Workflow automation systems serving pre-press processes can be a strategic improvement, especially for established businesses. In fact, in these cases, production must handle high volumes: continuing to rely on manual processes, as has always been done, means running with the handbrake on, slowing the organization's growth.

For this reason, Marni Group, a young but ambitious company in the world of signs and digital signage, turned to Soltech to increase the efficiency of its pre-press processes, digitize orders, and be able to rely on standardized and easy-to-manage workflows.

The results have been extraordinary, with a marked decrease in processing time, as well as the introduction of a multi-year maintenance activity monitoring system.

The story of Marni Group: from artisanal signs to international contractor

Marni Group began as a company specializing in the production of signs and static visual communication for stores. But it is in the last decade that the company has experienced a real explosion: the company has 115 employees and turnover continues to grow in double digits and has doubled in the last five years.

Moreover, today the company no longer deals only with signs. Rather, it is a total contractor: it handles complete renovations for large retail chains, including electrical installations, construction work, digital signage and multi-year maintenance.

“Our clients range from automotive to fashion to banking”, says Davide Pedretti Biagioni, R&D and innovation manager. “But we also operate in the food sector, in fitness. We intervene in Italy and throughout Europe”.

Underlying this growth is Marni Group's ability to internalize every stage of the supply chain: from design to production; from installation to maintenance. “More than half of our employees are installers”, Pedretti Biagioni explains. “But with 14,000 orders handled last year alone, it was necessary to make a quantum leap in production processes as well”.

From artisans to industry: the need for structure and workflow automation

The company began as a family business and still maintains a strong identity spirit today. The founders, Pashko and Vitor Marnikollaj, gradually gave way to the second generation, represented by Eduard and Armando Marnikollaj. The goal is ambitious: to transform artisanal management into a modern, efficient, automated production machine.

“Until not so long ago, job management in the company relied on Excel spreadsheets and the historical memory of employees,” Pedretti Biagioni explains. “It was realized that despite goodwill, when you get to 14,000 job orders, the need to structure emerges. Not least because the orders are varied: they range from a simple intervention to the refurbishment of hundreds of stores, with international shipments. A paradigm shift was needed”.

The first step was the introduction of Onda Vision, Zucchetti's management software, as the glue between the various internal systems. From there, a major reorganization of the workflow began: from job coding to warehouse management to print automation.

Soltech's solutions: tailored workflow automation for Marni Group

This is where Soltech fits in, with a targeted intervention on pre-press processes. At the heart of the workflow automation system is Enfocus Switch, which is integrated with Onda Vision management software to digitize and standardize repetitive activities in graphics departments.

A concrete example? The production of box letters-a product in high demand in retail-was previously handled manually, requiring up to an entire day's work on the part of the graphic designer. Today, thanks to the system developed with Soltech, the operator selects the desired pattern from a simple interface, defines the materials and lighting, and in a few minutes obtains all the necessary files for the machinery: milling machines, lasers, assembly plants.

“We have standardized the process”, Pedretti Biagioni points out. “Even an intern today can prepare boxed letters. It used to take technical skills and a lot of time; now it only takes a few clicks. And I can have a production of boxed letters within minutes instead of days”.

The management of large orders has also been revolutionized by workflow automation. 

For one customer active in the sportswear business, for example, Marni was receiving Excel files with hundreds of orders to be manually normalized. “A saleswoman would also take us eight days of work away”, recalls Pedretti Biagioni. “Today, the whole flow is automated, and in less than half an hour we have the list of materials to order, the jobs to launch into production, and the templates for assembly”.

The collaboration with Soltech included:

• The analysis and digitization of production processes;
• The creation of automated workflows with Enfocus Switch;
• The optimization of print layouts and reduction of waste;
• The standardization of complex processing (such as box letters and lightboxes);
• Full traceability of multi-year maintenance activities.

Structured, future-proof growth

Through close cooperation with Soltech, Marni Group has consolidated its competitive advantage by structuring growth without sacrificing flexibility.

The benefits achieved through the workflow automation system are obvious:

• the graphics team works more efficiently; 
• complex activities have become accessible even to junior operators; 
• and international orders are handled with accuracy and traceability.

“Marni's real strength is that it does not undergo change: it anticipates it,” Pedretti Biagioni concludes. “With Soltech we have found a partner capable of understanding and enhancing it.”.