The Most Common Artwork Management Challenges

When considering all the tasks, steps and processes that go into getting products to market, Artwork Management may not seem to be one of the most important considerations. Although, companies that don't maintain an efficient process for this very important part of the puzzle can easily end up facing brand inconsistencies, regulatory mishaps and unexpected delays to market. Fortunately, for those businesses that include product packaging and Artwork Management as a key component from the start, it's nothing to worry about.

The following are some of the most pressing Artwork Management issues that can arise during the packaging design process - ones business leaders can actively anticipate to effectively counter.

Too Many Manual Processes
Today's workplaces have become increasingly automated - and with good reason. When employees tasked with creating, checking and revising artwork rely on disconnected assets such as spreadsheet files or physical documents, the whole process of packaging creation becomes both longer and more prone to mistakes and disruption.

Data Management Struggles
The data needed to make an effective and compliant label has never been greater in quantity and variety than it is today. Clear workflows and central data repositories can tame this data sprawl. Companies without such assets may find themselves mired in inefficiency or accuracy problems, with incorrect versions of files sometimes being used by accident.

Lack of Collaboration
As Vakils Premedia Managing Director Bimal Mehta recently told Print Week India, an effective artwork management process involves numerous departments - plant personnel, marketing authorization holders, affiliates, an art agency, the regulatory team. All of these various personnel must have a way to communicate and pass data back and forth, or their many interactions will quickly bog down.

Failure to Comply
Heavily regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals have their own category of Artwork Management challenges. Because of this, Artwork Management processes must encompass both local and national regulations to avoid the risk of fines or other punitive action.

Problems with Data
Data is currency in the Artwork Management process. Companies that start with too little information run the risk of suffering constant revisions and delayed approvals. Organizations that can't make their ongoing Artwork Management processes more visible, reporting on performance as they go, may similarly find themselves suffering from bottlenecks.

Insufficient Integration with Partners
Companies don't just have to communicate within their own walls - they also have to share data with international partner organizations or printers to produce their goods. Workflows that integrate with third parties can cut down on the disjointed experience.

Artwork Management is a tricky part of producing items of any kind. That means having effective, modern systems in place to create optimized workflows is essential. For more on creating an efficient Artwork Management process download our new report to find out how to go from Chaos to Calm.

FROM CHAOS TO CALM