Heidelberg goes into the cloud with Analytics

Heidelberg’s has launched its first cloud-based Prinect app, Print Shop Analytics, which is part of the press giant's new Heidelberg Plus digital ecosystem.

Heidelberg says future applications will make full use of cloud technologies, IoT, Big Data, and AI.Launched at its Innovation Week event, Heidelberg Plus is the gateway to the new digital ecosystem and customer portal, which includes the new Prinect app, as well as the Heidelberg eShop and Heidelberg Assistant production data.

The Prinect Print Shop Analytics app offers an integrated solution that records, evaluates, and monitors the KPIs of a print shop in real time,online,  to optimise production by suggesting action with the help of artificial intelligence.

“With the first Prinect app available in Heidelberg Plus, our Heidelberg digital ecosystem is gaining momentum, and the customer benefits of digitisation are becoming increasingly apparent,” said Ludwig Allgoewer, global head of Sales and Marketing at Heidelberg.

“Market surveys have shown that our customers urgently want the functions of an app like Prinect Print Shop Analytics that they can use to quickly boost efficiency while systems are running, and also reduce costs at the same time."

The app was developed  follwiing talks with 200 printers around the world, and in collaboration with customer Pinguin Druck in Berlin, which runs two XL106 eight-colour presses, and according to Heidelberg’s head of software solutions Christopher Berti the collaboration ensured that functions included in the app reflect actual market demand.

“Print Shop Analytics is becoming a game changer in our day-to-day work,” said Alexander Mende, managing director at Pinguin Druck. “I will now be notified immediately by Print Shop Analytics if one of our printing presses fails or the print shop misses its targets. These notifications are set according to my personal preferences and I can see the detailed data immediately.” Print Shop Analytics is currently set for sheetfed presses, but prepress and finshing will be added in the future.

With Heidelberg Plus, the company says it is combining existing digital applications with new services for customers. It says that in the future, a single point of access is all users will need for a complete overview of all the digital tools and services in the Heidelberg portfolio.

“Key elements of the Heidelberg digital ecosystem such as HDA and the eShop have already developed very encouragingly,” said Allgoewer. “By merging these and other existing applications, and also integrating new ones, we will further enhance the benefits for our customers.”

Heidelberg says the Prinect app, which is easy to access with a single login, will be available to customers next year.