A portfolio of solutions from UK developer PCS has given the Irish News a global view of its operations and a door into digital.

An integrated system installed a year ago at the Belfast, Northern Ireland, publisher includes Knowledge editorial, plus advertising, production and circulation solutions.

Systems manager Liam McMullen says the outcome is much more accountability "as to what is exactly going on the page", with no last-minute discovery that a page is partially incomplete. "It's always clear how much of the newspaper there is left to do" because of the real-time visualisation it creates," he says.

Managing director Dominic Fitzpatrick says publication solutions improved workflow, while also delivering a terrific solution for the digital platforms being introduced. He says as well as the global view of the newspaper at all stages, the publisher finds it useful to have a precise record of who put the content on the page and when, as well as easily accessible archives of previously published editions. "Small efficiencies and records such as these created by the portfolio all add up to produce both cost and time savings."

For example, information from the CRM system has revenue impacts through its accurate information about advertisers, and advertisements can be rebooked with minor changes, without laborious interfacing with prepress at each stage.

The new editorial system is also proving the catalyst for seamless expansion into digital channels.

PCS is part of the family-owned Claverley Group, which also owns the Wolverhampton Express and Star, Shropshire Star, and Channel Islands titles the Jersey Evening Post and Guernsey Press.