Imprint Business Systems

What Imprint Business Systems does

Imprint Business Systems Limited is a privately-held UK software company that develops and supplies modular Management Information Systems (MIS) exclusively for the printing and packaging industry. Founded in 1984 and headquartered at 27 Fairycroft Road, Saffron Walden, United Kingdom, the company serves enterprise and mid-market printers across multiple sub-verticals including flexographic packaging, digital printing, folding cartons, label printing, lithographic printing, mailing, foil blocking, web-to-print, and wide format. The firm operates with a 1–10 person headcount, is privately owned with no external institutional investors or funding rounds, and reports its operating scope as the United Kingdom. The website references over 40 years of providing solutions to the industry, while the firmographics field lists year founded as 1979; this discrepancy is unresolved in the source data.

The company's core product is the Imprint MIS platform, organized around the Imprint Desktop central hub and eight integrated modules: Estimating (with dedicated solutions per print sub-vertical), Order Processing, Production Control (visual production board), Shop Floor Data Capture and Machine Monitoring (live tracking via JDF, direct machine signals, or API), Stock Control (with full batch traceability), Warehousing/Tracking System (with web-based scanning), and Data Reporting via the in-house MyData Report Generator. The technology stack is proprietary, with the company owning its own code, and integrates with the CIP4/JDF standards body plus major workflow and pre-press vendors (Esko Automation Engine, Kodak, Agfa, Heidelberg, MBO), web-to-print platforms (XMPie, Infigo, Redtie, Roi360, PrintJob, Vpress), accounting platforms (Sage, Xero, QuickBooks), and courier integration via Shipmate. An in-house API extends data exchange capabilities. The most recent product launch is a two-year-developed bi-directional Esko Automation Engine integration, released May 2025.

Imprint sells primarily through a direct, technical-led sales model in which the same team handles customers from initial meetings through implementation; no outside salespeople are employed. Pricing is custom-quoted per business on an annual subscription basis, with no per-user licensing penalties, upfront training day pricing, and financial support available to spread upfront costs. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Named enterprise customers include A1 Security Print, Elanders, Glossop Cartons, Hobbs The Printers, Latcham, PMG Print Management, Simple Cartons, Wetherby, Document Despatch, and GCP, several of which the company describes as "some of the largest printers in the UK." Leadership comprises CEO Glennys Bourne and Commercial Manager Peter Horwood.

Name

Imprint Business Systems

Legal name

Imprint Business Systems Limited

Website

https://imprint-mis.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Imprint Business Systems Limited is a privately-held UK software company that provides modular Management Information Systems exclusively for the printing and packaging industry. Its eight integrated modules — covering estimating, production control, shop floor data capture, stock control, warehousing, and reporting — are sold directly to UK enterprise and mid-market printers via custom-configured, subscription-based engagements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Print Management Information Systems (MIS) Software

NAICS

Printing and Related Support Activities (3231)

SIC

Service Industries For The Printing Trade (2790)

akta.pro primary industry

POD Platform Software & Workflow Automation (Order Routing, Prepress, MIS) (MPAJANAL)

Keywords

• Print MIS software
• Production workflow management
• Shop floor data capture
• Print estimating software
• Packaging management systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Chelmsford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. MIS Software Licensing and Implementation: Privately owned company supplying MIS systems to the printing and packaging industry. The company provides modular systems that are configured to individual business needs. No penalty for number of licensed users - they examine business and quote upfront for the system needed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Imprint Business Systems develops and licenses a proprietary, modular Management Information System (MIS) tailored to the printing and packaging industry. The Imprint Desktop platform integrates Estimating, Order Processing, Production Control, Shop Floor Data Capture, Machine Monitoring, Stock Control, Warehousing, and Data Reporting modules that are configured to each customer's specific workflow rather than sold as fixed packages.

Product overview

Imprint Business Systems provides a modular, highly configurable Management Information System (MIS) specifically designed for the printing and packaging industry. The core platform, Imprint Desktop, serves as the central hub from which all modules are launched. The system comprises eight integrated modules: Estimating (with dedicated solutions for different print sectors), Order Processing (purchasing system), Production Control (production board), Shop Floor Data Capture/SFDC (live shop floor monitoring), Stock Control (raw and finished goods), Warehousing (tracking system with web scanning), and Data Reporting (via MyData Report Generator). All modules are fully integrated with one another, allowing businesses to add options as they progress. The company also offers an in-house API and various third-party integrations including Esko Automation Engine, web-to-print solutions, accounting software, and courier services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Imprint Desktop Central hub application launched from login, providing users with instant access to relevant customer and job information including estimates, job bags, invoices, contact messages, emails, and delivery notes. Fully customizable user to user.
• MyData Report Generator In-house developed reporting tool that reads directly from the database with live data and graphical reports, allowing users to create custom bespoke reports without advanced report writing skills, with advanced users able to integrate SQL queries.
• Estimating Industry-specific estimating system that automatically works out the most cost-effective method of production, calculates imposition layouts, produces quotation letters in seconds, and creates JDF data from estimate information.
• Order Processing A fully integrated purchasing system that can be set up for individual-based or centralised buying with multi-currency transactions, customizable purchase document templates, template phrases, direct e-mailing, and automatic posting to Job Cost Sheets.
• Production Control Multi-user production board system with real-time display movement and time indicators moving across T-cards as jobs progress, handling short run jobs, multiple sites, various plant and shift patterns, and large volumes of digital jobs alongside conventional litho.
• Shop Floor Data Capture (SFDC) Live business intelligence tool providing real-time data capture as jobs progress, device-independent (tablet or PC), eliminating manual timesheets, capturing accurate production data live, and integrating with machine monitoring options.
• Sentinel.NET Machine monitoring system that connects via direct feed or SentinelNet devices to support legacy equipment, providing high performance real-time monitoring for presses and post-press equipment with accurate time and materials tracking.
• Stock Control Raw material and finished stock control system with first-in-first-out principles, full batch traceability from end product back to source, and complete audit trails of all transactions.
• Warehousing / Tracking System Advanced warehousing system allowing sites to be configured into identifiable areas and tracking movement and current position of stock, finished stock, and work-in-progress, with bar-coded pallet/box labels and an online web scanning interface.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced data entry duplication for customer service teams
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration16 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• EskocoreTechnology or Integration · 29 May 2025Imprint integrated with Esko Automation Engine allows customers to begin building products at enquiry stage which can later trigger workflows to make automated checks to artwork. Esko Automation Engine sends information back to update the MIS product and production job status values. Status changes can also be triggered from the MIS back to Esko Automation Engine. The integration includes bi-directional data flow with parity of layout information between systems. Development took 2 years.
• KodakcoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-term CIP4 member with active JDF integrations including Kodak for workflow automation in the printing industry.
• AgfacoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-term CIP4 member with active JDF integrations including Agfa for workflow automation in the printing industry.
• HeidelbergcoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-term CIP4 member with active JDF integrations including Heidelberg for workflow automation in the printing industry.
• MBOcoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-term CIP4 member with active JDF integrations including MBO for workflow automation in the printing industry.
• CIP4coreTechnology or IntegrationLong-term member of the CIP4 organization, the international standards body for print workflow automation using JDF (Job Definition Format).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• EFI (Electronics For Imaging): Global leader in print MIS/workflow software (EFI Productivity Suite, PrintSmith Vision, Pace). Directly competes with Imprint in selling integrated estimating, production, and shop-floor software to commercial and packaging printers.
• Tharstern: UK-based print MIS vendor serving commercial, packaging, and label printers with estimating, production scheduling, and shop-floor data capture. Closest like-for-like competitor in the UK market.
• Esko: Provider of prepress, packaging workflow, and Automation Engine software. Directly comparable as a workflow/MIS layer for packaging printers; Imprint's recent integration with Esko reflects overlapping customer base.
• Enfocus: Provider of workflow automation (Enfocus Switch) for the print industry. Imprint publishes an integration on the Enfocus AppStore; comparable as a workflow/automation vendor to print service providers.
• CERM: Belgium-based vendor of MIS/ERP software for label and packaging printers. Directly comparable as a vertical MIS vendor serving similar packaging printer segments (cartons, labels).

Broad incumbents

• Heidelberg (HEIDELBERG Druckmaschinen): Global press manufacturer that also offers the Prinect workflow/MIS suite. Competes with Imprint by bundling MIS capabilities with hardware sales to commercial printers.
• Agfa: Provides prepress and workflow software (Apogee series) to commercial printers and packaging converters. Imprint has active JDF integrations with Agfa, evidencing overlap in target customers.
• Kodak: Offers Kodak Prinergy workflow software and broader print production solutions. Active JDF integration partner of Imprint; targets similar print production customers.
• Datastream (formerly known as Datastream / cross-print MIS): Long-standing enterprise print MIS vendor (used by Imprint's featured partner Datastream Technology). Competes with Imprint at the larger commercial printer end of the market.

Emerging players

• PrintVis: Print MIS built on Microsoft Dynamics Business Central, targeting commercial printers with estimating, job costing, and production scheduling. Comparable MIS product for the commercial print segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ImprintMis
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9XbL_UDxILoA3pacvYppLw
• Facebookfacebook.com/imprintmis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/imprint-business-systems

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Imprint Business Systems