Skip to main content

The rissc Story

Written by admin on . Published in blog post, feature highlights.

Web accessibility, stock image

The rissc Story

On the Art of Omission

blank

Alex Sperrfechter

CEO & Founder

When I walk through our offices today or talk to our partners in Europe, I’m often asked, “When did you actually realize that rissc was more than just another web-to-print software company?”

The truth is: It wasn't a single moment. It was a feeling that grew over the years. A feeling of frustration—and ultimately, of liberation.

Taming the Chaos

I remember the early days. The industry was (and still is) obsessed with “features.” Higher, faster, further—and above all: more complicated. I saw brilliant printers, publishers, CEOs, agency owners, and production managers drowning in data chaos, unstructured PDFs, and manual proofreading loops. They bought software that didn’t solve the chaos, but merely digitized it.

I thought to myself: That can't be it. The world doesn't need more noise. It needs a filter. A refinery.

What's in a name? (The risc-DNA)

The name rissc isn't just a marketing gimmick. It was my personal promise to the industry. I wanted to create a brand whose very name says what it stands for:

  • Reduced: That is the heart of it. True intelligence is not shown in what you add, but in what you can leave out without losing your soul. Reduction is hard work.
  • IIntelligent: We don’t build rigid frameworks. We build systems that understand what they’re doing. Process intelligence that thinks for itself.
  • Ssoftware Solutions & CConsulting: Because code alone is never the solution. You have to understand people and their machines.

rissc – to me, that always sounded like a sharp scalpel. Precise. Direct. Without any unnecessary baggage.

The Evolution: From Printformer to Risscore

Our journey began with the printformer. It was our first great love, our DNA. We learned how to make customization scalable. But I felt that we had to go even deeper. We had to get to the “core,” the heart of the matter.

That's how risscore.

It was the moment when we stopped simply offering “solutions” and began to build a infrastructure of clarity . When I see today how risscore supports production, simplifies workflows, and supplies our clients’ channels with assets at large printing houses, retail companies, packaging manufacturers, and traditional industrial brands, it fills me with a pride that cannot be measured in lines of code. Thank you, rissc TEAM!!!

We absorb the noise of the world on one hand and deliver absolute production reliability on the other. That is our way of adding value.

The Promise

For me, rissc was never just a business project. It is the answer to the question of how we can regain our autonomy in an increasingly complex world. That is why we created the risscore editor —because, in the end, it is people who must remain in control, not machines.

We are the Channel Media Refinery. We filter, we distill, we refine. And we’re just getting started.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Thank you for having the courage to join us on the path to reduction. Because in the end, all that remains is what truly matters: Performance.

Read more

Accessible PDFs

Written by Olga on . Published in blog post, feature highlights.

Web accessibility, stock image

Accessible PDFs

What your Web2Print software needs to do (and can do)

Accessible PDFs are more than just a “nice-to-have” today—they are essential for inclusive communication. The Accessibility Enhancement Act (BFSG) takes effect on June 28, 2025, and requires companies to make their products and services, including PDF documents, accessible. We’ve compiled the answers to the most important questions about accessible PDFs for you.

What is an accessible PDF?

An accessible PDF is a digital document designed so that it can be used by everyone, including people with visual or hearing impairments, physical disabilities, or cognitive impairments. Such PDFs can be read aloud using screen readers and can be navigated using a keyboard.

Why are accessible PDFs important in Web2Print?

  • Accessible PDFs enable people with disabilities to access information.
  • They improve the user experience for all users.
  • With Web2Print software that can generate accessible PDFs, you and your customers can comply with legal requirements and reduce legal risks.
  • Accessibility strengthens your company's positive brand image. This helps you expand your digital reach and demonstrate social responsibility.

What does the law say?

Accessibility Enhancement Act (BFSG) – effective June 2025

Applies to private companies, including those in e-commerce and those offering digital products and services. The requirements also apply to PDFs and automatically generated documents if they are intended for consumers.

Law on Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (BGG)

Applies to public authorities (federal and state). The law requires that websites, apps, and all digital documents (e.g., PDFs) be accessible.

Standard PDF/UA as a supplement to EN 301 549

PDF/UA (Universal Accessibility) is the recommended technical specification for accessible PDFs. It defines how a PDF must be structured to ensure it can be reliably used with screen readers, keyboard navigation, and other assistive technologies. EN 301 549 is the European standard for digital accessibility and is based on the WCAG 2.1 AA standard.

EU Directive 2016/2102

Guidelines on Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Bodies. These guidelines serve as the basis for national laws such as the BGG or the Accessible Information Technology Ordinance (BITV).

EU Directive 2019/882

Guideline on Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications for Private Providers. Serves as the basis for the BFSG.

So, are accessible PDFs required?

Short answer: Yes. Accessibility is often mandatory. Public contracting authorities frequently require accessible PDFs in their calls for bids. The BFSG will take effect on June 28, 2025, and will make accessibility mandatory for many private companies as well, particularly for digital products and services intended for consumers. Even though there is currently no general obligation, violations of accessibility requirements can entail reputational and liability risks.

When is a PDF accessible?

Here is a checklist for accessible PDFs:

  • Structured content
    PDFs need a tag structure (headings, paragraphs, lists) so that screen readers can parse the content.

  • Alt text for images
    All relevant images must include short, descriptive alt text.

  • Correct Reading Order
    The reading order in the PDF must be logical, even when there are columns or a graphically complex layout.

  • Contrast and Readability
    Clear font, appropriate size, sufficient color contrast (at least 4.5:1).

  • Machine-readable text
    No plain scanned PDFs or images. All text must be copyable and readable.

How do I implement accessibility with Web2Print?

Choosing Web-to-Print Software with Accessibility Features

Make sure your Web2Print software supports accessible PDF standards (such as PDF/UA) and can generate accessible documents.

Designing Accessible Templates

Make sure the templates are set up to generate accessible PDFs.

Integrate automated tests

Implement tools that check PDFs for accessibility before they are finalized or printed.

Actively promote accessible product options

Clearly communicate to your customers that they can create accessible documents, for example, in your store or online editor.

Regularly review and optimize processes

Keep your Web2Print software and templates up to date with the latest standards and legal requirements.

How long does it take to create accessible PDFs?
Is it expensive and complicated?

If you use Web2Print software in your store or portal that meets the requirements for accessible PDFs, then you don’t need to do anything else. You can inform your customers and employees about this benefit, for example, by using an icon or a newsletter.

Related topics

Read more

Digital Resilience and Web-to-Publish Solutions

Written by Olga on . Published in blog post, feature highlights, Industry 5.0.

Digital Resilience, Stock Image

Digital Resilience and Web-to-Publish Solutions

Resilience is one of the three main pillars of Industry 5. 0. New technologies and solutions must be agile and adaptable to a dynamic environment. Although digital resilience is often mentioned in connection with cyber risks, the concept is not limited to security systems. In a broader context, it refers to a company’s ability to respond to a crisis or change and to survive in a dynamic market environment while remaining capable of acting and remaining profitable with the help of digital technology. 

For web-to-publish solutions, this means the ability to support a variety of business models and strategies—from dynamic startups to established companies—as well as offering flexible and user-friendly tools that require no design or programming skills. These solutions help address the shortage of skilled workers, automate routine tasks, and deliver multi-channel output without increasing costs.

Here are the key principles for building digital resilience with web-to-print and web-to-publish solutions:

1. Scalability

To survive and grow, a company may need to expand into new markets, restructure departments, or launch a new product. Software that supports various scenarios and business models is a good solution in a dynamic environment.

2. A people-centered approach

The shortage of skilled workers and the increasing information and workload on employees can quickly become obstacles—or even a problem—for a company. A tool that can be used by non-designers and automates routine tasks helps manage the workload and encourages initiative and creativity.

3. Creativity and Innovation

Modern web-to-publish solutions foster creativity by automating routine tasks and quality checks. This allows users to focus on creative aspects and strategic decisions.

4. Universality

While traditional print marketing materials such as brochures and flyers aren’t going away anytime soon, it’s more important than ever to reach audiences online. Web-to-publish software with multi-channel output helps meet customer needs, reach a wider audience, and tap into new market segments.

5. Sustainability

A sustainable web-to-publish solution not only enables you to produce exactly what you need and easily customize products to avoid mass production; it is also a long-term investment in your company’s digital infrastructure.

Case Study 1: Innovation and Expansion

A manufacturer of eco-friendly cleaning products is launching a new product line for households with young children and people with allergies. Along with a new production facility, the company plans to open new stores in two different regions and partner with a major drugstore chain from abroad. A scalable web-to-publish solution can be easily adapted to support the new business model without significant additional costs or a complicated learning curve. Store managers can work with preconfigured, customized templates and product data from headquarters. This ensures brand consistency and the reliability of product information while allowing for flexible responses to local customers.

Case Study 2: Restructuring and Reorganization

Due to rising production costs, a company that manufactures bicycles and maintenance kits is forced to discontinue some of its products and reduce its workforce. The management team decides to narrow the product range to a few options and find new ways to increase profit per product. The company plans new marketing campaigns and aims to attract new business partners in the sports and entertainment industries. At the same time, it needs a simple and reliable tool to manage the manufacturer lists (AML) and spare parts catalogs. The digital solution must support both marketing materials and simple document templates with dynamic content and data connections. To alleviate the shortage of qualified personnel and prevent overburdening existing staff, it is important to implement web-to-publish tools that do not require advanced design and programming skills. It is also important to automate routine tasks and ensure quality control of print and digital content to reduce human error. This allows employees to focus on marketing goals and strategic solutions.

Case Study 3: Realignment

A major manufacturer of dietary supplements is analyzing the results of a recent market study. The management team concludes that it will become increasingly difficult to meet sales targets in the coming years. The market is oversaturated with similar products, and the costs of ingredients and packaging are constantly rising. The manufacturer decides to adapt its business model to serve a new customer segment and plans to launch a line of healthy snacks for teenagers and college students. To successfully market the new product, the company must reach the new target audience through multiple digital channels, create an outstanding packaging design, and impress potential distribution partners and local retailers with compelling marketing materials—and do all of this as quickly as possible. A flexible web-to-publish solution that the company uses to create print and digital content can be easily reconfigured and rebranded to support the new business goals and expand the capabilities of existing products (for example, by launching an online store for personalized snacks and gift sets).

Conclusion

The Web-to-Publish solution is a powerful tool in the age of Industry 5.0. It can become a key component of a company’s digital resilience strategy, regardless of its size, and helps to flexibly implement new business ideas, leading to sustainable growth in a dynamic and sometimes unpredictable environment.

1 European Commission: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Industry 5.0 – Human-centric, sustainable and resilient, Publications Office, 2020, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/073781

Related topics

Read more

Industry 5.0 and the Future of Web-to-Print

Written by Olga on . Published in blog post, feature highlights, Industry 5.0.

Industry 5.0, stock image

Industry 5.0 and the Future of Web-to-Print

The fifth industrial revolution goes far beyond digitalization. Industry 5.0 solutions are people-centered, sustainable, and resilient. They foster creativity and efficient resource management, and help companies overcome major challenges such as the shortage of skilled workers and dynamic market changes.

What does Industry 5.0 mean for the web-to-print industry? Here are the 5 trends that could shape the future of web-to-print software:

Creativity First

Industry 5.0 fosters creativity. The main idea is to have machines handle repetitive tasks while employees focus on creative aspects and strategic decisions. In web-to-print software, functions such as quality control, workflows, and preflight checks run smoothly in the background, allowing users to focus on design, aesthetics, and concepts.

People-centered processes

Industry 5.0 solutions are not only innovative, but also flexible and scalable. Integration with digital systems such as PIM, ERP, and media asset management enables data exchange and real-time collaboration between clients and production teams. Users can provide feedback and make adjustments, with the system helping them adhere to quality guidelines. As the team grows and tasks and workflows become more complex, the solution flexibly adapts to the new requirements. This enables the company to achieve sustainable growth and helps minimize expenses.

Mass Customization

Industry 5.0 focuses on the customer as an individual. Web-to-print software enables companies to offer personalized products as well as powerful and user-friendly tools. Customers have the opportunity to create products that meet their needs and preferences. Whether it’s personalized packaging, marketing materials, custom promotional items, or personalized gifts—the web-to-print solutions of the future offer an intuitive, user-friendly interface with design options that are easy to implement.

AI Integration

The automation of routine tasks remains a key aspect of Industry 5.0, boosting both productivity and precision. Web-to-print solutions use artificial intelligence to automate production workflows and optimize layouts. This helps highlight creative possibilities and reduce human error. AI can generate content, recommend design elements, and personalize the customer experience.

Sustainability

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the industrial landscape. Web-to-print platforms help companies optimize their use of resources. With on-demand printing, companies can avoid excess production and thus reduce waste, contributing to a more sustainable supply chain. Automated preflight checks ensure high quality standards and reduce human error.

As technologies and trends continue to evolve, businesses of all sizes can benefit from efficient and more environmentally friendly web-to-print solutions. Industry 5.0 paves the way for future-proof, people-centric, agile, and sustainable web-to-print solutions that meet the demands of a dynamic market.

Related topics

Read more