Optimum media mix for your technical documentation

Today’s children and young persons grow up with all types of information available in digital form. It would be grossly negligent to ignore the habits of this user group, who in ten years at the latest will be the main target group for many products. But there are also many other arguments in favour of the digital provision of technical documentation. But never fear – good old paper will be with us for a long time yet.

Every medium has its potential

Paper

In many areas, printed technical documents are still a necessity, and that will not change any time soon. Compared to digital information, paper has a much longer service life because – let’s be honest – whether, for example, a current online help app can still be operated or even updated in 10 years time is questionable at least. In machine and plant construction in particular, where 20 to 30 or even more years of service life are common, it is therefore necessary to print operating instructions. Obviously, this is also subject to regulations embedded in the Machine Directive and its guidelines. However, it is also possible to reduce printed documents relating to apparatus and equipment to short instructions and safety notes.

Web manuals

The wide distribution of digital end-user devices such as tablets and smartphones offers completely new opportunities for the dissemination of information. Web manuals in HTML5 format, which automatically adapt to all end-user devices (responsive design) and are accessible without installation, are a user-friendly alternative to printed operating instructions in many areas. What is important in this context is that web manuals can be generated from the same data source as printed manuals, thereby avoiding duplication.

Video & animation

By integrating videos and animations it is possible to significantly improve how complex processes in particular, such as maintenance and repair work, are understood. Whether integrated directly in the web manual or published on a dedicated YouTube channel – you are communicating with moving images.

Online catalogues

For the identification and ordering of products or spare parts, online catalogues are significantly more user-friendly than printed copies. Intelligent search functions, automatic calculation of price/delivery time and ERP article master recognition are useful features which cannot be achieved with a paper copy.

Online and/or offline?

Nowadays, stable and high-capacity internet connections are available in many countries. These systems are the result of large annual investments amounting to billions. Nevertheless, there are still many places where no or only a very weak internet connection is available. It is also possible that e.g. WLAN connections are interrupted by concrete floors and hence the network in a building is disrupted.

 

 

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