We just started development of a new version of the Correction Workflow. If you're interested in using this application, now is the time to let us know what you intend to do with it. We're basing the new functionalities on the implementations in the past, but additional input is always welcome.
The basics
Our corrections worflow starts with the premises that (at least untill now) InDesign documents can be edited online by using InDesign Server. But around those functionalities, we also created status management for the InDesign Documents: sending mails to the persons who need to work on them next, showing the jobs in a job list, keeping track of all iterations, and so on. This way, an entire prepress workflow, including corrections and approval by end customers, can be set up. And even without online corrections or status management, it also allows you to put previews of the InDesign documents online. We visualize them in a flash preview, so end customers can perform soft proofing of the content.
New customization
This is already used by a lot of our customers. But based on the results of the initial implementations (which allow any type of logic because it is an application set up in our content management system), we're adding a lot of ways to customize the solution out of the box. Metadata assigned to jobs, the status follow-up, types of users, etc. The interface itself also got a makeover, providing end users with an even more pleasing environment to do their work in.
New workflows
In the previous version, the approval or prepress workflows were centered around InDesign documents. The new application also provides out of the box support for more types of content. PDF files, for one, but also more content-related types, such as Microsoft Word documents. And anytime in the workflow, this can be replaced by a different content. In short, you can start a job with a Microsoft Word document containing the text of the job. This can be converted to an InDesign document (either manually or using InDesign Server), and follow a more creative workflow for a few iterations. Once the InDesign file is completed, it might be converted to a PDF and follow a more production-oriented flow.
The value of partnerships
And when we say "we're developing a new version", we actually mean: one of our valued partners is developing it to our specifications. More and more, we are outsourcing this type of contentFLO application development. The current project is developed by Spatie (a web development firm from Antwerpen). This approach gives us a couple of advantages. On one side, it allows us to focus on core development and we're not limited by our own resources. But additionally, we are training integrators for FLO Suite implementations. This way, the resources available to our customers are expanding every day.