Planning a magazine used to be a complicated and time consuming chore. Our previous process (a paper grid, pencil and rubber) meant flatplans were slow to produce, difficult to amend and had to be manually copied and distributed to the team.The Intelligent Flatplan has changed all this.

MMG Publishing has been using the Intelligent Flatplan since 2005, saving literally days of work per issue.

Whether producing a 36 or 168-page issue, the Intelligent Flatplans’ benefits range from simple drag-and-drop editorial and advertisement placement to its e-mail PDF function. As issues grow, I can keep adding pages and sections, with the software automatically re-paginating the flatplan.

The Intelligent Flatplan saves vital staff time by getting issues to bed faster and saves money by eliminating communication and human error.

For MMG, the Intelligent Flatplan is now a vital production tool for all our publications.

We have now used the Intelligent Flatplan for two editions of our publication. At first we were sceptical about the benefits as we had become comfortable with the traditional paper and pen method of flat planning. However, I can categorically state we will never return to those old methods.

The Intelligent flatplan has cut our workload down considerably and with sales reps based around the country we no longer need to keep faxing each other with changes. Errors are eliminated and even our clients are impressed with the software. We can bring the flatplan up in front of advertisers at meetings and choose positions which adds an extra dimension.

I would highly recommend it to small or large organisations alike. Great idea, I just wish I had thought of it myself.