IT, a critical link in the graphic arts workflow
The printing industry increasingly relies on integrated digital tools such as ERP to manage production, planning, purchasing, inventory, customer relations and invoicing. At Abächerli Media AG, the ERP system was the heart of operations management.
In June 2022, an intervention on the system by an external IT service provider led to the accidental deletion of all data. This loss brought the production flow to a complete standstill for around ten weeks. With no usable back-up, the information system had to be rebuilt from scratch. In an environment as structured as that of an offset and digital printing plant, this prolonged unavailability had immediate repercussions: orders blocked, production management interrupted, customer follow-up impossible.
IT outsourcing: a risky practice without strict technical controls
Outsourcing IT services in medium-sized companies is common practice, particularly in the graphic arts sector, where IT skills are rarely internalized. The Abächerli case, however, shows the limits of this approach when no effective safeguard plan or control procedure is in place.
The service provider involved - whose identity has not been made public - caused a total loss of data, illustrating the lack of compartmentalization or security when handling critical environments. The incident highlights the need to control access to the system, to regularly test restoration procedures, and to train service providers in the technical specifics of the graphic arts sector, in particular JDF flows, RIPs and prepress management.
A loss of over 750,000 Swiss francs not fully covered
The rebuilding of the IT system and the complete reorganization of the printing plant's operations generated costs in excess of 750,000 Swiss francs, according to the company's official communication. The insurance company reimbursed only part of this amount, leaving the printing works in a precarious financial situation.
This type of loss is not always well covered by conventional insurance policies, which often exclude non-malicious human error committed by third parties. For print shop managers, this case highlights the need to review the clauses of their cyber-risk and professional liability contracts in the event of IT subcontracting.
Rebuilding the system: a technical and organizational challenge under pressure
The complete rebuilding of an ERP system for a printing plant is a complex undertaking, mobilizing human and financial resources as well as professional know-how. It's not simply a question of reinstalling standard software: customer databases have to be reintegrated, and quotation templates, production cycles and links with finishing and color management equipment have to be parameterized.
During this period, Abächerli Media AG had to make do with makeshift tools, recreate data by hand or work without automation, which slowed down production and disrupted customer relations. In a highly competitive sector with low margins, such a loss of productivity is hardly sustainable.
Founded in 1956, Abächerli Media AG employed around 30 people and played a significant role in the Obwalden canton's graphics landscape. Its closure is a reminder that even well-established companies can be jeopardized by a digital incident.
