Product:
Clarity Pro
Joined:
2020
Industry:
Signage & Large Format
Users
9
“You get full transparency of your costings. It’s a swift and efficient product, and it provides you with full costing information at the press of a button. As soon as you raise a quote, you know exactly what your margin’s going to be.”
Paul Marriott - Managing Director
Company Background
Action Graphics has operated in Aston, Birmingham, for more than 20 years.
The business is predominantly focused on large-format print, producing vinyls, fabrics, and banners, alongside vehicle graphics — an area for which Action Graphics has been well known across Birmingham.
Since Paul took over the business in 2020, the company has expanded further into architectural graphics and outdoor signage.
As the range and complexity of work increased, the business needed systems that could provide stronger estimating, costing, and operational visibility.
Company issues
Action Graphics' previous system created several operational challenges.
It did not integrate with the Sage accounting software the company had used for many years, meaning information had to be transferred manually.
Paul describes this as a “very time-consuming, laborious” part of the business.
The team also needed:
Better support for complex quotations
Clearer visibility of expected margins
Stronger reporting
Internal job documentation
Commission reports
Closer integration between operational and accounting information
For a business producing bespoke sign and print work, these disconnected processes made it harder to quickly understand where money was being made and where changes were needed.
Proposed solution
Action Graphics chose Clarity Pro, part of Clarity Signage and Print Business Management Software.
A major requirement was access to Calc Wizards to help the team build structured quotations for more complex signage and print work.
The system also provided the Sage integration Action Graphics required, reducing repetitive work inoperational processes and accounts.
Clarity worked with the business to develop and tailor internal documents, including job bags, commission reports, and management reports, to meet Action Graphics' requirements.
Most importantly, the team gained greater visibility of costing during the quotation process.
Paul explains:
“You get a product that gives you full transparency of your costings.”
With material and costing information available when a quotation is raised, Action Graphics can understand the expected margin before the work reaches production.
Ongoing support
For Action Graphics, having a UK-based software provider was an important part of the decision.
When the team needs assistance, Paul says support is readily available and issues can often be dealt with quickly through remote access.
“If we have an issue at all, we contact it, it’s answered immediately, and we get immediate support.”
That relationship has helped Action Graphics adapt the system around the way the company actually operates, rather than simply implementing an off-the-shelf process.
