Sandy Spring Bank Puts Trust in WebbMason for Integrated Brand Management System
“We have made significant changes with our statement paper stock and envelopes
over the last six months, and WebbMason has been there to support us with the designing
of new inventory and a speedy turnaround with print.”
- Anne Clements, VP, Transaction Services at Sandy Spring Bank.
Sandy Spring Bank Puts Trust in WebbMason for Integrated Brand Management System
WebbMason’s MarketingBench™ technology and dedicated customer service has enabled
the community bank to gain control over procurement, branding and costs.
Abstract
Sandy Spring Bank, a successful and growing community bank based in Olney, Maryland,
continually strives to improve business processes, save employees’ time and increase
savings. It sought a single-source print and marketing services provider with a
proven track record in the financial services industry and found WebbMason Inc.
WebbMason’s flagship online digital marketing management system, MarketingBench™,
enables about 560 of the bank’s authorized employees to order what they need, when
they need it, from an online company store built and branded specifically for the
bank. The site, which went live in April 2007, enables streamlined procurement,
control of Sandy Spring Bank’s branded materials, and reduced production time and
costs.
WebbMason’s consultative customer service approach saved Sandy Spring Bank $262,841
in documented savings from April 2007 through December 2010.
Background
Since its founding more than 140 years ago, Sandy Spring Bank has been known for
its financial services and community activism. It provides personal banking and
business banking services, as well as mortgages, loans, investment and insurance
products.
Sandy Spring Bank is also committed to making the communities it serves better places
to live, work and raise families. It rebuilds low-income homes, sets up in-school
banks to teach students the value of saving money, raises money for charity and
much more.
The bank appeared on the “Most Trustworthy Companies” list compiled for Forbes magazine
by Audit Integrity, a financial analytics firm that assigns ratings based on a company's
ability to show “transparent and conservative accounting practices, and solid corporate
governance and management.” Fewer than 5% of public companies make the list.
The Challenges
It’s important for firms in the financial sector to consolidate vendors, streamline
purchasing, eliminate unnecessary inventory, protect branding and save money. To
accomplish these goals Sandy Spring Bank sought a single-source print and marketing
services provider with a proven track record in the financial services industry.
The bank’s requirements included powerful ordering and reporting technology, fast
and customized printing, and efficient fulfillment to help the bank improve business
processes, save employees’ time and increase savings. It also needed its print and
marketing services partner to provide dedicated customer service.
The Solution
WebbMason Inc., a marketing services provider is transforming the way banks, credit
unions and other financial institutions manage printing and outsourcing by delivering
an integrated solution that fits those pieces together.
The core of WebbMason’s solution for Sandy Spring Bank is MarketingBench, WebbMason’s
digital marketing management system. The system serves as an online company store,
enabling about 560 authorized users to order what they need, when they need it.
Built and branded specifically for the company, the WebbMason site went live in
April 2007. It enables streamlined procurement, control of the bank’s branded materials,
and reduced production time and costs.
More than 300 items are available for purchasing on the site, and 240 of them are
inventoried by WebbMason for delivery within 24 hours. Sandy Spring Bank has placed
more than 4,500 online orders since 2007.
“It’s been another great year with the partnership between Sandy Spring Bank and
WebbMason,” says Anne Clements, vice president of Transaction Services at Sandy
Spring Bank. “I look forward to working with WebbMason in the future.”
Sandy Spring Bank has a unique brand in the financial services market. Using MarketingBench
helps firms like the bank maintain brand integrity and ordering control.
Empowering Technology
Sandy Spring Bank and WebbMason collaborate to ensure the MarketingBench site adheres
to the bank’s evolving communications and branding standards, including graphics,
verbiage, sign-on integration methods and more. The WebbMason team works closely
with the bank to make sure its graphic standards are followed with every project.
Also, when marketing collateral is updated, existing inventory is removed from stock
and replaced on the website. New product is then shipped to each branch along with
a memo explaining the need to destroy old items and to begin using the new ones.
To further protect the Sandy Spring Bank brand, the company’s MarketingBench administrators
can set or change control measures, entitlements and restrictions based on department
ID, cost center, user groups or other parameters. Most features and characteristics
of the MarketingBench ordering system can be modified based upon the permission
and access levels these administrators set.
In 2010, WebbMason added apparel options to the bank’s MarketingBench system to
support its new employee rewards program. Promotional products, including shopping
totes, holiday ornaments, clear mugs and Sandy Spring Bank-branded flash drives,
were also added to the site.
Extreme Service
WebbMason develops and delivers value-added programs for Sandy Spring Bank:
- - Tracking check numbers: Check inventory for the bank arrives at one of WebbMason’s
seven US warehousing facilities. When that inventory is released, WebbMason knows
which check numbers were sent with each order, as the numbers are printed on delivery
tickets and tracked by WebbMason. The bank’s branches rely on this service to help
them verify checks that are received (especially critical during audit preparations).
Branches frequently request copies of packing slips within check numbers, and these
are provided with four hours after the request is made.
- - Managing and recording Visa® gift cards, instant issue cards and reward cards:
Inventory for cards arrives at WebbMason, and each number is documented in the system.
The numbers are not sequential, so if a card goes missing, it can be difficult to
identify. This service pinpoints the location of where cards are sent. Branches
rely upon this service to identify or locate missing cards.
- - Warehousing and distributing promotional products and giveaways for community
events: WebbMason works closely with Sandy Spring Bank’s marketing team to keep
a large variety of items available for branches and employees. WebbMason ensures
these products are delivered on time for community events, and that they adhere
to the bank’s brand standards.
- - Printing cash-in/cash-out tickets on demand: WebbMason offers an on-demand web-to-print
application for cash-in/cash-out tickets used at Sandy Spring Bank’s branches. This
program solved a problem for all branches because of the high rate of teller turnover.
Tellers now order customized tickets on demand from the MarketingBench website instead
of requesting their customized forms be released from stock. More than 300 cartons
of inventory were eliminated from the warehouse by utilizing WebbMason’s technology
and developing this program.
“We have made significant changes with our statement paper stock and envelopes
over the last six months, and WebbMason has been there to support us with the designing
of new inventory and a speedy turnaround with print,” says Clements.
The Results
Documented Savings
When financial companies select a collateral print management systems provider,
they should be able to measure the impact of their choice. They should receive reports
that prove savings and efficiency. WebbMason does that for each client.
During an evaluation of Sandy Spring Bank’s highest-use items, WebbMason was able
to reduce print cost by an average of 22% by running items in larger quantity, running
items in combination and by finding the most efficient press sizes for production.
Cost savings and efficiency gains are about process, not just product. WebbMason’s
centralized inventory, fulfillment and distribution process helps clients' marketing
programs run smoothly and cost-effectively while ensuring optimal speed to market.
This end-to-end logistical solution — combined with the integration of real-time
online reports and other tools — translates into significant cost savings for Sandy
Spring Bank.
E*Trade Keeps Pace with Rapid Growth by Implementing WebbMason’s On-demand Marketing
Systems
“We had to find a solution to manage all their brands, integrate our technology
seamlessly with their Ariba internal procurement software package and leverage the
ability to offer print savings,”
- Doug Traxler, WebbMason Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
WebbMason integrated its digital marketing management technology with Ariba’s procurement
software to provide an on-demand integrated solution for E*Trade
Abstract
The E*Trade Financial family of companies provides financial services such as trading,
investing, banking and lending for retail and institutional customers. The services
it offers make up more than 20 lines of fast-growing businesses with “sub-brands”
associated with each offering.
E*Trade’s marketing representatives faced the formidable task of effectively managing
the firm’s 20-plus brands and coordinating visual identity standards crucial to
the company’s success. E*Trade wanted its 4,000 employees to gain access to its
brand catalogs and printed materials, but needed a partner who could integrate with
its Ariba internal procurement software package. In addition, E*Trade had multiple
points of inventory control that didn’t permit print runs to be combined efficiently.
By partnering with WebbMason, E*TRADE obtained a solution to all its problems, plus
achieved another goal: a centralized system that allowed secure access for employees
to branded materials like logos, brochure files, sales materials, videos, sound
files and other digital assets.
WebbMason’s solution led to several significant improvements, including improved
print control methods for enhanced quality and appearance, and streamlined distribution
and fulfillment services.
Background
E*TRADE has been a pioneer in online investing for more than 20 years. With 4.3
million customer accounts and $182 billion in customer assets worldwide, the innovative
financial services company offers a full suite of easy-to use online brokerage,
investing and related banking solutions, delivered at a competitive price. E*TRADE
empowers individuals to take control of their financial futures by providing the
products, tools and services individuals need to meet their near- and long-term
investment goals.
Headquartered in New York City, E*TRADE was founded in 1992 and currently has more
than 3,000 employees. The company provides services to customers online and through
a network of customer service representatives, investment professionals, and investment
advisors -- either over the phone or in-person at its many branches.
The Challenges
E*Trade’s marketing representatives had the formidable task of effectively managing
the firm’s 20-plus brands and coordinating visual identity standards, which are
crucial to the company’s brand equity.
E*Trade wanted its 3,000 employees to have access to the firm’s branded catalogs
and printed materials, but the firm needed a partner that could integrate with its
Ariba internal procurement software package.
In addition, E*Trade had multiple points of inventory control that didn’t allow
for combining numerous print runs for efficiency. The company needed one centralized
system from which everyone could access items and a go-to support team who would
stand behind it.
The Solution
Initially, E*Trade was looking for a single solution for its business card and stationery
programs, but WebbMason focused on a larger issue: how the firm handled inventory,
printing and brand management.
“We had to find a solution to manage all their brands, integrate our technology
seamlessly with their Ariba internal procurement software package and leverage the
ability to offer print savings,” said Doug Traxler, WebbMason’s executive
vice president of sales and marketing.
Because it operated so many sub-brands, E*Trade struggled with the vast amount of
catalogs and office materials it had on hand. Simply put, there had been times when
they just couldn’t find things. The company knew it needed a centralized system,
but didn’t realize that an online solution could provide a single point of reference
where everyone could access materials. WebbMason evaluated E*Trade’s sub brands
during consulting meetings with the client’s marketing teams. Over a four-month
period, WebbMason developed an individualized solution that worked efficiently for
E*Trade and its employees.
WebbMason’s team implemented its digital marketing management system, MarketingBench,
for E*Trade, integrating it with the company’s Ariba-based e-procurement portal.
WebbMason also developed an ordering and printing schedule that encompassed a macro
view of what needed to be printed in the timeliest manner. This helped E*Trade drive
down costs and boost efficiencies.
E*Trade’s challenge extended beyond incorporating WebbMason’s online digital marketing
management technology into its Ariba procurement system. “We also offered value
by being able to evaluate their brands and counsel them on brand management,” Traxler
said.
“WebbMason also provided education via Webex for E*Trade personnel needing to
access their materials online,” Traxler said. With an efficient brand
management system and WebbMason’s technology working with Ariba, E*Trade has its
brand management under control—and ready for future brands to come.
Results
Through the changes WebbMason suggested and implemented, E*Trade now has a systematic
brand management strategy for all E*Trade sub-brands. The digital marketing management
solution implemented by WebbMason and seamlessly integrated into E*Trade’s existing
Ariba procurement system, has accelerated deployment of all its branded and sub-branded
materials throughout E*Trade branches.
In addition to giving its personnel an easier way to order materials online and
on-demand, E*Trade has been able to realize print savings through more cost-effective
inventory management.
WebbMason’s Brand Management Solutions Provide Added Value for Satellite Radio Company
“By professionally labeling the boxes, we were certain the correct kit would arrive
at the designated dealer and, in turn, the dealers could easily see the kit they
needed to access,” -Sarkis Hagopian, WebbMason VP of sales in Washington,
DC, who led the project.
WebbMason expedites printing and fulfillment of high-end dealer kits with attention
to detail that results in cost savings for client.
Abstract
A prominent leader in the delivery of satellite entertainment and data services
needed help producing and delivering custom-designed kits to help its 10,000 dealers
effectively sell its product in the automobile market. The high-end information
kits it wanted produced included tailored information for the different automobiles
and partners its services were available in.
WebbMason delivered a solution that resulted in quality improvements, reduced turnaround
time, and a 15 percent savings for the company.
Background
A former leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile
market, this multi-million dollar company sold services through partnerships with
General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota. Available
in more than 140 different vehicle models as well as through consumer devices, the
service delivered more than 170 channels nationwide of digital quality music, news,
talk, sports, comedy, children's and entertainment programming.
The Challenges
An important component of the company’s marketing strategy was providing its 10,000
nationwide dealers with informational kits that enabled them to effectively inform
car buyers how to activate the radio service. The informational kits were high-image,
high-touch communications pieces designed to help the dealers successfully sell
the concept, which competed with traditional radio. All elements of the kit required
a high level of brand reinforcement and quality through every aspect of design,
printing and packaging.
Seventeen different kits that reflected the different brands the car dealers represented
needed to be coordinated. Inside the kits were custom activation sheets which defined
how the activation should occur for the different car models. The program combined
printing, fulfillment and distribution that all had to be directed and implemented
within three weeks for shipment.
The Solution
The manager of marketing programs contacted WebbMason to print, fulfill and execute
all the details of the dealer kit. As part of the fulfillment and distribution campaign,
WebbMason coordinated 17 different kits that reflected the different brands the
car dealers represented. The 10,000 dealer kits prepared by WebbMason included custom
activation sheets, which defined how the activation should occur for the different
car models. Once the boxes were sealed, they all looked the same. WebbMason created
a fulfillment model and developed a label so that the correct information was included
in the right kit going to the dealer with those car models.
“By professionally labeling the boxes, we were certain the correct kit would arrive
at the designated dealer and, in turn, the dealers could easily see the kit they
needed to access,” said Sarkis Hagopian, WebbMason VP of sales in Washington,
DC, who led the project.
WebbMason managed the printing and production of all the elements that went into
the campaign including:
- Custom-made black boxes to hold all the elements to be shipped to 10,000 dealers
nationwide
- Outer box four-color labels to assure correct shipment to the various car brands
- Content sheets
- Two-way informational static cling door posters
- Tent cards to be placed on top of showroom cars
- Seven-color brochures with 2 PMS metallic inks
- Printing window static cling promotions for the showroom cars
- mirror danglers with message points to go into showroom cars
- Two-color notepads
- Laminated glove box brochures for showroom cars
- 17 different activation sheets with specific instructions for different car models
“What Sarkis and his team did was truly amazing,” commented the satellite
company’s manager of marketing programs. “In the middle of this project, Sarkis
truly went the extra mile for us by redesigning the easel stands to save us over
$25,000 and he made certain that every step of this project from printing to fulfillment
had the highest quality control.”
Results
The dealer kit project resulted in a 15 percent savings from the previous year due
to WebbMason’s efficiencies and attention to detail.
WebbMason helped this company to:
- Improve print quality by working with its Print Supply Chain Program Partners
- Realize cost savings on total fulfillment /shipping fees
- Lower assembly cost for kitting projects
- Reduce turnaround time from proof of all pieces to delivery to WebbMason’s warehouse