Esko-Graphics, Artwork Systems, Don't do a Kodak/Creo PLEASE!

Esko-Graphics, Don't Go all Kodak/Creo on US!

Since Esko has a better track record on support, I definitely hope that this doesn't change the support structure at Esko which is working VERY WELL for this customer. With exception of one issue I they are working on right now, the support from Esko has been to a level that I really don't see any other vendor matching. I have dealt with most every vendor myself over the years and Esko support is stellar in comparison, and at a cost that helps you easily ROI a change to Esko-Graphics platform.

My feedback that I have heard and read about Artwork Systems support is a mixed bag. Plenty of negative in there with the reports from happy customers. So, for Artwork Systems users this should help them if it is managed correctly, they will benefit from Esko-Graphics strong customer service. Of course if mis-managed like the Kodak take over of Creo, the service could decline. What an abortion of management that was for us Kodak customers. I would advise users to start the rumbling that they expect improvement and will not acccept a decline in service.

The management of such takeovers of companies usually goes like this. The brown-nosers and safe playing political types fare well. The real performers in companies who do the shit and take care of customers are too busy performing to play the corporate game. The loser brown-noser political types are busy protecting their butts and managing the political part of a corporate change. In the end many times people decisions take place and brown-noser political types talk their way into power and job stability, service goes to shit. Often the best qualified and harder working employees wind up going to another company, the customers I believe usually lose in these deals.

This Esko-Graphics Artwork Systems dealis being spun as win-win, a new alliance, yada yada. Usually in these deals, it's only win-win for the owners and brown-noser political players in organizations. But even they will lose in the end if their brand quality goes to shit and customers get pissed. In most cases a consolidation means less quality, service, and value to us, the customer.

So, let's see how well THESE GUYS can manage a consolidation like this. If they are truly shrewd in evaluating talent, employee value, and redundant technologies, if they make best decisions as they go, it could work out well for the customers. If they hold a high value on brand name, customer retention, customer appreciation and satisfaction, it will go very well, actually getting that win-win that everyone hopes for.

If they do like Kodak, just buy customers, piss them off, let service go to shit, etc. etc. and the whole deal is poorly managed they will lose many valuable customers, and credibility, like Kodak has. Kodak serves as a great model for change. A model to look at as a failure where customers lose, costs go up, customers leave, employees lose out. And at the top of that mismanaged opportunity, your corporate fat cats paying more attention to assets and stock prices than customers.

So, my word to Esko would be don't do a Kodak on us. Listen to your customers CLOSELY and FULLY as you go. If you make it work for us customers, it will truly build brand value, credibility, value for all of us who have invested in your companies solutions.

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