Formara automates data integrity to support growth with Quadient’s DS-700 iQ folder inserter
Formara, a print and marketing company based in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, continues to evolve through, foresight, innovation and adaptability. It provides a full spectrum of services for private, public, and non-profit clients, from small-run transactional mailings to higher-volume marketing campaigns. In 2023, Formara upgraded its mailing capabilities by transitioning from Quadient’s DS-600 iQ to the more advanced DS-700 iQ folder inserter, reflecting its focus on growth, efficiency, and agility.
The Challenge: Supporting growth and adapting to customer needs
Formara’s longevity in the print industry is mainly due to its ability to evolve in response to changing client needs. Over 50 years, the company has diversified to offer personalised print, direct mail, multi-channel communications, and fulfilment services. Formara had already made significant investments in mailing automation in 2020. Still, with continued growth and increasing demand for personalised mailing solutions, they needed to expand their capacity and streamline their processes further.
Managing Director Andy Pond explains, “We have always aimed to stay ahead by embracing new technology, but the complexity and volume of personalised mailings have increased. The DS-600 iQ served us well, but we recognised the need for a faster, more versatile system to manage the present workload and the growing demands of our business.”
The impact of the pandemic: A story of resilience
The COVID-19 pandemic was a turning point for Formara. Like many businesses, it initially faced the uncertainty of lockdowns and reduced demand for some services. However, it was uniquely positioned to meet new challenges. Early in the pandemic, Formara secured a significant project to produce and distribute home testing kits for the UK Government’s React Survey, a study run by Ipsos and Imperial College London. This project involved printing and fulfilling over 4 million personalised test kits, which required meticulous data handling and efficiency.
“Our experience managing large, complex projects during the pandemic pushed us to rethink how we approach scalability and automation,” says Andy. “The processes we developed during this time made us realise that we could handle even more volume and complexity if we had the right technology in place.”
The pandemic highlighted the need for more automation and streamlined workflows. Formara’s ability to deliver large volumes of personalised mailings during a crisis showcased its capacity for agility and resilience. These experiences laid the groundwork for its decision to upgrade to the DS-700 iQ.
The process: Strengthening a strategic partnership with Quadient
Building on their successful partnership with Quadient, Formara again turned to the automation provider for a solution to meet their growing operational demands. Quadient performed a comprehensive workflow review to assess the company’s current systems and identify areas for further improvement.
“The relationship with Quadient was already well-established, and we knew they understood our business,” Andy explains. “Increased speed and more flexibility were required to handle the greater complexity of the personalised mailings we are undertaking. The DS-700 iQ was a natural upgrade from the DS-600 iQ, offering all the features we needed to stay ahead.”
The DS-700 iQ was not just a replacement but a solution designed to future-proof Formara’s capabilities.
The solution: DS-700 iQ Folder Inserter
The DS-700 iQ folder inserter addressed Formara’s need for increased speed, accuracy, and scalability. Capable of processing up to 7,000 envelopes per hour, the DS-700 iQ delivers significantly faster job completion compared to its predecessor. Additionally, its enhanced barcode reading capabilities provide the capability to process more complex applications, which is essential for Formara’s wide range of clients.
The DS-700 iQ’s ability to handle DL-format envelopes more effectively supports Formara’s diverse customer needs. This flexibility is essential for clients who demand small- and large-scale mailing solutions, allowing Formara to pivot seamlessly between different job types.
Evolving customer service and automation
Formara’s approach to customer service has always been about understanding client goals and advising them on the most efficient ways to achieve them. This philosophy aligns well with the DS-700 iQ’s capabilities. The machine’s integration with Formara’s internal management software allows for real-time reporting and closed-loop verification, which provides customers with transparency and confidence.
“When we start a project, we gather as much information from the customer as early as possible,” explains Andy. “The DS-700 iQ helps us automate many manual processes, from inserting to reporting, allowing us to focus more on advising our clients and less on handling repetitive tasks. The ability to automate has become even more important as clients’ expectations grow, and deadlines become tighter.”
The results: A faster, more agile Formara
Since implementing the DS-700 iQ, Formara has seen dramatic improvements in mailing integrity and production speed. The company is now completing jobs four to five times faster than before and handling a 25% increase in mailing volumes while maintaining high accuracy levels.
“The DS-700 iQ has allowed us to do more in less time,” Andy says. “We can now handle multiple jobs daily, thanks to faster setup and processing times. This machine has truly transformed how we operate, allowing us to take on more complex projects without sacrificing quality.”
The upgrade to the DS-700 iQ has improved operations and strengthened the relationship between Formara and its clients. With automated processes and real-time reporting, clients can trust that their campaigns, whether digital or paper-based, are being handled with precision.
A partnership for the future
Formara’s relationship with Quadient remains central to its growth strategy. The investment in the DS-700 iQ is part of a broader push to automate as many processes as possible while retaining the flexibility to meet diverse client needs. As Formara grows, this partnership will be vital to sustaining its competitive edge in the print and marketing industry.
About Formara
Formula provides print and marketing services across private, public, and non-profit clients. Their expertise spans personalised and multi-channel communications, supported by advanced automation technologies.
“The additional barcode reading functionality has been a game-changer for us, it ensures that we can match multiple inserts to the right recipient with total accuracy, which is crucial for both transactional and marketing mailings.”
— Managing Director, Andy Pond
“Our collaboration with Quadient has always been about fining the right solutions to keep us moving forward, with the DS-700 iQ, we have the tools to continue expanding our capabilities and delivering exceptional service to our clients.”
— Managing Director, Andy Pond
Challenge
To automate data integrity for personalised mailings, increase capacity, and support continued growth in the small-to-medium mailing volume sector.
Results
Enhanced mailing integrity, job completion four to five times faster, and improved handling of DL-format envelopes.
Solution
DS-700 iQ folder inserter and Automated Insertion Management System (AIMS).
Method
Quadient conducted a detailed workflow review and discovery process, recommending an optimal solution that offers greater scalability, speed, and flexibility to support Formara’s growth post-pandemic.
For more information on the DS-700 iQ click here.
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