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How Marketers Can Manage Brand Assets with WebConnect



01.31.2023

As the gatekeepers and guardians of all things brand, marketers have a unique challenge—empowering employees with access to marketing materials while also maintaining control and governance over their use. For marketers working for large enterprises or geographically dispersed organizations (franchises, for example), managing physical and digital brand assets is easier said than done.

The Challenge Managing Brand Assets

When we say “brand assets,” we’re referring to any physical or digital materials that are owned by and require oversight from a brand manager. This could include:

Brand Products
  • Promotional materials and SWAG
  • Seasonal signage
  • Brochures and business cards
  • Branded corporate forms
  • Digital assets like logo files
  • Branded apparel

All of these resources are developed to enable employees across the organization to effectively operate and/or market your brand and its services. But for marketing departments, maintaining the most up-to-date versions of digital assets and distributing physical assets across the organization can be a time consuming and tedious task.

Consider these scenarios:

  1. Your marketing team has developed an incredible, personalized employee onboarding kit—but every time a new staff member is onboarded, someone from the team needs to manually assemble and distribute the gift. With other priorities top of mind, it’s easy to fall behind, leaving the onboarding experience lacking. How can you streamline and automate this process?

  2. Recently, your company rebranded and updated its logo. This means staff across the organization will need updated business cards. However, you know that not everyone uses business cards, and therefore printing them for everyone would be a waste of resources. How can you enable staff to order their own business cards without having to manually manage the entire process?

  3. You work for a retailer that develops seasonal promotions for franchisees to leverage in their local markets. These promotions typically include updated window signage that can then be personalized to each location. How can you ensure your franchisees are appropriately leveraging the designs and personalizing them within your brand standards?

The Solution: A Branded Storefront

An internal digital storefront is a website that hosts your library of brand assets. From a user experience perspective, it's just like online shopping. Staff can simply log in, click on the items they want to order (business cards, brochures, t-shirts—you name it) and the order is sent for manager approval. Check out WCD's customer-facing storefront by clicking here.

Undoubtedly the best part of having an internal digital storefront is the time you'll save. With automation built into the backend, the storefront streamlines the entire ordering experience, eliminating your team's need to intervene in the process.

This automation prevents you from having to repeat mundane tasks like:

Package Delivery
  • Sending creative to print
  • Packaging products
  • Creating shipping labels
  • Kitting multi-item orders
  • Managing inventory
  • Emailing proofs back and forth
  • The list goes on!

Why WebConnect?

WebConnect is a user-friendly digital platform that enables anyone in your business to order corporate materials with the click of a button. It's valuable for large organizations or franchises who need a simpler way to print, manage and distribute collateral and promotional products.

Using its powerful web-to-order capabilities, marketing departments can work with WCD's developers to customize a WebConnect storefront and upload brand materials like brochures, business cards, signage and more.

Staff can simply log on, add items to their shopping cart, customize products within brand-approved guidelines, and order those items on-demand. WCD then prints, packages and delivers the finished product directly to their chosen location.

Learn more about WebConnect

If you think an internal digital storefront could save your marketing department time and money—you're right. Let us show you how with a live demo (no strings attached). We promise you'll love it.


10.28.2024

Corporate Services: Cost Centre, or Competitive Advantage?

For most enterprises, corporate services like reception, print management, and records management are viewed as necessary expenses—functions that support day-to-day operations but don’t directly drive revenue. Traditionally, they’re labelled as “cost centres,” suggesting they only draw from the budget rather than add to it. But what if these services could do more than just support? What if they could actively contribute to productivity, profitability, and even competitive advantage? When managed effectively, corporate services don’t just keep things running—they create a streamlined, efficient, and well-supported environment that could benefit your entire organisation. By uncovering and addressing hidden costs, companies can turn corporate services from a financial drain into a strategic asset. Below, we dive into the strategic potential of corporate services and how you, too, can turn these “cost centres” into real competitive advantages. We’ll explore: What are corporate services?The strategic potential of corporate servicesWhy many businesses outsource corporate servicesHow the outsourced corporate services model works What are Corporate Services? Corporate services encompass the essential functions that support the core operations of your business, ensuring that day-to-day activities run smoothly and efficiently. These services provide the infrastructure, resources, and support that employees need to stay productive and focused on their roles, while also ensuring that the organisation operates compliantly, securely, and sustainably. Often managed by in-house teams or outsourced providers, corporate services are vital to your company’s operational success. Here’s a list of common corporate services that many organisations rely on: Reception and Front Desk ManagementFacilities ManagementPrint and Copy ServicesDocument and Records ManagementMailroom and Courier ServicesProcurement and Vendor ManagementEmployee and Benefits Administration Corporate Travel ManagementEvent and Meeting CoordinationHealth and Safety ServicesCompliance and Regulatory SupportEnvironmental and Sustainability ProgramsWarehousing and Distribution Security ServicesFleet and Transportation Management These corporate services help establish a well-supported, productive workplace by providing the tools and systems necessary for your team to operate efficiently and grow sustainably. The Strategic Potential of Corporate Services The name of the corporate services game is operational efficiency. Managed well, corporate services can have a transformative impact on both your productivity and profitability, offering not only cost savings but also enhancing overall employee experience and client perceptions. Businesses that make the most of these services are better positioned to stay agile, competitive, and prepared for growth. On the other hand, companies that leave staff to manage corporate services off the side of their desk lack the structure and efficiency needed to streamline operations, often resulting in hidden costs, reduced productivity, and missed opportunities for improvement. This reactive approach can lead to burnout, inconsistency, and an inability to scale effectively—all of which can hinder your growth in a competitive market. Why Businesses Outsource Corporate Services Outsourcing corporate services can be a game-changer for companies looking to increase efficiency without overburdening their internal teams. When asked how they perceive the benefits of outsourcing, a Deloitte survey found that 65% of business leaders believe it enables them to focus on core functions and increase productivity. Beyond that, here are just a few of the benefits you’ll realize when outsourcing corporate services: Work Smarter: Outsourcing allows you to prioritise core functions, freeing internal teams to focus on high-impact, strategic activities rather than routine operational tasks. No more time wasted figuring out how to free the paper jam at the printer! Special Skills & Tools: External providers like WCD bring specialised knowledge and the latest tools, which can elevate operational standards and efficiencies. For example, we have entire teams dedicated and educated in document management, print management, corporate graphic design, and more—and they come equipped with the tools and technologies needed for success. Scalable Support: Outsourcing offers flexibility, allowing you to scale services up or down based on changing needs without the complexity of hiring or reallocating internal resources. This works particularly well if your business is prone to market fluctuations or seasonal shifts.Cost Savings: Outsourcing can be more cost-effective than managing these services in-house, helping reduce overhead and avoid expenses related to hiring, training, and retaining support staff.Operational Excellence: Partnering with experienced providers ensures that your corporate services are managed with a high degree of efficiency and reliability—enhancing the overall productivity and experience for your internal teams. How the Outsourced Corporate Services Model Works Now that we understand the benefits of outsourcing shared services, you may be curious how it all works. Here’s a breakdown of how corporate services providers like WCD often operate with enterprise clients: Step 1) Assessment and Customization The process often begins with a thorough assessment of your business’s current operations to identify inefficiencies and areas where external expertise can add the most value. Your corporate services provider will look at your current shared services model, and determine where there may be pain points or bottlenecks. Based on this, they will tailor their services to align with your specific needs—whether it’s handling reception, document management, or mailroom support. Step 2) Assigning Dedicated Teams Once the services and processes are defined, dedicated teams are assigned to handle these functions. These teams bring specialised skills and experience, ensuring high-quality service and relieving your internal employees from managing these tasks. Many providers also offer dedicated account managers who serve as a single point of contact for ongoing coordination and feedback. Step 3) Tools and Technology Integration Outsourced providers typically bring advanced tools and technology, from automated accounts payable management systems to document scanning and storage solutions. At WCD, we also have a team of in-house developers that specialise in fine-tuning technology and leveraging automation to craft unique solutions that best align with your company’s needs. We’ve seen this tech advantage dramatically transform processes that have long hindered businesses from achieving operational efficiency. Step 4) Continuous Monitoring and Optimization The right outsourcing partner will frequently monitor your service performance and seek feedback to improve and optimise their support continually. They may also provide regular reports on service metrics and productivity, allowing you to track results and make data-driven decisions about future adjustments. This gives you the flexibility and insight needed to scale up or down when needed. Interested in Learning More? From reception management and print services to document handling and automation, each area of your organisation’s corporate services presents opportunities for streamlining operations, reducing overhead, and enhancing efficiency. Ready to see how transforming your corporate services can drive real impact? Our managed corporate services offer the expertise and solutions to help your business operate more efficiently and productively.

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