Cincom ChannelStream - Simplifying Your Output Management While Reaching the Right Distribution Channels

8/7/2019 Cincom ChannelStream - Simplifying Your Output Management While Reaching the Right Distribution Channels

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Simplifying Your OutputManagement while Reachingthe Right Distribution ChannelsEfficiently managing document output processeswith Cincom ® ChannelStream TM

TECHNICAL OVERVIEW

SIMPLIFICATION THROUGH INNOVATION®



Table of ContentsOverview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Ease-of-use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Flexibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Interactive, Batch or On-demand Output . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Centralised Output Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Consolidation of Customer Communication . . . . . . . . 5

One Unified Output Management Facility . . . . . . . . . . 5

Time-to-market and Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Limitless Architecture and Scalability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Cost Reduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Environment and Processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Setup of the Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Define Business Rules Using Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Optimise Your Existing Flows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Simulate and Analyse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Track and Audit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Multi-Channel Capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Web (HTML) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Archive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Specific Exits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

One Request for Multiple Usages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Hardware and Software Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Cincom ChannelStream in a Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Contact Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Simplifying Your OutputManagement whileReaching the RightDistribution ChannelsEfficiently managing document outputprocesses with Cincom ChannelStream

TECHNICAL OVERVIEW



3

Overview

Managing document output processes is one of the mostcomplex steps in customer communications. Companiesare looking for a single solution that is able to sort, mergeand split document jobs, manage bar codes, inserttechnical information, attach documents and handledifferent input and output channels. Companies alsodon’t want to have to rely on scarce programmingresources or their provider for any configuration task.

Cincom ChannelStream is a comprehensive and uniquetool that integrates streams coming from differentdocument management systems and enterprise systems.This document output management system enables youto leverage your existing legacy infrastructure – withoutany programming. It is an easy-to-use tool that empowersbusiness users to enhance existing documents, test andpreview them, manage their output through any desiredchannel and track all documents across the entire outputprocess. ChannelStream provides critical features to fulfill– and even exceed – your expectations, particularly inever-changing markets with increasing legal regulations.Business users can thus shorten the delivery cycle and maximise the cost savings possible from using an outputmanagement system.

Project leaders and business users benefit from:

• Reduced time-to-market for your communications

• Enhanced personalisation of your communications

• Control of your own timeline through an easy-to-useweb interface

• Increased quality assurance and reduction of misprintsdue to the integrated simulation facility

• Lower dependency on IT support

• Reduced number of output management systems

By simplifying the management of documentautomation processes, you:

• Strengthen customer relationships

• Minimise compliance risks

• Reduce operating costs

• Easily deliver and manage high-volume, personalisedcommunications

• Seamlessly integrate into complex legacy environments

ChannelStream is based onleading-edge technology and backed by 25 years of document management experience.



4

SourceSystems

InputFormats

Merged andEnhanced

RestructuredStreams

Multi-ChannelCapabilities

Conversion toRequired Output

Formats

DocumentSequencing and

Stapling

SourceSystem 1

SourceSystem 2

SourceSystem 3

SourceSystem ...

RTFCincom

DocumentSolution

AFP PDF etc.

Electronic

Attachments

E-mail Web(HTML) Fax Print &Mail Archive SpecificExits

@

... ... ... ... ...

AFP/PCL/PS/PDF/...OMR, bar codes, technical lines,banners…

Mail ProcessingMachine

Envelopes PhysicalAttachments

ChannelStream Workflow



5

Benefits

Using innovative methods of document distribution,Cincom ChannelStream optimises your entire workflow,speeds up processes and reduces costs.

ChannelStream’s key benefits are its ease-of-use,flexibility and open architecture as well as its astonishingperformance. Read below in more detail how thisdocument output management system can support you.

Ease-of-use – No Need for ProgrammingThe easy-to-use, business-oriented web interface allowsyou to develop new or change existing documentmanagement paths more rapidly whilst at the same timeminimising risks. You’ll be able to outline the requiredsteps (e.g., attaching documents or adding mark-ups suchas bar codes) and set the business rules that should beapplied. You will no longer depend on scarceprogramming resources or your software provider.

FlexibilityChanges can be made quickly, which allows a muchmore iterative approach to your output managementwhilst ensuring continuous optimisation and qualityimprovements. You can change, test and validate yourmodifications quickly and safely. ChannelStream’ssimulation process enables you to verify how your streamwill look.

Interactive, Batch or On-demand OutputManage interactive documents individually, set upbatches that follow a particular path or assign a specificpriority to a particular business action, such as an urgentpromotional activity. All processes are document-drivenand use your own data to create the output, allowing you

to ensure that your documents look exactly as you wantthem to.

Centralised Output ControlA comprehensive dashboard with an integrated schedulerenables you to check which flows are being treated, theirprogress and if each document has been processedcorrectly. You can stop or restart any given step andreprint selected documents if needed. By creatingstandard profiles, you are automating common tasks and

improving the quality assurance of those processes.

Consolidation of CustomerCommunication

Multiple systems’ output can be integrated into a singledocument stream to create a combined mailing or e-mail.Multiple documents can be sent to a customer at thesame time in a single outgoing package. Whilst providinga more coherent communication for the customer, you willbe saving postal charges and the environment.

One Unified Output Management FacilityChannelStream doesn’t interfere with your existingbusiness applications or other document productionsoftware. Once parameterised, it processes the existingoutputs without any disruption to your businessenvironment. It integrates streams produced by anydocument management system and sends out yourinformation by various channels such as e-mail, mail orfax. Outputs are automatically recognised (by name or bycontent) and required indexes – if not provided byanother system – are added for subsequent steps.

Time-to-market and ComplianceThe time it takes to move documents into productionis dramatically shortened since business users can workautonomously.

Through centralised management, monitoring of contentcomponents and comprehensive audit facilities, theburden and costs associated with regulatory complianceis significantly reduced.



6

Limitless Architecture and ScalabilityEnjoy full freedom by installing and using as manyinstances of ChannelStream as you need to match yourorganisational structure, adjust to your architecturaland/or business requirements (e.g., speed up particularlyurgent jobs, dedicate a specific server for interactivedocument production, etc.) and, most importantly, ensurea perfect performance.

Unlike usual license limitations, you can use severalinstances – either on the same server or on several servers– and set up as many specific output management pathsas needed.

Cost ReductionVarious facts contribute to significant cost reductionsusing ChannelStream including:

• One system to handle your entire document output

• A simulation facility to avoid costly misprints

• Consolidated customer communication for less mail

• Support of postage optimisation

• Multi-channel support enabling you to replace printedcouriers with electronic media such as e-mail, textmessages (SMS) and e-billing if appropriate

• Less need for IT resources

... just to name a few.



7

You are able to test the business rules, integrate logdetails in your reporting tools and track all documentsfrom the business application to the output channel(s).

With the help of an additional module, you could alsoaccess all this data stored in a database and run specificanalyses.

Environment and Processes

Through an easy-to-use web interface, CincomChannelStream allows you to define your entireenvironment, describe input documents and output

formats, specify which data should be used to managethe flow and explain how to do it.

Selection of environment and profile



8

Setup of the EnvironmentUsing ChannelStream’s administrator interface, you candescribe the capabilities of printers and/or mailingmachines, convey if duplex printing and/or stapling areavailable, specify the criteria of papers and envelopes(weight, maximum capacity, etc.) and communicate

technical data and technical lines as well as which bar

code algorithm must be used and where to place it.Furthermore, it manages electronic and physicalattachments, issues operator instruction sheets forcorrect handling of the flow and adds OMRmark-ups, etc.

Envelopes

Logical Attachments

Mail Processing Machines

Physical Attachments

Printers



9

Define Business Rules Using ProfilesA profile will be set up to define the characteristics of your documents. It contains information on which datamust be used to manage the flow; how to sort, group orsplit your documents and how to compose any additionaltechnical lines. ChannelStream provides extendable

Global rules:

• Automatic or manual routing

• Input/output directories (if needed)

• Operator instruction sheets

• Printers

• Mail processing machines

• Envelopes

• Envelope weight capacities (minimum/maximum)

• Maximum batch size (number of sheets)

• Additional technical lines

• Postage optimisation

Note:ChannelStream allows you to put in place an approvalworkflow to give your users the ability to review the

documents (in PDF format) before printing.

built-in functions to perform all usual operations such assorting, merging or splitting. The administrator can defineglobal rules to be applied in any case as well as specificrules related to particular documents.

Document-specific rules:

• Conditional splitSet up variables used to group envelopes

• Conditional technical lineSet up variables used to add additional technical lines

• Routing splitSet up variables used to differentiate documentsusing different routing paths

• Addition of attachment

• Specific template

• Specific envelope type

• Maximum numberMaximum number of sheets and/or the maximumweight allowed

• Stapling

• MergeSet up variables used to merge documents in the

same envelope• Merge mode

Set up variables used to allow or not allow themerging of documents in the same envelope

• Duplex

• Split

• Sort

• Sequence



10

Optimise Your Existing FlowsChannelStream provides all required capabilities toenhance existing document flows. It offers additionalcapabilities to enrich your documents by addingelectronic or physical attachments – whether they are pre-printed items or have just been generated by one of your

business applications in a given electronic format.You can also add personalised data (such as yourpartner’s logo or any other image) to documents sent totheir customers.

Technical lines, bar codes and OMR mark-ups aregenerated automatically and positioned on the fly,wherever you want them to appear. Alternatively, you canuse Datamatrix or Alphacode to improve your automaticdocument recognition and management.

Enrich your existing flows with attachments



11

Simulate and AnalyseOnce the profile and the business rules are defined, theprocess can be tested using ChannelStream’s simulationfacility. You may analyse whether the results meet yourexpectations and, if needed, take care of any possibleerrors that are flagged by the system for easy verification.

Technical Lines

Media Simulation

Rules Simulation



12

Track and AuditAll operations within ChannelStream are logged and canbe entered into your existing tracking system.

Using an additional module, you can follow eachdocument from the original business request to the right

output channel(s). You can set up a notification that willbe sent to you once a specific document (or documentset) has been processed, printed and sent.

Log files



13

Multi-Channel Capabilities

Customers are increasingly demanding electronicdocuments instead of paper. Let your customers choosetheir preferred medium, and pass on this choice to

Cincom ChannelStream. This way, you are sure to deliver

PrintDesigned to meet a wide range of business needs,ChannelStream allows you to print on both local andcentral printers. Output drivers exist for AFP, PCL,PostScript, PDF or RTF, e-mail, fax and HTML thusdelivering outputs for all standard channels used on themarket. ChannelStream provides all facilities to manageduplex printing and allows you to decide if somedocuments start right away at the back of the previousdocument or on a new page (multiple-up printing).

each document through the right channel. Apart frommeeting the recipient’s expectation, you can dramaticallyreduce your costs and speed up the process whilst

keeping the same high document quality and accuracy.

You are able to merge documents coming from different

document management tools, print them in a new formatand – if it makes sense – put them all together in thesame envelope. If some documents are more importantthan others, you can decide which must come first.

Should you have the possibility of using more than onemail carrier, ChannelStream will help you identify whichone is best suited for a given output and will prepare theoutput in line with the requirements of the chosen carrier(postage optimisation).

E-mail Web(HTML)

Fax Print &Mail

Archive SpecificExits

@

... ... ... ... ...

Mail ProcessingMachine

Different options regarding enveloping sequence and duplex printing



14

E-mailFor electronic documents, you can define whether youwould like to attach the document (e.g., in PDF format) toa short e-mail or display the content of the documentdirectly in the e-mail body. Should you choose to transmityour message directly in the e-mail body, it will be

immediately readable. Since ChannelStream willautomatically convert your input document into HTMLformat, you will have no additional work to do.

Taking advantage of e-billing capabilities will help youto dramatically improve your ROI and speed up yourfinancial processes.

FaxAutomating the management of the cover page,ChannelStream allows you to connect your existing faxinfrastructure to minimise costs.

Web (HTML)Any document can be automatically generated as anHTML file and then stored as a web page on your portal(or any other web media), allowing your customers toeasily access the information they need.

ArchiveCompanies are increasingly archiving their customerdocuments electronically. Using ChannelStream,documents can automatically be stored in your archivingsystem. The ChannelStream exit will provide documentsin a pre-selected format with all indexes needed byyour archiving system. With Datamatrix or Alphacodemark-ups, all documents sent are authenticated. You’ll beable to enforce the security, speed up the input processand make all information available instantly.

Specific ExitsIf needed, ChannelStream can interface any existingchannel through a specific exit that matches yourrequirements. Documents will be converted in the rightformat and sent using the correct communicationprotocol.

One Request for Multiple UsagesAll of these channels can be used at the same timefor any document. Through ChannelStreamparameterisation, you will be able to define which

document uses which channel(s). Setting specificparameters, you can decide to use several channelsat the same time, send an important document bymail and e-mail, and, for instance, by design, store acopy of the document in your archiving system, withall of the necessary indexes automatically inserted.



15

Hardware and SoftwareRequirements

ChannelStream Engine

• Hardware requirements:– Memory: 2 GB RAM– Disk space: 100 MB– Processing speed: 2.8 GHZ or higher– Screen resolution: 1024 by 768 or higher

• Software requirements:– Microsoft Windows 2000 or higher

ChannelStream Report

• Hardware requirements:– Memory: 2 GB RAM– Disk space: 250 MB– Processing speed: 2.8 GHZ or higher

• Software requirements:– Microsoft Windows Server 2000 or 2003– Microsoft Visual Studio C++ 6 or

Microsoft Visual .NET C++

Performance Example

500,000 pages per hour for the following business case:

• ChannelStream Engine and Report requirements asdefined above

• One instance of ChannelStream

• Two repository concurrency workers (agents)

• Input AFPDS datastream files with companion index file

• Management of three dynamic printer media

• Grouping documents into envelopes

• Sorting documents on country and zip code

• Sequencing documents within envelopes• Management of dynamic front/back printing

• Splitting output batches on foreign country code

• OMR enrichment for mail processing machines

• Management of three dynamic external mailprocessing attachments

Cincom ChannelStreamin a Page

• Business-oriented – no programming or scripting isrequired

• Easy-to-use, flexible and scalable

• Able to manipulate pages (duplex, re-ordering, etc.)and enhance documents (bar codes, images, etc.)

• Built to deal with any type of machine– Multi-platform compatible– Windows (XP, 2003 Server, Vista)– Linux– Unix (Sun Solaris, HP-UX, IBM, AIX-Linux)– Mac OS X

• Input formats– AFPDS– PCL– PDF– Postscript

• Output formats– Printer datastream

• AFPDS• PCL• PostScript

– Multi-channel capabilities

• E-mail• Fax• PDF• TIFF• XML



Cincom, the Quadrant Logo, ChannelStream and Simplification Through

Innovation are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cincom Systems, Inc.All other trademarks belong to their respective companies.

© 2010 Cincom Systems, Inc.FORM CSUK0902030-A4 5/10Printed in U.S.A.All Rights Reserved

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