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The rissc story

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

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The rissc story

The art of omission

When I walk through our offices today or talk to our partners in Europe, I am often asked: "When did you 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 years. A feeling of frustration—and ultimately 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 correction loops. They bought software that didn't solve the chaos, but only digitized it.

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

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

The name rissc is not a marketing gimmick. It was my personal promise to the industry. I wanted to create a brand whose name says what it stands for:

  • Reduced: That's the heart of it. True intelligence is not shown in what you add, but in what you can leave out without losing the soul. Reduction is hard work.
  • Intelligent: We don't build rigid rails. We build systems that understand what they are doing. Process intelligence that thinks for itself.
  • Software Solutions & Consulting: 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 unnecessary ballast.

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 individualization scalable. But I felt that we had to go even deeper. We had to get to the core of the matter.

This is how risscore.

It was the moment when we stopped just offering "solutions" and started creating an infrastructure of clarity . When I see how risscore supports production, simplifies workflows, and supplies our customers' channels with assets in large printing companies, trading companies, packaging manufacturers, and classic 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 the one hand and deliver absolute production reliability on the other. That is our form of refinement.

The Promise

For me, rissc was never purely a business project. It is the answer to the question of how we can regain sovereignty in an increasingly complex world. That is why we created the risscore editor — because ultimately, humans must remain in control, not machines.

We are 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 of reduction. Because in the end, only what really matters remains: performance.

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Accessible PDFs

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

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Accessible PDFs

What your Web2Print software must (and can) do

Accessible PDFs are now more than just a "nice-to-have"—they are essential for inclusive communication. The Accessibility Enhancement Act (BFSG) will come into force on June 28, 2025, and requires companies to make their products and services, including PDF documents, accessible. We have summarized the answers to the most important questions about accessible PDFs for you.

What is an accessible PDF?

An accessible PDF is a digital document that is designed so that it can be used by everyone, including people with visual or hearing impairments, motor impairments, or cognitive impairments. Such PDFs can be read aloud using screen readers, for example, and can be operated 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 allows you to increase your digital reach and demonstrate social responsibility.

What does the law say?

Barrier-Free Accessibility Act (BFSG) – effective June 2025

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

Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)

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

Standard PDF/UA as a supplement to EN 301 549

PDF/UA (Universal Accessibility) is the recommended technical implementation for accessible PDFs. It specifies how a PDF must be structured so that 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

Guideline on barrier-free access to websites and mobile applications of public authorities. Serves as the basis for national laws such as the BGG (Barrierefreies Bauen und Barrierefreie Kommunikation Act) or the BITV (Barrierefreie Informationstechnik-Verordnung, Barrier-Free Information Technology Ordinance).

EU Directive 2019/882

Guideline on barrier-free access to websites and mobile applications for private providers. Serves as the basis for the BFSG.

So are accessible PDFs mandatory?

Short answer: yes. Accessibility is often mandatory. Public contracting authorities often require accessible PDFs in tenders. The BFSG will come into force on June 28, 2025, and will make accessibility mandatory for many private companies as well, especially for digital products and services intended for consumers. Even if 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 tree (headings, paragraphs, lists) so that screen readers can capture the content.

  • Alt text for images
    All relevant images must be accompanied by short, descriptive alternative text.

  • Correct reading order
    The reading order in the PDF must be logical, even with columns or graphically complex layouts.

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


  • No pure scan PDFs or images. All text must be copyable and readable.

How do I implement accessibility with Web2Print?

Selecting Web2Print software with accessibility in mind

Ensure that your Web2Print software supports accessible PDF standards (e.g., PDF/UA) and can generate accessible documents.

Designing accessible templates

Ensure that the templates are structured in such a way that they generate accessible PDFs.

Integrate automatic checks

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

Actively promote accessible product options

Communicate clearly to your customers that they can create accessible documents in your shop or online editor, for example.

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 convert PDFs to accessible format?
Is it expensive and complicated?

If you use Web2Print software in your shop 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 the benefits, for example with an icon and a newsletter.

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Digital Resilience and Web-to-Publish Solutions

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

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Digital Resilience and Web-to-Publish Solutions

Resilience is one of the three main pillars of Industry 5.0 1. New technologies and solutions must be agile and adaptable to the dynamic environment. Although digital resilience is often mentioned in the context of cyber risks, the concept is relevant not only for security systems. In the wider context, Digital resilience is the ability of a company to respond to a crisis or change and continue to thrive in a dynamic market environment by leveraging digital technology in an agile and profitable manner. 

For Web-to-Publish solutions, this means the capacity to support diverse business models and strategies – catering to dynamic startups and established enterprises alike – as well as offering flexible, user-friendly tools that require no design or programming expertise. These solutions assist in overcoming the shortage of skilled labor, automate routine tasks, and provide multi-channel output without escalating 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 covers various scenarios and business models is a valuable solution in a dynamic environment.

2. Human-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 fosters 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 like brochures and flyers will not disappear anytime soon, it is more important than ever to reach audiences online as well. Web-to-Publish software with multi-channel output helps meet customer needs, reach a wider audience, and cover new market segments.

5. Sustainability

A sustainable Web-to-Publish solution not only allows for the precise production of required materials and easy product customization, moving away from mass production. It also represents 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 small children and allergy sufferers. Alongside a new production site, the company plans to open new stores in two different regions and collaborate with a major international drugstore chain. A scalable web-to-publish solution can be easily adapted to accommodate the new business model, without significant additional costs or a complicated learning process. Store managers can work with pre-configured, customized templates and product data from headquarters. This ensures brand consistency and the reliability of product information, while also allowing for flexible responses to local customer needs.

Case Study 2: Restructuring and Reorganization

Due to increased production costs, a company that produces bicycles and maintenance kits is forced to discontinue some of its products and reduce staff. The management team decides to narrow down the product offering 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 industry. At the same time, it needs a simple and reliable tool to manage Approved 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 reduce the shortage of skilled workers and avoid overburdening existing staff, it is important to implement web-to-publish tools that do not require advanced design and programming skills. It is also crucial to automate routine tasks and ensure quality control of print and digital content to reduce human errors. This allows employees to focus on marketing goals and strategic solutions.

Case Study 3: Realignment

A major manufacturer of nutritional supplements analyzes the results of a recent market study. The management team came to the conclusion that it will become increasingly difficult to achieve sales targets in the coming years. The market is oversaturated with similar products and the cost of ingredients and packaging is constantly rising. The manufacturer decides to adapt its business idea to serve a new customer group and plans to launch a range of healthy snacks for teenagers and students. To successfully market the new product, the company needs to reach the new target group via multiple digital channels, create an outstanding packaging design and impress potential distribution partners and local stores with compelling marketing material - all 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 objectives 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 era of Industry 5.0. It can become a crucial part of any company's digital resilience strategy, regardless of size, helping to implement new business ideas flexibly, which leads 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

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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, symbolic image

Industry 5.0 and the Future of Web-to-Print

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

Here are the 5 trends that can define the future of web-to-print solutions:

Creativity at the forefront

The main idea is to let machines take over repetitive tasks with workers remaining in charge of creative aspects and strategic decisions. In web-to-print software, features like quality control, workflows, and preflight checks run smoothly in the background, allowing the user to focus on the design, aesthetic, and concepts. 

Human-centered processes

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

Mass Customization

Industry 5.0 focuses on customers as individuals, bringing their needs and preferences to the forefront. Web-to-print software allows businesses to offer highly personalized products as well as powerful and user-friendly tools that empower customers to create products that match their unique needs. Whether it’s personalized packaging, marketing materials, or tailored merchandise, these solutions provide an intuitive user-friendly interface with easy-to-implement design variety.

AI Integration

The automation of routine tasks remains an important aspect of Industry 5.0, increasing both productivity and precision. Web-to-print solutions use artificial intelligence to automate production workflows and optimize layouts. This helps to 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 sector. Web-to-print platforms help companies optimize resource utilization. With on-demand printing, businesses can avoid excess production and waste, contributing to a more sustainable supply chain. Automated preflight checks ensure high quality standards and reduce human errors.

As technology continues to evolve, businesses can expect more efficient, personalized, and eco-friendly solutions to meet the demands of a dynamic market. Ultimately, Industry 5.0 is setting the stage for a more human-centered, agile, and sustainable future for web-to-print solutions.

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