Production
Make print-job handoffs visible before the deadline.
Track artwork checks, proofing, production and finishing for print orders without presenting every job as a fixed pipeline.
A workflow you could start with
- 1Artwork received
- 2Proof prepared
- 3Printing underway
- 4Finishing and pickup
Where customers lose visibility
A print order can wait at several different handoffs.
A file may need correction before proofing, or a proof may be ready while the press has not started. 'In production' hides the reason a delivery date is at risk.
Clients often ask for status just when operators are preparing a run. Without a shared timeline, sales and production can give different answers.
What a progress page changes
Show the next concrete step.
Create a page per order and name stages for the actual job. A poster, label run and custom sign can each use a different sequence.
Post when a file passes preflight, when production starts and when finishing is complete. Clients see a timestamp rather than an old promise in a message thread.
A workflow you could start with
These are examples. You can rename, add, remove or reorder stages for each tracking without changing other jobs.
If the job does not need a proof, remove that stage. If client approval is needed, obtain it through your normal channel before starting production.
A useful customer update
The artwork has passed our file check and the proof is prepared. We are waiting for your approval through the usual email thread before scheduling the print run.
Do not confuse visibility with sign-off.
Use the page to show that a proof exists and what comes next. Trackroom's customer page is view-only and does not collect proof approval. Keep color, quantity and delivery commitments in your existing order agreement.
Questions from this kind of work
Can I use different stages for posters and packaging?
Yes. Saved workflows provide reusable starting points, and each order's stages can be edited independently.
Can I attach a proof?
You can attach supported image or document files to a progress update, subject to file and storage limits. Approval still happens outside Trackroom.
Related use cases
Let customers check progress themselves.
Set up stages that match your work, then share one private page with your customer. Free includes 10 new trackings each month.