Office Depot
Digitisation turns product landscapes upside down. The trend is moving away from traditional consumer goods and towards new developments. Many companies therefore have to rethink their methods and break new ground. Mr Vigener, Director of the Media Production Centre at Office Depot Europe, presents the future of the office product market and what companies can do to successfully master the new challenges.
Digitisation turns product landscapes upside down. The trend is moving away from traditional consumer goods and towards new developments. Many companies therefore have to rethink their methods and break new ground. Mr Vigener, Director of the Media Production Centre at Office Depot Europe, presents the future of the office product market and what companies can do to successfully master the new challenges.
We offer our customers office supplies and services for more effective work, regardless of the type of workplace. In addition to the traditional range of paper, office items and stationery, our product range also includes the latest technologies, core office supplies, printing and document services, company services, system equipment, furniture and school supplies. Office Depot Europe is represented in thirteen countries with the two core brands, Office Depot and Viking, as well as retail stores in France and Sweden.
We offer our customers office supplies and services for more effective work, regardless of the type of workplace. In addition to the traditional range of paper, office items and stationery, our product range also includes the latest technologies, core office supplies, printing and document services, company services, system equipment, furniture and school supplies. Office Depot Europe is represented in thirteen countries with the two core brands, Office Depot and Viking, as well as retail stores in France and Sweden.
Everything – from our product diversity, fast service and shipping security in the field of mail order to our web, print, call centre and account management. We also offer complementary services for major customers, ranging from managed print services to the provision of disk space. Our major customers particularly appreciate our strong European presence.
Everything – from our product diversity, fast service and shipping security in the field of mail order to our web, print, call centre and account management. We also offer complementary services for major customers, ranging from managed print services to the provision of disk space. Our major customers particularly appreciate our strong European presence.
With increasing digitisation and the growing importance of internet sales, it is a well known fact that office products and stationery retail is more difficult than in the past. The market volume is shrinking and the influence of digitisation is having an impact. A typical example of this is the change from overhead projectors to screens. Countermeasures are required to cushion the general trend: innovative ideas and fresh offers. A high degree of flexibility is becoming increasingly important in the competitive market of office products.
With increasing digitisation and the growing importance of internet sales, it is a well known fact that office products and stationery retail is more difficult than in the past. The market volume is shrinking and the influence of digitisation is having an impact. A typical example of this is the change from overhead projectors to screens. Countermeasures are required to cushion the general trend: innovative ideas and fresh offers. A high degree of flexibility is becoming increasingly important in the competitive market of office products.
In recent years, we have tried to improve our positioning for the future with a new platform and a new design. We have already gone this route with the mail order business. Expertise in the area of user experience and optimised options in the ordering process are extremely important for the future of the main players. Another major challenge is that of quickly adapting internal processes to changing conditions.
In recent years, we have tried to improve our positioning for the future with a new platform and a new design. We have already gone this route with the mail order business. Expertise in the area of user experience and optimised options in the ordering process are extremely important for the future of the main players. Another major challenge is that of quickly adapting internal processes to changing conditions.
In 2005, when Office Depot acquired Viking Direct, the Viking headquarters in Los Angeles were closed. The result of this was that the pre-press department had to be transferred to Europe. Office Depot was therefore looking for a service provider who could quickly turn this innovative idea into a practical solution. After considering various scenarios, we decided to work with apollon to develop a concept which would combine their expertise with our needs. The result was a highly automated workflow, which was a major challenge even for apollon.
In 2005, when Office Depot acquired Viking Direct, the Viking headquarters in Los Angeles were closed. The result of this was that the pre-press department had to be transferred to Europe. Office Depot was therefore looking for a service provider who could quickly turn this innovative idea into a practical solution. After considering various scenarios, we decided to work with apollon to develop a concept which would combine their expertise with our needs. The result was a highly automated workflow, which was a major challenge even for apollon.
In our view, this was the best way to offer uniform work to our departments in different locations. The solution ensures that processes can be controlled transparently and effectively. Using the platform developed for our purposes, we were able to deliver data from all connected countries to apollon via our local advertising departments as part of a uniform process. At the same time, we were able to offer an in-house portal that gave all departments access to all assets, print products and print pages. This is actively used by our call centre as well as by merchandising and marketing.
In our view, this was the best way to offer uniform work to our departments in different locations. The solution ensures that processes can be controlled transparently and effectively. Using the platform developed for our purposes, we were able to deliver data from all connected countries to apollon via our local advertising departments as part of a uniform process. At the same time, we were able to offer an in-house portal that gave all departments access to all assets, print products and print pages. This is actively used by our call centre as well as by merchandising and marketing.
We chose Meyle+Müller and apollon through our usual selection process because they had the greatest experience in mass-producing catalogues. At this point, OMN had already been successfully used by two leading German mail order companies. In retrospect, this was the right decision, as we can now look back on a successful thirteen-year partnership of equals.
We chose Meyle+Müller and apollon through our usual selection process because they had the greatest experience in mass-producing catalogues. At this point, OMN had already been successfully used by two leading German mail order companies. In retrospect, this was the right decision, as we can now look back on a successful thirteen-year partnership of equals.
OMN (Online Media Net) is a tool that adapts perfectly to changes and requirements and that constantly evolves over time. The software suite is therefore flexible enough to enable continuous improvements and updates.
OMN (Online Media Net) is a tool that adapts perfectly to changes and requirements and that constantly evolves over time. The software suite is therefore flexible enough to enable continuous improvements and updates.
Despite our European orientation, data and images are identical in many cases. Therefore, it would not make any sense to manage every single database locally. This approach ensures that assets and products that need to be quickly integrated into a portfolio in another country are immediately available. Central administration of all assets helps to reduce processing costs; the entire system is error-intolerant and avoids redundancies.
Despite our European orientation, data and images are identical in many cases. Therefore, it would not make any sense to manage every single database locally. This approach ensures that assets and products that need to be quickly integrated into a portfolio in another country are immediately available. Central administration of all assets helps to reduce processing costs; the entire system is error-intolerant and avoids redundancies.
It is particularly important that the image data and pages are reliably and safely available at all of our locations. The system also has to be equipped with automatic interfaces and processes for image processing, such as masking. An automated image comparison function helps us to avoid duplicate images. In our view, OMN is one of the most stable and powerful systems for data control and data management.
It is particularly important that the image data and pages are reliably and safely available at all of our locations. The system also has to be equipped with automatic interfaces and processes for image processing, such as masking. An automated image comparison function helps us to avoid duplicate images. In our view, OMN is one of the most stable and powerful systems for data control and data management.
If you look at the trends in print publications over the past ten years, it is clear that the print volume has dramatically decreased. The volume has been reduced by half in the traditional mail order sector, because customers are now placing more orders via the Internet. In general, and especially in the area of mail order, the catalogue takes on the new function of bringing the customer online.
If you look at the trends in print publications over the past ten years, it is clear that the print volume has dramatically decreased. The volume has been reduced by half in the traditional mail order sector, because customers are now placing more orders via the Internet. In general, and especially in the area of mail order, the catalogue takes on the new function of bringing the customer online.
We are currently discussing our plan for the cloud-based OMN extension, which further automates part of our processes with the help of new plug-ins and additional functionalities.
We are currently discussing our plan for the cloud-based OMN extension, which further automates part of our processes with the help of new plug-ins and additional functionalities.
The traditional categories will weaken and manufacturers will try to counter this trend by increasing quality. In the mail order sector, it is a known fact that parcel shipments will increase while the number of envelopes will dramatically decrease. This will all lead to further consolidation of the industry. Companies will only grow if they are well positioned within the existing market.
The traditional categories will weaken and manufacturers will try to counter this trend by increasing quality. In the mail order sector, it is a known fact that parcel shipments will increase while the number of envelopes will dramatically decrease. This will all lead to further consolidation of the industry. Companies will only grow if they are well positioned within the existing market.