Express vs PRO: Which is Right for Me?
Introduction: The Modern Print Shop’s Secret Weapon
In today’s competitive print landscape, efficiency is not optional. From job setup to delivery, missed handoffs, unclear priorities, and production blind spots quietly erode margins and frustrate customers.
This is where print production management software becomes a true operational advantage.
By bringing production visibility, job tracking, inventory awareness, and workflow coordination into one system, print shops gain control over what is in progress, what is due next, and where work is getting stuck. The result is fewer surprises, faster turnaround, and more predictable outcomes.
Invest in a better platform to run your shop
shopVOX Express
Ideal for small business
No onboarding fees.
INCLUDES
- Pricing tools
- Online Proofing
- Job Management
- Integrations with accounting software such as Quickbooks Online, Sage One (UK & IE countries only), and Xero
shopVOX PRO
Great for large companies
Onboarding packages starting at $499.
INCLUDES
- All of shopVOX Features plus...
- Sales Leads / CRM
- Advanced Integrations
- Add-on Features
- Premium Support
What Is Print Production Management Software?
Print production management software is designed to centralize and streamline every step of the print production lifecycle—from intake and scheduling to material management and delivery. At its core, print production management software replaces whiteboards, spreadsheets, paper tickets, and disconnected tools with a single, shared view of every job moving through your shop.
Professional support from industry experts
Aaron
Signage, Apparel & Print
Crystal
Apparel, Signage & Print
Jennifer
Signage
Craig
Signage
Hannah
Signage
Key Features That Streamline Your Workflow
Let’s explore the core capabilities that allow print production management software to optimize your business processes:
1. Real-Time Production Tracking
What it does:
Monitors jobs as they move through each production stage in real time, providing transparency across your entire operation.
How it helps:
- View live job statuses from a centralized dashboard.
- Identify bottlenecks early and reallocate resources.
- Give sales teams and customer-facing staff accurate, up-to-date visibility into job status without chasing production..
Shop Impact:
Fewer status update calls, reduced lead times, and better on-time delivery performance.
2. Centralized Job Ticketing
What it does:
Eliminates paper trails by consolidating job specs, artwork, and deadlines into one digital ticket.
How it helps:
- Prevents rework due to missing or outdated information.
- Ensures consistent instructions from sales to production.
- Allows all teams to collaborate from a single source of truth.
Shop Impact:
Less confusion, more accountability, and faster job execution.
3. Inventory Visibility and Material Tracking
What it does:
Tracks materials like paper, ink, garments, and substrates in relation to active and upcoming jobs.
How it helps:
- Reduces surprises caused by missing or misallocated materials
- Links material usage directly to jobs for better cost awareness
- Supports smarter purchasing decisions without overcomplicated inventory systems
Shop Impact:
Less waste, fewer production delays, and more predictable job costs.
4. Workflow Automation & Task Assignment
What it does:
Helps standardize how jobs move through production stages, approvals, and handoffs.
How it helps:
- Reduces missed steps between departments
- Clarifies responsibilities at each stage of production
- Keeps work moving even when priorities or timelines change
Shop Impact:
More consistent workflows, fewer errors, and operations that scale without chaos.
5. Production Visibility by Step or Machine
What it does:
Shows how much work is due at each production step or machine without relying on rigid capacity planning models.
How it helps:
- Highlights bottlenecks before they cause late jobs
- Helps teams prioritize based on due dates and workload
- Supports better day-to-day production decisions
Shop Impact:
Clearer priorities, smoother scheduling, and fewer last-minute rushes.
Real-World Results: Smarter Shops in Action
While results vary by shop size and workflow complexity, many print businesses report improvements like the following after gaining real production visibility:
| Metric | Before | After Implementation |
| Job turnaround time | 5–7 days | 2–3 days |
| On-time delivery rate | 78% | 95% |
| Material waste | 12% of total cost | 4% of total cost |
| Customer complaints | Frequent | Rare |
Who Needs It Most?
- High-volume print shops juggling dozens of jobs daily.
- Shops with diverse service offerings that require complex workflows.
- Growing businesses struggling to scale processes and people.
- Operations with remote teams or multiple locations.
If you’re relying on spreadsheets, paper tickets, or disconnected tools, now is the time to invest in a single system that does it all.
Final Thoughts: From Manual to Masterful
Print production is not just about pressing “Start.” It is about timing, coordination, and visibility across every job in your shop. Print production management software gives you confidence to answer the questions that matter most: what is late, what is next, and where work is getting stuck.
When production is visible, decisions improve. When decisions improve, margins follow.
Take Control with ShopVox
Ready to reduce errors, improve turnaround times, and gain real production visibility? ShopVox’s powerful print production management tools help you track jobs, automate tasks, manage inventory, and deliver exceptional results.Start Your Free Trial of ShopVox and see what changes when production is finally clear.
