Enfocus
Switch Core Engine

Description

Create the smartest automated production workflow in existense! Enfocus Switch 2019 is the newest version of the modular, affordable automation solution that works the way you do. Enfocus Switch eliminates errors, streamlines repetitive functions and drives your productivity to levels previously unattainable.

Organize and manage workflows in a smarter way

With Switch, you can receive, sort, route, notify, convert and optimize all possible file types, split & merge PDF files and easily control and drive third-party applications to deliver to any output medium. Enfocus Switch is a modular and open software solution that gives companies of all sizes and budgets a streamlined way to manage their files and associated business processes. Switch can easily be integrated with your existing systems and processes to maximize the productivity of your entire organization.

Seamless Integration

Switch seamlessly ties together multiple applications into a customized and automated end-to-end workflow. No matter where a file originates from, what format it is in, or what the output will be, the workflow connected by Switch ensures the file is processed in less time, with less effort and at a lower cost.

Switch can control and automate applications that execute tasks such as:

• Converting between file formats
• Formatting and optimizing images
• Preflighting and optimizing PDFs
• Assembling complex documents and multi-part jobs
• Imposing files
• Proofing

The Enfocus Appstore, a newly created marketplace enables the global Switch Community to share product knowledge and applications. The Appstore enables Switch users around the world to instantly purchase and use apps created by other Switch users.

The Switch Community is composed of Switch specialists — including users, integrators and Channel Partners — from all parts of the globe. Enfocus has created a way to extend the benefits of the collective knowledge and information and share it with the larger Enfocus Community. The Enfocus Appstore is essentially a global marketplace where Switch specialists can buy and sell applications that improve how they use the product, and ultimately, how they run their operations.

At the Enfocus Appstore, users can easily view information for all available apps. The viewable information includes details about the app, compatibility and version information, the name of the creator, screenshots, and a link to the support offered by the creator. If a user is interested in an app, he or she can download it and try it free for one month. If the user likes the application, it can be purchased on a subscription basis.

Switch also integrates with the following critical back office and enterprise solutions for more intelligent job processing and company-wide data capture:

• Management Information Systems
• Digital Asset Management Systems
• E-commerce and web-to-print

Scalable to meet your needs

Whenever you need to expand the system’s versatility or increase throughput, Switch will help you grow with your business by providing an economical alternative that lets you implement only the functionality that you require.

Maximize your investments

Since Switch enables you to scale freely, and to take full advantage of your existing software investments and your employees’ skills in using them, it will deliver a rapid return on investment, with most sites recouping the costs in a matter of several months.

Switch can be tailored to create a customized workflow that’s right for your business

Switch offers a simple interface to guide you through building your workflow. The result is a custom, dynamically linked workflow that connects all necessary applications. Perfect for businesses who cope with the following challenges:

• We lose time sorting out and distributing files to the right people in our organization.
• We put a lot of manual effort in processing files and images.
• We have many files to traffic, deliver and archive.

Switch will help you tackle these pains, step by step!

Discover the difference Switch can make

Communication is vital to the success of every organization, no matter what kind of business you are in. The largest portion of that critical communication consists of the files your business creates, receives and shares with customers, partners and employees.

Take control of your organization’s processes

With manual processes, you constantly need to check the quality of files being produced and the way they are shared and received. Switch eliminates that worry, giving users a secure way to automate the entire process with a guarantee of high quality.

Be consistent in all you do

Each company needs to be sure that the procedures it uses for processing files are consistent and error-free. Switch gives you a way to create workflows that automatically ensure this level of consistency and accuracy, while being flexible enough to adapt to new business needs as they develop within your organization.

Use only what you need — grow when you’re ready

Switch is offered as a modular and open software solution. You can start by automating key processes and add modules with additional functionality as your business grows or specific requirements need to be fulfilled. This modular approach assures that you only pay for the functionality you need.

Like all Enfocus products, Switch is built with an open architecture that allows seamless integration and use of data and functionalities from other solutions. This provides companies the greatest flexibility for the least investment.

Benefit from Enfocus’ history of success

Enfocus has a history of providing affordable automation solutions that have enabled thousands of businesses across many industries worldwide to improve communication, productivity and quality. This experience makes Enfocus uniquely qualified to help businesses bring the same level of success to their file management processes.

Make your flows crystal clear to everyone

To help you build concise and user-friendly flows, Enfocus have created a powerful tool set to make sure your flows are clearly understandable and recognizable by everyone:

• NEW! Colored elements and connections
• NEW! Invisible grid to easily align flow elements
• Description fields for elements, which show as a tooltip when the flow is activated
• A flow documentation feature, which exports your flow to an HTML page. Each element and connection is clickable and is linked to a clear description.

Take advantage of proven technologies from industry leaders

Switch is integrated with numerous third-party applications that are in widespread use in the printing, publishing and graphics industries.

Whether you want to automate the setup and functionality of a software application or upload/download files and information from DAM and MIS/ERP systems, Switch provides you with an easy-to-use and configurable interface.

Enfocus Switch: Modular Approach

Switch Core Engine

As its name implies, the Switch Core Engine is the starting point for enabling automation of the file management tasks you perform every day, including: receiving, sorting, routing, renaming, processing and tracking files. Switch enables you to use job and file information — whether it’s the file name or file type — to plan your workflow and automate routing and processing. Automating these tasks results in standardized procedures, reducing the number of errors, the time spent managing files and the costs involved in file management.

Switch Modules

When you are ready to start automating more complex business operations, Switch offers a wide range of Modules to help meet your specific needs. These Modules permit you to connect to databases and websites, add power to your processing capability and enhance communications.

Configurator Module
The Configurator Module allows you to integrate, control and automate third-party applications.

Metadata Module
Enhance your workflow’s intelligence (processing and routing) by giving access to other types of metadata originating from other applications or stored in other formats.

Database Module
This module provides a direct ODBC communication between any SQL datasource and Switch without the need for additional scripting.

Scripting Module
The Scripting Module gives you the freedom to completely customize your workflow.

Performance Module
This module enables large companies working with many complex workflows to leverage more powerful hardware and increases the number of concurrent tasks that can be executed.

SwitchClient Module
The SwitchClient Module is a separate desktop application allowing users to access the Switch Server remotely.

Web Services Module
The Switch Web Services Module allows you to integrate Switch with web portals or any SOAP-compliant application to streamline file submission and tracking by customers.

Common Fallacies About Automation

Implementing automation is time-consuming…

Enfocus Switch is built around the concept of gradual, stepped implementation that starts with one or two production “pain points” that can be implemented quickly.

Once these issues have been successfully addressed, you can tackle more complex workflow automation challenges. Gradual implementation is the key to success.

Automation is complicated…

Automation does not have to be complicated! And, while Switch is incredibly sophisticated, setting up flows is easy for novice and advanced users.

However, as your automation projects grow in complexity, it is important to be able to bring in experts. That’s why Enfocus works with Certified Partners — experts who implement automation projects on a regular basis and know how to tailor Switch to work best in your unique production environment.

Automation will make me lose my job…

Every company has to deal with repetitive tasks that add no value, but take time and increase the likelihood of introducing errors. Switch is perfectly suited to these jobs, freeing up staff to provide revenue generated services that deliver real value to customers.

Automation is not flexible…

On the contrary! Modular automation is like a box of building blocks, quickly and easily allowing you to build precisely what your company needs.

Using Switch, you can build any number of flows that support entirely different departments. One flow can integrate your web-to-print system with the internal estimating and scheduling system, while another automates prepress file preparation, and a third sets up files for delivery to a digital press. It can even help streamline bindery, assembly and fulfillment tasks! Additionally, because the system is open, it can easily be linked to your existing tools and databases.

Automation is expensive…

Most production automation solutions are complex and pricey. Fortunately, Switch provides an economical alternative that lets you implement only the modules you need, minimizing the investment requirements.

In addition, Switch enables you to take full advantage of your existing software investments as well as your employees’ skills in using them!

Automation locks me in…

Automation is not just for large organizations — in fact, automation is recommended for companies of all sizes. Switch enables organizations to increase total throughput without increasing head count or overtime, so your company can compete with much larger competitors. Any sized company can benefit greatly by automating the most simple & basic repetitive tasks and frequently they are not the ones you are initially considering when implementing automation!

Add Switch to your day-to-day processes and:

• Automate repetitive tasks
• Standardize processes and improve quality of work
• Reduce errors and rework
• Save time and money
• Increase total throughput of jobs
• Free up employees’ time so they can deliver value-added services

Switch Within the Enfocus Family

In addition to seamlessly connecting with third-party applications, Switch offers powerful synergies with other Enfocus Solutions.

PitStop2Switch

PitStop2Switch brings robust quality control and automation features to your PDF production process by monitoring multiple file submission points including FTP/SFTP servers, email addresses and network hot folders to intelligently route your files to PitStop Server for PDF Preflight and Correction. PitStop2Switch can also fully automate delivery and archiving of production files, with notifications sent to all relevant parties that your jobs are ready to go.

Connect2Switch

Connect2Switch is the perfect external client for Enfocus Switch. Easily configured Connectors function as external clients to Switch. This allows remote job submission directly into Switch flows, optionally using job tickets (metadata) hosted by Switch. Our Connectors can be used by both local and remote users throughout the world.