploration® 18, or to register, visit www.xplor.org/xplor18. 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.

Vendors interested in being an exhibitor or sponsor should contact Xplor’s Director of Sales, Deborah Green at +1-770-444-3845 or via email at deborahgreen@xplor.org.

About Xploration 18: Starting at $899 USD for a Full-conference Platinum Passport, the two-and-a-half day event is the perfect blend of educational sessions, panel discussions, general sessions, and networking events. Features include:

  • 40+ Educational Sessions
  • Panel Discussions and General Sessions
  • Keynote Speaker
  • 35+ Industry Partners in the Vendor Forum
  • Two Evening Networking Events (Tue/Wed)
  • Two Networking Luncheons (Tue/Wed)
  • Thursday Breakfast
  • New for 2018: A Morning with Keypoint Intelligence – InfoTrends

For more information regarding Xploration 18, or to access the registration site, please visit www.xplor.org/xplor18. 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.

Vendors interested in being an exhibitor should contact Xplor’s Director of Sales, Deborah Green at +1-770-444-3845 or via email at deborahgreen@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