Drukkerij Bredewold, a printer based in the Netherlands, faced a common challenge: their print shop was constantly under stress, bottlenecked by manual order processing. General Manager Jeika Bredewold shares how implementing an automated workflow with Enfocus Switch and GrafiStore turned chaos into control, driving efficiency, boosting customer satisfaction, and making the work fun again.
The Problem: Order Chaos and the Stress of the Status Quo
Before automation, the scene at Drukkerij Bredewold was one of constant waiting. Jeika Bredewold, reflecting on his early days at the company, recalled the physical evidence of inefficiency: orders would sit and wait—sometimes for up to three days—in large "order bags" on the floor.
This manual process created immense pressure in the production environment. While the presses were ready, the front office was struggling to prepare the jobs, creating a cycle of stress where the production team constantly had to rush to make up for lost time.
The biggest headaches were the time-critical, high-volume jobs, like daily birth announcements (geboortekaarten). These orders had a strict 1 PM deadline for the press and had to be shipped the same day. This specific workflow was a daily point of stress for the entire team.
Bredewold realized: “This had to be different.”. They needed a solution to eliminate the "hands-on" approach that was costing them time and money.
The Solution: A Hands-Off, Automated Factory
Drukkerij Bredewold partnered with Enfocus to integrate Switch with their MIS/ERP system (GrafiStore), creating three distinct, automated workflow streams tailored to their order volume:
1. The Instant Flow (20% of Volume)
This is the ultimate in hands-off automation, designed specifically for their high-volume daily orders like birth announcements.
"The moment a customer places an order through their webshop, it shoots instantly into the organization and is lying on the press with all the correct data."
Jeika Bredewold, Owner of Drukkerij Bredewold
For this segment, Switch completely eliminated the need for manual order entry or file handling, allowing press operators to start production immediately and ensuring the critical same-day shipping deadline is met consistently.
2. The Web Portal Flow
For larger, more complex projects coming from various web portals, Switch manages all file logistics. While a small manual step remains for strategic planning, the system ensures that staff "no longer have to search for files."
3. The Traditional Flow (50% of Volume)
Even traditional orders, which arrive via email or other non-portal methods, are shot into Switch. In this case, Switch acts as the central hub, providing crucial visibility across the company: "We can see exactly where the order is."
The Results: Reliability, Capacity, and Happy Employees
For Drukkerij Bredewold, the investment in Enfocus Switch delivered multiple layers of transformation:
1. Reliability is Priceless
Bredewold noted that if the flow system were to go down, it would immediately create "chaos" because the job would be "lost in the company." This proves that the automated workflow is no longer a luxury, but the essential, reliable backbone of their business.
2. Capacity Skyrocketed
The ability to process orders without manual interference directly translates to increased capacity. The company handled an "extreme" surge in volume during their busiest months (November/December) without breaking a sweat, proving they can now handle "much more orders" without hitting their production maximum.
3. Cost Control & Competitiveness
Bredewold’s philosophy is clear: “The hands must be off.”. By automating every manual touchpoint, they eliminate associated costs, ensuring they remain competitive on price while delivering premium speed and service.
4. Improved Job Satisfaction
Automation didn't just help the bottom line—it improved daily work life. Simple things like the automated coupling to the Send Cloud and eliminating the need for staff to manually type PostNL shipping labels removed frustrating, repetitive tasks.
"The work just becomes fun for everyone, that is very important to us, that our people are doing well."
Jeika Bredewold, Owner of Drukkerij Bredewold
Ready to Eliminate Order Chaos?
Drukkerij Bredewold has proven that the path to increased speed, higher capacity, and lower stress runs through automation. Learn how Enfocus Switch can transform your print workflow from waiting and searching to instant, reliable production.
