Snap Franchising Chooses EFI PrintSmith Vision Software for (AU)$10M Upgrade

SYDNEY and FREMONT, Calif.—May 7, 2015—Snap Franchising announced its partnership expansion with leading digital technology supplier Electronics For Imaging at the EFI headquarters in Silicon Valley, California. This robust partnership is part of Snap’s continuous efforts to develop, stay ahead and meet the needs of businesses small, medium and large. The business transformation project, named Project DNA, represents an AU$10m investment for Snap’s wider IT transformation strategy, with a focus to evolve in the digital age and become more client centric as a business.

With a 25-year history of innovation and commitment to customer success, EFI is a company that researches, invents and deploys next-generation digital technology, bringing brands, ideas and images to life for family-owned businesses and partners around the globe.

After carrying out extensive research, Snap made the decision to upgrade and develop its management information system that is more than a decade old. This key component of Project DNA will change the way Snap formulates as a business, in a constantly evolving industry. EFI has been selected as the most suitable fit and will provide Snap with an integrated platform through EFI PrintSmith Vision—the printing franchise market’s top business software, while also expanding current EFI and third party integrations. EFI confirmed that Snap is one of its first and largest client installations in Australia for the cloud-based PrintSmith Vision platform and it puts them in a commendable position with the printing industry.

"EFI’s print workflow software contains ideal tools to help Snap franchisees efficiently manage and grow their businesses," said Guy Gecht, CEO of EFI. "Through Project DNA’s multi-year agreement, we are delighted to deepen our long lasting partnership, which started with the Fiery deployment by extending it to our Productivity Software Suite across their franchisees. We are truly honored to be selected as Snap’s trusted partner in implementing this strategic vision."

EFI technology will give Snap greater visibility in the market with modern trend reporting and benchmarking ability. It will also improve integration of all services, improve knowledge sharing, create effective and dynamic franchise management and provide an overall strengthened customer and franchise focus as a whole.

Building faster and more cost effective technology foundations, as well as implementing a new customer centric operating system, enables Snap franchises to deliver a profound service to customers as well as strengthening efficiency within the team. Project DNA will also permit Snap to assess real time data which adds huge value to a business keen to carry out trend analysis and stay ahead of the field.

"Project DNA is a major part of our transformation strategy to deepen our effective relationship with Australian business through our franchise network," stated Stephen Edwards, CEO, Snap Franchising. "It will transform the way we work at Snap so that we can become a more efficient and streamlined company, as well as continuing to deliver exceptional and improved services to clients. The implementation of new technology at Head Office and within franchises will make our employees’ days easier and more enjoyable while increasing customer satisfaction and profitability at all levels of operation. We are delighted to significantly expand our partnership with EFI through Project DNA."

The project will be controlled by business executive Michael Cockerton, who has been appointed by Snap as IT project director to advise and lead the team to a new digital approach. Cockerton has in depth experience from working across IT operations and IT strategy for Ecolab Pty Ltd, Asia Pacific.

(Editor's Note: In a brief conference call yesterday afternoon with EFI CEO Guy Gecht and Snap Franchising CEO Stephen Edwards, the executives described how their two companies' common, customer-centered business philosophies helped seal the multi-year agreement to implement the cloud-based PrintSmith Vision MIS solution throughout Snap's 185-franchise location network. Snap had been an existing Fiery user that more recently had implemented EFI Digital StoreFront to increase its ecommerce capabilities."We want to be seen as being more technology focused," said Edwards. Snap also began expanding from more traditional, small business offerings to marketing services in 2006. From EFI's standpoint, the deal constitutes one of the largest dollar-volume MIS agreements ever signed by EFI with an individual customer.)

About Snap
Snap Franchising is a leader in business printing, graphic design, Web design, e-mail marketing and essential marketing services. The vision at Snap is to embrace new things, new ideas, technologies and innovations. Wholly-Australian-owned Snap has 160 Owner-operated Centres in Australia and a growing presence internationally, with 25 Centres, in China, New Zealand and Ireland.

About Stephen Edwards
Stephen Edwards is a print industry veteran with over 25 years’ experience in the printing industry. He is currently a board member of the Printing Industries Association of Australia (PIAA) and Newhaven Farm, and was previously a Board Member of Adroit Management Group.

About EFI
EFI is leading the transformation from analogue to digital imaging with scalable, digital, award-winning products. Based in Silicon Valley, California, with offices around the world, EFI helps businesses and enterprises work more productively and cost-effectively with an integrated product portfolio consisting of industrial inkjet printers and inks, powerful digital front ends, precise color management tools, eCommerce, Web-to-print and productivity software for business automation, and mobile and cloud printing products.

About Guy Gecht
Guy is a 2015 recipient of the Michael H. Bruno Award from the Technical Association of the Graphic Arts for outstanding contributions to the graphic arts industry. He was named a 2015 Game Changer by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.

Source: EFI.