Presstimator Newsletter

Star*Key Software 

September 2015
In This Issue
Version 6.2 Release
New Features in Version 6.2
More Features
Hitting your Profit Targets

Quick Links

  
  
  

 Presstimator

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The Presstimator is a web offset printing estimating software application for newspapers and commercial web printers.
  

Version 6.2 Release

What's New?  The new version of the Presstimator provides better performance and a better user experience through the addition of more wizards, reports, increased flexibility for terminology and calculations and more user-requested features.  


total usage
Total Usage - Paper by Web Width

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New Features in Presstimator
More Detailed Total Usage Reports: In the Total Usage reports from Quote History, Paper usage is now also grouped by web width, in addition to type, color, basis weight and manufacturer. The new sheet within the Excel report will subtotal on Web Widths of each paper type.

PrePress Wizard & Error Checking: Added new PrePress Wizard on the Composition Specs screen. This Wizard will auto complete PrePress selections based on Color Pages entered on the Ink Specs screen. Be sure to capture all of your computer prepress costs by simply clicking the Wizard and the Presstimator will complete all of the calculations based on the costs established in Shop Settings. In addition, the Auditor now gives an alert if the PrePress total cost = $0.00 to help ensure prepress has not been overlooked

Flexible Terminology and Calculations:  Added two new Job Format names in the Presstimator, "Broadsheet" (equivalent to the existing "Standard" format) and "Mini-Tab" (equivalent to the existing "Flexi" format).  On the Plates screen in Shop Settings, the user can select which term is preferred (Broadsheet or Standard and Mini-Tab or Flexi) when using the Presstimator. The Pages per Plate entry area on the Plates screen in Shop Settings now affects Paper, Ink and Plates calculations throughout a Quote. 
 
Plus more user-requested features...

More Features
Multiple Users: The Presstimator can accommodate multiple users connected to the same database on a server.  Users can share costs, standards, customers and quotes from a single database.     
 
Web Form: Customizable Web forms allow your customers to request a printing quote through your company's website. The contents of the request are e-mailed to you, and they can be imported directly into the Presstimator as a New Quote.  Once this data has been imported, click on the 'Load All Defaults' button to have a Quote calculated in seconds.  Custom web forms can also be used internally as a convenient way for salespeople to enter the initial job specs. View a Sample here.

Pressroom Production Actuals Application: A standalone mini-application installed on a computer on the pressroom floor allows the press operator to directly enter the production information into the Presstimator database to making it immediately available to the estimator to generate the Profit Analysis and Estimate vs. Analysis reports.  Click for more information.
 
Analysis:  Presstimator's Analysis reporting analyzes profits and compares estimates vs. actual production data.  Once a job is completed, you can input the actual production counters and time information from the production department (this process can be streamlined using the Presstimator Production Actuals Application).  The Presstimator will then analyze the data within a customizable Excel spreadsheet so you can see how accurate your estimates are.  You can also analyze total profits based on filtered estimates from the Quote History screens.  Click for more information.
Profit Analysis
Profit Analysis

customer analysis
Customer Analysis

 Multiple Page Counts and Multiple Quantities:  Within a single quote, you can enter different scenarios for the number of copies and the number of pages the customer requests.  So, if a customer asks for pricing for a 4, 8 or 12-page Tab with 10,000, 15,000 or 20,000 copies with different color options, this can all be entered within a single quote and a price matrix can be printed and sent to the customer so they can select the quantity and pages based on the calculated prices.

Total Usage Reports:  The Presstimator icludes different versions of total usage reports to detail all of the materials and time required to produce the selected jobs. From the Quote/Job History screens, you can filter and report on the jobs you would like to total usage information on. Charts are created for the Total Usage information to display a graphical view of paper, paper waste, ink and press usage.
total usage
Total Usage Reports & Charts
  

Hitting your Profit Targets with the Presstimator

The Presstimator is an estimating software program designed specifically for newspapers and commercial web offset printing shops. Create accurate and detailed estimates with the Presstimator. The Estimate vs. Actuals report can help you initiate cost studies and the Markup feature and Profit Analysis report make it possible to precisely track your bottom line. Budgeted Hourly Rates (BHR) module helps determine the costing standards based on your organization's EXACT cost of operation. These costs and standards are entered in a single location in Shop Settings within the Presstimator database. The Presstimator database can be put on a server so multiple users can use the Presstimator, share quotes and share a common set of standards; this simplifies maintenance and ensures that all of your estimates are using the most recent costs. Optional, customizable web form and pressroom floor data collection modules interact directly with the Presstimator database for instant access and analysis.

 

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Sincerely,

Star*Key Software
 

Star*Key Software | PO Box 156 | Brea | CA | 92822-0156