Bespoke Production System with WEBCON
Bespoke Production Line System using WEBCON BPS
Introduction
Woodmansterne Publications is a third-generation family-run greetings card publisher founded in 1940 and based in Hertfordshire. Over decades of trading, the company has continually adapted to cultural and technological change while remaining committed to its core vision of interpreting culture through visual imagery.
From producing the first colour slides of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation to developing an extensive portfolio of greeting cards for birthdays, Christmas, and many other occasions, Woodmansterne has built a reputation for creativity, quality, and innovation within the publishing and print industry.
Behind this creative output sits a highly operational production environment where efficiency, organisation, and timely delivery are critical—particularly during peak seasonal periods.
Challenges
When Dolphin IT Solutions was introduced to Woodmansterne, the initial requirement was to take over support and development of an existing bespoke .NET application used to organise the production of artwork, greeting cards, and print jobs.
The system played an important operational role across the business but had developed several issues that limited its effectiveness as a day-to-day production management tool.
Existing faults required urgent attention to ensure reliability, while new operational requirements highlighted functional gaps that the platform was unable to support.
At the same time, Woodmansterne required dependable support for both the application and its users.
This was especially important during the company’s busiest trading periods, where downtime or unresolved user issues could directly impact production schedules and business performance.
The organisation therefore needed more than maintenance alone. They required a reliable, scalable solution capable of addressing current limitations while supporting future operational requirements.
Our Solution
Following a detailed review of the existing application, its codebase, and underlying functionality, Dolphin IT Solutions proposed an alternative strategy.
Rather than continuing to enhance the legacy .NET platform, we recommended a full rebuild using WEBCON BPS, our preferred low-code business process management platform.
This approach allowed Woodmansterne to move beyond the limitations of the existing system and adopt a modern workflow solution capable of delivering both immediate improvements and long-term flexibility.
The proposal focused on:
- Resolving existing system faults and usability issues
- Expanding platform functionality
- Delivering a faster and more flexible development model
- Reducing long-term technical complexity
- Supporting rapid business change and future growth
By rebuilding the platform in WEBCON BPS, Dolphin IT Solutions could provide a more agile and scalable environment while significantly reducing delivery risk.
Low-Code Platform Development
WEBCON BPS was selected because of its ability to rapidly deliver business applications and workflow solutions without the development overhead associated with traditional software builds.
The platform allowed Dolphin IT Solutions to completely redesign and rebuild the application while preserving the operational logic that Woodmansterne relied upon.
The new system addressed all known issues within the previous application while extending functionality to support business processes the original system could not accommodate.
Because WEBCON BPS enables rapid workflow design and modification, the project benefited from a more collaborative and adaptable delivery process.
Change requests and evolving requirements could be incorporated quickly and efficiently, reducing pressure on both the development team and the client.
This low-code approach also significantly reduced implementation risk by shortening development timelines and simplifying future enhancements.
Rapid Deployment and Business Adoption
A major advantage of the WEBCON solution was the speed at which it could be delivered.
The entire platform was designed, developed, and deployed within just six weeks—ensuring Woodmansterne had a fully operational solution in place ahead of the critical Christmas production and delivery period.
Rapid implementation allowed the business to address operational concerns without prolonged disruption or delayed project timelines.
The system was intentionally designed to be intuitive and easy to use, requiring minimal user training and enabling teams across different departments to adopt the platform quickly.
This ease of adoption was particularly important in a production environment where operational continuity and efficiency remain essential.
The business welcomed the approach as it provided a single platform capable of supporting the needs of multiple departments rather than relying on fragmented tools or isolated systems.
Data Migration and Systems Integration
To ensure continuity and preserve historical information, Dolphin IT Solutions migrated all relevant data from the previous application into the new WEBCON environment.
Legacy information remained available for reference purposes, allowing users to retain access to historical production and operational records.
Alongside migration, the new platform was integrated with Woodmansterne’s wider technology ecosystem.
This included integration with:
- SAP systems
- Existing business data portals
- Operational production and information systems
These integrations ensured information could move seamlessly between systems while reducing duplicate data entry and improving overall operational efficiency.
By connecting business systems together, the solution provided a more unified and reliable operational environment.
Future Workflow Automation and Platform Expansion
One of the key benefits of adopting WEBCON BPS was the opportunity to expand workflow automation beyond the initial application scope.
With the platform already deployed and licensed, Woodmansterne gained the flexibility to extend process automation into additional business areas without major infrastructure investment.
Dolphin IT Solutions is now working with the business to identify further opportunities for paperless workflows and digital process management.
Potential future applications include:
- Invoice processing workflows
- Goods-in management
- Stock registration and inventory processes
- Additional paperless operational workflows
Because no additional platform licensing is required, expanding these capabilities becomes both commercially attractive and technically straightforward.
This positions WEBCON BPS not simply as a single application replacement, but as a long-term digital transformation platform across the business.
Results
The completed WEBCON BPS solution transformed Woodmansterne’s production management environment by replacing a problematic legacy application with a modern, flexible, and highly scalable workflow platform.
Delivered in only six weeks, the new system resolved operational issues, improved usability, and introduced expanded functionality ahead of the company’s busiest trading period.
The migration of historical data and integration with SAP and business systems ensured continuity while improving operational visibility and efficiency.
Perhaps most importantly, the low-code platform now provides Woodmansterne with the flexibility to evolve rapidly as business requirements change.
With a consolidated workflow platform already in place, the organisation is well positioned to continue digitising and optimising business processes across the wider operation while maximising the value of its technology investment.
