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Tell us how ARC has changed since the early days.There have been so many ways in which the business has changed. The first major change was when diazo machines were replaced by digital black and white printers. There was a time all of our branches had diazo machines lined up with ammonia ducts in the ceiling. We also had huge pick-up and delivery fleets. We eventually replaced the diazo machines and reduced the size of the fleets as the technology evolved.

But change has impacted us more in the past few years. In the 80s and early 90s, we had very little change other than the fact that the machines changed. Then the Web came along. Now, of course, we store everything in the cloud, distribute everything from there, and make hard-copy prints only as needed. So what used to be a very analog, paper-

based business turned into a digital, document solutions business.

As the business world trends toward a digital, paperless workflow, how has ARC adapted to better serve its customers?Originally, as a blueprinter and then as a reprographer, our services were largely related to storing and distributing physical drawings. Today we are able to manage not only the drawings but all of the documents: the contract documents, HR documents, financial accounting documents, etc. We also help our customers identify where their hidden print-related costs are and assist them to better manage their print. We provide digital shipping of documents through our cloud-printing service and network of global print centers. We reduce our clients’ storage and retrieval costs with Archiving and Information Management. Our Technology and Customer Centers in Silicon Valley and India are continually developing new technologies for faster and better document management, often customized for our customers.

What do you foresee for ARC in the coming year?Much of the work we do is shifting away from service centers into the customers’ offices. In every major city, we used to have big hubs and several small satellite shops. That configuration was there because we had to do large production jobs in our service centers. That is changing fast and we expect that to shift completely. The work can now be transferred into our customers’ offices. It’s moving from off-site at our service centers to being managed by us on-site at our customers’ offices.

In addition, print volumes for AEC work are moving to small-format machines, and we are printing more half sizes (11x17). The use of color in architectural and engineering drawings is on the rise too.

We are also seeing more and more non-AEC work, servicing customers such as Disney, Forever 21, Taco Bell, Apple, and Adobe, who are seeking design-oriented work.

Another shift is that we are now the largest single-source provider of document solutions to some of the biggest construction giants in the world. We serve 18 of the top 100 design and construction companies. We’re in a unique position to deliver the most value and finest customer service to all of our clients, and we intend to do so!

January 2013newsletter

ARC Document Solutions began nearly a quarter century ago as a Los Angeles-based reprographics company called Ford Graphics. Evolving from its legacy business in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, ARC has become a comprehensive document management company. ARC now provides services to a wide range of industries from aerospace and technology to retail and hospitality.

We recently caught up with ARC CEO K. “Suri” Suriyakumar to ask a few questions about ARC’s dramatic evolution and to find out what’s in store for 2013.

Looking Ahead with ARC CEO K. “Suri” Suriyakumar

3

It may not have the makings of a best-selling detective story, but

the legwork Luke McKinnon and team did regarding his company’s

print-related spending would do Raymond Chandler proud.

McKinnon is the CFO of Berger Group Holdings and its subsidiary,

The Louis Berger Group. The Louis Berger Group is an internationally

recognized consulting firm providing engineering, architecture,

program and construction management, environmental planning

and science, and economic development services. In addition to

working in the commercial sector, the firm has lent its services to

the United States government. Recently, it provided economic

development assistance for a farm in Iraq and a fishing community

in the Philippines, both of which were designed to help people live

better, healthier lives.

So how did a venerable company like Berger Group Holdings that

oversees highly specialized projects around the globe find itself

seeking assistance with its print-related spending?

“We’re experts in the field of engineering, not managing printing,”

said McKinnon. “I’ve learned over the years, however, that if you can

measure it, you can manage it.”

McKinnon put his philosophy to the test shortly after being hired in

2009. It began with an in-depth expense study of The Louis Berger

Group, which has 40 offices across the United States.

As McKinnon delved deeper into the case, clues abounded. He

encountered more than 120 copier leases and an avalanche of print

supply and maintenance bills. That translated to more than 250

invoices a month — just for printing services — and a total outlay of

about a million dollars a year.

“My first thought was, ‘There’s got to be a better way to do this,’”

he recalled.

A team was put together to reach out to an array of firms that offer

managed print services. After an extensive interview process, ARC

was given the contract.

“ARC’s Managed Print Services allowed us to see where and how we were spending our printing dollars and how we could manage it,” said McKinnon.

Today, instead of hundreds of invoices each month, The Louis Berger Group receives only one, which has considerably cut its accounts payable costs. In addition, it is saving money due to a wealth of invaluable equipment information. The company now knows if there are enough printers or too many. They’re also aware of what office is printing more than another office as well as which one is printing more color versus black and white. And if a machine goes down, it automatically triggers a service call to ARC. ARC handles it all.

While the cost savings and conveniences afforded by ARC are thoroughly appreciated, what McKinnon truly values are the people. The lines of communication are always open, making it not just a relationship but a partnership.

“We meet once every quarter with our ARC MPS rep, Casey Simpson, so she’s always up to speed on how our business is changing,” related McKinnon. “That knowledge allows her to be exceptionally responsive to our needs — something we’ve enjoyed since Day One.”

Mystery solved.

For more information about Managed Print Services, visit www.e-arc.com.

Louis Berger Group Partners with ARC to Solve Print Spending Mystery

• The Louis Berger Group

• Berger Group Holdings

“If you can measure it, you can manage it.”Luke McKinnonCFO of Berger Group Holdings and the Louis Berger Group

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San Diego architecture and design firm AVRP Studios believes in the importance of excellent client interaction. This belief is integral to the creative process that since 1975 has delivered projects for major non-profit, educational, and community institutions as well as leading corporations, public entities, and private developers.

How good your client interaction is depends a lot on how good your tools are, especially in a technical field such as architecture and design. Aware of this principle, AVRP Studios designer Chris Schoeneck was on the lookout for new collaboration software. “AVRP Studios is a firm that leverages technology to be flexible and nimble so we can serve a broad range of clients throughout the United States and the world,” says Schoeneck. “I was seeking a tool with the functionality of a cloud-based server for enterprise-level work. I needed redundancy, 99% uptime, 24/7 access to my files, and the ability to grant access to consultants, clients, in-house project members, and others.”

In the end, Schoeneck chose PlanWell Collaborate, ARC’s intuitive cloud-based project collaboration tool. “Now I’m able to upload an original file and someone can download it, mark it up, and then upload it again. I’m able to track revisions, which is key to a collaborative workflow,” he says. “I can see the differences between two versions without even downloading the file to my computer.”

PlanWell makes it easy to capture client requests and instantly integrate them into the project. According to Schoeneck, “When I sit down at a client meeting and we start discussing changes to the project, I’ll text the changes to my colleagues back at the firm.” As the meeting continues, AVRP Studios designers work to update the models and plans, uploading the new versions to PlanWell. “I can download them to my tablet and share them with my clients. At the end of the meeting, we’re all on the same page, saving everyone time and money. Plus it saves us the headache of misinterpretation or working off the wrong version.”

Favorite BenefitsSome of Schoeneck’s favorite PlanWell Collaborate benefits include the following:

• Download reports. “I can generate a report to see what files have been downloaded by project members. This is very helpful when monitoring schedule timelines.”

• “Latest and greatest” version. “One expression that I hear over and over again is ‘I want the latest and greatest.’ With PlanWell Collaborate I’m able to upload — whether at the end of the day, at the end of every hour, at the end of a major project submittal — and my client always knows where to download the latest and greatest. Everybody is much happier without jumping on each other to get the latest and greatest.”

• View different file types without the expensive software. “I can use any one of a multitude of file types in PlanWell Collaborate and share them with clients and team members. They don’t have to purchase expensive software to be able to view files that I’m creating, and I’m confident that they’re seeing it the way that I want them to see it.”

Benefit to AVRP Clients

Using PlanWell Collaborate has given Schoeneck’s clients a better window into the design process. “They’re more aware of what’s going on,” says Schoeneck. “They have a better understanding of what their space is going to be, which means it’s more tailored to their needs.”

For more information, visit www.planwellcollaborate.com

AVRP Studios’ tradition for

innovation and excellence began

in 1975 as a one-man practice

in San Diego, California.

Professional services:

Planning

Master Planning

Urban Design

Feasibility Studies

Facility Space Programming

Site Facility Evaluations/Selection

Architecture

Site Planning

Design and Documentation

Construction Observation

Interior Design

Space Planning

Finishes and Color Selection

Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment Selection

Coordination

Computer-Assisted Design Graphics

Renderings

Presentation Materials

Animations

At AVRP Studios a Goal Is to Enhance Client Interaction

WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK! To suggest ideas for articles or to unsubscribe, please email us at feedback@e-arc.com.

Do you ever wish you had more time to seek out new business? You’re not alone.

When RTKL, a full-service planning, architecture, and design organization, with a diverse portfolio and 60 years of experience, found out about a potential overseas project at the last minute, they rushed to submit a proposal. As part of the response, they needed to send a color-printed presentation book to the potential client, who was 8,000 miles away in Singapore. Missing the deadline would mean they would not be considered for the project.

Almost as a challenge to themselves, they decided to see if they could respond. They searched the web and found a product called ishipdocs, developed by ARC. ishipdocs helps you print and deliver your documents anywhere in the world, faster than any traditional “print here, ship there” method.

The RTKL team sent their finished, print-ready files to one of ARC’s four offices in Los Angeles. The ARC team there sent the files over their ishipdocs network to an ARC print provider in Singapore, completely bypassing any customs delay. The presentation book was then printed and delivered by the Singapore team.

The total time that had elapsed between the RTKL team sending the files to ARC in Los Angeles to the potential client signing for the presentation in Singapore was a mere four and a half hours.

RTKL’s decision to accept the challenge met with success, thanks to ishipdocs.

To see how ishipdocs can help you defy the laws of time and space and bid on more projects, go to ishipdocs.com and download a free trial.

Los Angeles

Singapore

www.e-arc.com

Save time and reduce CO2 emissions with ishipdocs

Create in Los Angeles, Deliver in Singapore 4.5 Hours Later— with

January 2013 Newsletter