Case study McCANN Automating and streamlining workflows for agencies

As part of a global brand McCann UK champion innovative thinking, control of the creative process, and quality results. That is why they do all their production work in-house - from translating briefs and designing artwork, to preparing ads for print. In 2012 they found themselves unhappy with current ad distribution services that did not provide adequate contact time nor a package that suited them. What McCann were looking for was a partner to facilitate current distribution needs and develop tailored workflow solutions.

When McCann UK started working with Specle in 2012, it was because Specle was offering:

• An API connection to streamline information access, able to integrate into existing studio tools and third-party systems.
• A campaign management tool to organise media schedules, clone campaigns, and validate and deliver multiple files simultaneously.
• A responsive support team working to develop the best ad distribution solutions.

Being the base for many large agencies, Specle has always been well situated to analyse and adapt to the industry. When Specle Campaign was developed in 2012, it was after meeting with several of these agencies. The ability to clone campaigns reduced McCann’s manual data entry, and they could now preflight and deliver ads in bulk using their existing studio systems. Working with a forward-thinking team able to stay ahead of the industry is still one of their central requirements, and these days they continually automate and develop in collaboration with Specle.

In late 2016 Specle launched Specle Colour, a cloud-based colour conversion and file amendment tool designed to integrate into the Specle Campaign workflow. With Specle Colour all ads are exported with the same settings - the colour conversion ensures high-quality consistency, and the file correction ensures that each ad aligns with publisher standards. After a successful trial period, McCann switched from their current colour provider to Specle Colour.

Agencies can use these cloud-based tools, Specle Campaign and Specle Colour, to automate large parts of the production process. With the 2017 integrations, proofs can also be sent directly from Specle to Dropbox, and then onwards to a proofing service. This ability to automate and streamline is the service which Specle aims to provide for all its agencies, both small and large.

For McCann, the result of using Specle is even more time and resources to invest in new ideas for their brands, and the knowledge that future expansions and adaptions will be supported by Specle.

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