The ability to access proofs from any location worldwide, 24 hours a day, remains a powerful advantage in today's digital environment. While cloud-based solutions are established, this capability is still transformative for thousands of creative teams accustomed to circulating physical proofs. Without online access, contributions are limited to office hours, hindering collaboration.
Making design proofs fast and easy for collaborators to view is paramount. Secure web browser links facilitate access, removing the need for collaborators to create user accounts, input personal details, or possess an Adobe Creative Cloud license. This extends the reach of your review process, allowing you to invite an unlimited number of participants without logistical, location, or time constraints.
“We operate 30+ retail locations in four states with each store having a separate manager that we rely on to review our weekly, bi-weekly and monthly print advertisements. GoProof provides us an easy-to-use, central platform that allows us to efficiently communicate, collaborate and share creative work that would otherwise have to be distributed via email.”
A. Nush, Retail, 501 - 1000 employees
A significant frustration within the creative journey stems from wasted time, often unfairly attributed to the creative worker or proof sender. Many creative teams operating without online proofing software spend considerable time on lengthy calls with clients or stakeholders, attempting to clarify change requests. Arranging these discussions often leads to delays, exacerbated by scheduling conflicts.
Efficient online proofing software has been proven to accelerate the creative journey from project inception to final sign-off by up to 50%. This dramatically reduces the number of proofs and review rounds required for approval. Thanks to intuitive engagement functions and a comprehensive suite of features, designers significantly reduce hours spent awaiting feedback and engaging in time-consuming phone calls. This shortens the feedback chase and boosts productivity, ranging from releasing the burden of admin on creatives to quicker collaborator commenting and editing, fundamentally improving how to make design feedback faster.
“Time is the biggest benefit I've found with GoProof. My customers love how quick GoProof makes the proofing process. I'm not wasting time on the phone with customers discussing changes and explaining where the changes need to be made. With this proofing system I'm able to see exactly what they want, where they want it and can quickly make those edits and return a proof in record time.”
D. Buchmiller, Designer/Printer
Genuine collaborative work culture fosters free expression, inspiration, and unity, and online proofing software excels in this domain by offering a multitude of interconnected benefits. For larger organizations, simple cross-departmental communication can be a substantial challenge, a void that centralized software can effectively bridge.
A highly valued feature among users is the immediate ability to add and remove collaborators on demand, and to monitor their viewing and interaction with proofs. This transparency eliminates doubt and empowers proof owners to efficiently advance the process.
The commenting and markup zone, the core workspace in all online proofing software, provides collaborators with a comprehensive selection of proofing tools to clearly articulate their thoughts. These include options like boxes, highlights, strikes, and even ruler measurements, all applied directly onto the high-resolution proof within its exact context. Comments are organized into visible threads, enabling direct replies and targeted conversations using @mentioning. This consolidates all email, phone, and offline communication into a single location, empowering the creative circle to collaborate more effectively and strive for exceptional creatives.
“I like how multiple users/reviewers can review and comment on documents for a more dynamic discussion. I like that we can add additional reviewers as necessary, and direct questions to specific reviewers.”
K. Morales, Biotechnology, 51-200 employees
Errors can be profoundly detrimental to project integrity. A significant advantage of online proofing software lies in its contribution to accuracy and quality assurance, delivering a substantial positive impact. User estimations indicate an average error reduction of 20%, which significantly enhances the reliability and trustworthiness of published content for all involved parties.
These errors can range from typographical mistakes or suboptimal image cropping to ensuring the presence of up-to-date logos and accurate technical disclaimers.
Compliance is a critical factor in proofing, particularly for heavily regulated legal and financial companies facing intense scrutiny regarding their published content. Online proofing software delivers substantial productivity gains in cross-departmental relationships and day-to-day coworking. The transparency provided by the software is key, effectively de-risking commercial mistakes and mitigating the resulting negative exposure.
“VERY GOOD! It saves us tons of time, has reduced proofs and improved accuracy of our publications.”
C. Kimberlin, Publishing, 11-50 employees
Online proofing software functions as the central reference point for meticulously recording all conversations pertaining to creative content. It is the designated platform that cultivates genuine shared ownership of work, fostering collaboration and excellence throughout the creative circle.
The framework for traceability typically comprises three main components: collaborator engagement, defined stages within a review, and a comprehensive history of proof versions.
When collaborators join a proof, their participation is transparently visible to everyone, usually within an open review. Some individuals may possess greater authority to request actions on proofs than others; when a decision is made, the proof transitions into a new status, such as "Changes Requested" or "Signed Off."
Creatives then implement the changes and share a new proof for review (version 2, 3, 4...), thereby establishing a complete audit trail of proof versions, comments, and activity within the review history. These versions can be compared, revisited, and relied upon for clarity or in case of future contention. Projects are archived, ensuring no work is ever lost. Furthermore, sophisticated measurement and reporting tools offer unique data insights and user evidence to aid in optimizing future projects.
“I love that we can retain our proofs within the system once it's signed-off. I've occasionally had to revisit a comment on a proof after the printing of a project. That security is invaluable.”
A.Kurowski, Non-Profit, 11-50 employees
A paramount benefit of online proofing software is its capacity to empower creatives to work smarter, thereby unleashing their true creative potential. Connecting online proofing software with Adobe Creative Cloud, the most prevalent creative software on the market, generates substantial time savings in both producing proofs and implementing requested amends.
Proofs can be dispatched directly from within Adobe applications, eliminating the need to export PDFs or MP4s merely to share work.
Performing all tasks without exiting Adobe and avoiding switches to email or file-sharing programs saves designers numerous hours. The two-way integration facilitates data flow in both directions, meaning all edits, change requests, and asset uploads can be received by creatives directly back into their Adobe application. They can even reject a change and provide a justification, which is then shared on the next version. This highly efficient process simplifies switching between design projects and allows creatives to concentrate on their core strengths.
“I love it! I no-longer have to take my file into another file to create a low-res, watermarked PDF. I just click the client's name and submit the artwork to their email - all from within Adobe Creative Cloud.”
C. Ricci, Graphic Designer
The assurance that all participants are aligned and dedicated to collaborative efforts towards achieving ambitious goals significantly enhances the creative journey. Within the review circle, specific roles and responsibilities are assigned, ensuring a clear understanding of who is responsible for requesting changes, granting final sign-off, or merely observing with view-only access.
Online proofing software is engineered to solidify key collaborator decisions and actions as checkpoints, tracking commitments in real-time and making them accessible to each individual in their proof dashboard.
As everyone remains constantly involved, the opportunity for contribution receives a welcome boost, fostering shared ownership and a strong team ethic towards project requirements.
“Through our ongoing commitment to service excellence, GoProof has streamlined the workflow process, eliminated PDF and asset file issues and bridged the gap between communication with our clients. Our clients are happy with the system as well.”
S. Oberholster, Printing, 11-50 employees
Consolidating all information into one convenient location represents the optimal operational model and serves as the bedrock for a successful proofing culture. Teams not utilizing online proofing software often experience a fragmented approach to tracking assets, accessing proofs, receiving comments and instructions, inviting collaborators, and approving versions.
The arduous task of consolidating feedback received through numerous channels is inherently time-consuming, further compounded when each collaborator possesses their own version of the proof via email, leading to a completely desynchronized return process.
A single, web-based portal for all live and historical content conversations is unparalleled, as it eliminates doubt and duplication, saving both time and hassle. This applies to all media types, enabling the review of print work alongside movies, digital banners, and app prototypes. Organizing client folders within online proofing software also simplifies project management and streamlines daily operations.
“People who are sending edits can see if someone else has already offered a suggestion for change which reduces the likelihood of duplication and wasted time for reviewers. Also, if a reviewer disagrees with an edit, they can do so in line with the comment and keep the conversation right where everyone can view it.”
R. Edens, Electronics Manufacturing, 11-50 employees
One of the most arduous and unproductive aspects of the creative process involves submitting copy passages and text changes. Imagine the scenario for designers: content arrives via disparate emails, Word documents, Google documents, internal systems, and even verbally over the phone.
It is far more efficient to directly input and edit text within the proof itself, a capability offered by online proofing software. This functionality mitigates human error in retyping, translating, and transferring content, while simultaneously presenting it to stakeholders directly at the point of submission. This, in turn, facilitates faster and deeper collaboration.
The number of versions requiring production decreases, and creatives gain greater confidence that the text is accurate and precisely as intended for the context, free from typos or misrepresentations. Making feedback easier for text changes dramatically improves efficiency.
“I really do enjoy using GoProof and it has made our proofing and editing experience with our clients much more efficient than emailing back and forth.”
L. Berryman, Real Estate, 501 - 1000 employees
Online proofing software acts as an essential backbone for reviewing and approving creative work, particularly within high-volume organizations, ensuring everyone remains on track. A simple, logical, and secure digital process underpins its operation, ensuring all users clearly understand its functionality and can conform to it without daily strain, thus enhancing workflow.
The optimized workflow structure inherent in online proofing software introduces consistency to the processes required for finalizing and releasing creative content, adding both control and efficiency. The use of deadlines and reminders to maintain progress exemplifies this.
With a proofing system in place, less time is spent in idle waiting, and more creative magic can occur, ultimately driving brand equity and sales activation.
“Overall it has had a very positive impact on our proofing workflow and cut costs for us, enabling us to move to an almost completely digital proofing workflow from an intensive print and paper routing routine.”
H. Ancarrow, Furniture, 51-200 employees
We are confident that the value of online proofing software is now clear. Does this resonate with your organization's unique challenges, and could it seamlessly integrate into your team's existing workflow? We would be pleased to engage in a deeper discussion about your creative journey.
“I've thoroughly enjoyed working with this software. It's been a lifesaver.”
S. Davis, IT & Services, 11-50 employees
When these intelligent strategies are effectively implemented, creative teams can significantly accelerate their workflow and enhance responsiveness. This approach ensures that the quality of their work remains uncompromised.
Ultimately, it is about working smarter, not merely faster, to deliver exceptional results in a demanding creative landscape.
Smarter Proofing. Faster Approvals. GoProof.
