The commercial printing and flexible packaging industry in India is experiencing unprecedented changes—rising client expectations, shrinking delivery timelines, and the growing complexity of customized orders. For many printing businesses, especially mid-sized and growing enterprises, the operational challenges are no longer manageable through spreadsheets or disconnected software systems. This is where a tailored ERP solution becomes essential.

One such solution making a significant impact is commercial printing software developed by Samadhan, a recognized Microsoft Dynamics partner in India. Designed specifically for the printing and packaging sector, this ERP system addresses the industry's five most pressing challenges head-on. In this article, we explore these challenges and how Samadhan’s intelligent, printing-specific ERP tools offer real-world solutions.

1. Challenge: Inconsistent Print Order Management Across Jobs and Clients

Managing multiple print orders, each with unique specifications and turnaround times, can quickly spiral into chaos. In traditional setups, manual errors, duplication, and missed deadlines are common—resulting in lost revenue and unhappy clients.

According to a report by PrintWeek India, over 35% of job delays in commercial printing are attributed to poor order tracking and manual communication gaps.

✅ How Samadhan Solves It:

Samadhan’s ERP software offers a centralized print order management system where every job—from quotation to final delivery—is traceable in one dashboard. Each job ticket is dynamically linked to customer specifications, design files, inventory needs, and delivery timelines.

Benefits include:

  • Automated job scheduling
  • Real-time client communication logs
  • Reduced job duplication errors
  • Improved customer satisfaction

This holistic approach ensures deadlines are met without sacrificing quality or transparency.

2. Challenge: Inventory Wastage and Material Shortages

Managing raw materials like ink, paper, and packaging components is one of the costliest aspects of the printing industry. Without proper monitoring, businesses either overstock (tying up capital) or understock (causing production halts).

Studies suggest that 20–30% of material costs in printing operations are lost due to poor inventory visibility and wastage.

✅ How Samadhan Solves It:

Samadhan integrates inventory tracking for printing directly with the production and procurement modules. It gives users real-time alerts on low stock levels, upcoming material requirements, and expiry risks for sensitive supplies.

Highlights:

  • Barcode-based raw material tracking
  • FIFO/LIFO stock methods
  • Real-time material consumption reports
  • Auto-reorder triggers

These features drastically reduce inventory waste and ensure production never stalls due to material shortages.

3. Challenge: Complex Job Costing and Pricing Errors

Profit margins in printing are often razor-thin, especially with highly customized jobs. Traditional costing methods fail to account for labor hours, machine usage, setup waste, and custom finishes, leading to under-quoted projects.

In a survey by the All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP), over 40% of small printers admitted to quoting jobs with no accurate costing system in place.

✅ How Samadhan Solves It:

Samadhan’s ERP includes job costing in printing that's both granular and automated. It tracks all elements of job execution—from machine run time to human hours and finishing costs—right from job planning.

Cost components covered:

  • Setup and downtime costs
  • Ink and plate usage
  • Energy consumption
  • Subcontractor charges

This transparency empowers printing companies to quote more accurately, identify loss-making jobs, and take immediate corrective actions.

4. Challenge: Uncoordinated Production Planning

Without synchronized production planning, printing businesses suffer from idle machinery, production bottlenecks, and missed deadlines. Manual Gantt charts or basic Excel tools simply can’t keep up with dynamic job rescheduling or urgent client requests.

✅ How Samadhan Solves It:

The print production planning module in Samadhan's ERP is built to manage the fast-paced, multi-machine environment of commercial printing. It helps schedule jobs based on priority, machine availability, and operator shifts.

Key benefits:

  • Dynamic drag-and-drop job rescheduling
  • Machine utilization tracking
  • Delay prediction and alerts
  • Color coding of job status

These features ensure your entire production floor runs smoothly, reducing machine idle time and improving throughput by as much as 15–20% according to implementation case studies.

5. Challenge: Lack of Real-Time Reporting and Analytics

Running a data-blind business in today’s competitive market is a recipe for failure. Yet, many print shops still rely on end-of-day reports or incomplete spreadsheets to assess performance.

✅ How Samadhan Solves It:

Samadhan’s ERP provides real-time reporting for print jobs, sales, inventory, and costing via customizable dashboards. Business owners and department heads can access:

  • Live production status
  • Daily profitability reports
  • Customer order history
  • Material usage trends

With these insights, decision-makers can act fast—whether it’s to fix a production bottleneck, quote smarter, or reduce overhead.

Why Samadhan’s ERP Stands Out in the Printing and Flexible Packaging Sector

Unlike generic ERP software, Samadhan’s solution is tailored for the Indian commercial printing and flexible packaging industry. Their tools are fine-tuned based on actual industry workflows, making them intuitive for press operators, production managers, and business owners alike.

Moreover, Samadhan has decades of experience in erp software for printing industry india, giving them deep insight into regional challenges like local taxation (GST), multi-location operations, and vendor complexities.

The ERP also integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Dynamics 365, providing enterprise-grade scalability and security, while being accessible to mid-sized firms.

Final Thoughts: Transform Your Printing Business with Samadhan

In an industry where time, precision, and margins matter, relying on outdated systems is no longer viable. Samadhan’s commercial printing software is more than a digital tool—it’s a strategic asset that helps you stay competitive, agile, and profitable.

From solving job costing nightmares to reducing inventory waste and improving client satisfaction, the platform transforms the way printing companies operate.