Workstream Solutions - Online design artwork solutions for publishing print and advertising

How AdConstructor Works

The online solution ensures each photo is automatically colour-corrected to match the ICC profile of the publication.

As large publishing companies face the challenge of shifting from traditional news reporting methods toward a mix of online multi-platform content, a similar shift from traditional production methods is occurring behind the scenes.

Many publishers are embracing the software-as-a-service (SaaS) business model to manage the production of display advertising. SaaS providers such as Workstream Solutions are businesses that provide computer-based services to customers over a network.

“As a SaaS provider, we only profit when our customers profit,” says Tim Dean, Managing Director, Workstream Solutions. “Our customers have no upfront purchase costs and because AdConstructor is scaleable – which means it can be used more or less depending on the publisher’s needs – ad makeup costs always stay in line with ad revenue.”

SaaS has moved quickly from being an emerging phenomenon into a widely accepted business model. Companies such as News Limited and ACP New Zealand have embraced the AdConstructor SaaS solution to manage its real estate advertising portfolio, in order to lower production overheads and increase ad revenue.

AdConstructor’s online design engine revolves around an automated template structure. The web-based portal and templates within it are customised to meet the requirements of each publisher, which can then tailor the interface to meet the needs of its customers. Template design, implementation, user training and system support are part of the package supplied by Workstream Solutions.

Currently, over 52,000 online design templates for more than 750 independent and franchise real estate brands are managed within the AdConstructor system. Customers are supported by Workstream Solutions’ IT team, based in Sydney.

According to real estate marketing manager Tabitha Rider, a frequent advertiser in US-based Contra Costa Newspapers, the step-by-step process of uploading photos, entering property information and generating her own proofs has resulted in significant time savings.

Using AdConstructor, Rider immediately generates and views her ads as high-resolution PDF or JPG files, removing the traditional back-and-forth of the approval process.

“The process of putting the ad together and getting individual proofs is so simple, it’s easy to keep organised,” she says.

In addition to improving her user experience, Rider notes the print quality has also substantially improved. This is because the online solution ensures each photo she submits is automatically colour-corrected to match the ICC profile of the publication.

“Prior to AdConstructor, the print quality of our ads was a bit fuzzy,” she explains. “Now, the print quality is much better – it is much crisper.”

Ensuring quality isn’t the only process streamlined by AdConstructor. Publishers also benefit from two in-built management tools called Bookings Manager and Job Track Studio. Both are web-based programs integrated into the AdConstructor suite.

Bookings Manager gives ad directors, sales reps and ad traffic managers an overview of their customer base. They can see how many pages of ads each individual client has, where each client is up to in the artwork production process, and how many ads in the future are lined up on the calendar.

Job Track Studio allows the publisher to setup advertising clients with log-ins, design online templates and tailor the look-and-feel of the AdConstructor interface. It can also be used to manage offline design and proof material outside the primary template structure.

This function is useful for when a client has a special request for a one-off design that do not follow their existing online template structure. “It means both advertising clients and publishers can create exactly what they require without restriction,” says Dean.

Print and online delivery in one package

CB Richard Ellis Australia (CBRE) understands the importance of multi-platform delivery.

The world-leading integrated real estate services company relies on Workstream integration technology, the in-built web services protocol functionality of AdConstructor to generate URLs of its ads.

With one click, artwork is extracted from CBRE magazine templates and converted into HTML, which opens in any web browser as an exact reproduction of the print ad.

CBRE publishes each page in Property Connector, its monthly e-magazine. To view Property Connector, visit http://propertyfrontier.cbre.com.au/