The new Connect functionality offers a new framework for all suite components that need integration. This means that MIS, web stores, finance and shipping systems can all be integrated. It is a scalable solution (which is customizable with solution services) but there's no need for custom development.
In short: Automation Engine Connect is a module on Automation Engine. It’s a toolkit that allows integration from a third party product with an Esko component.
There's a new inspection task on Automation Engine, it creates a JDF that can be interpreted by the inspection system.
This task comes with a number of benefits:
Expansion on the server allows customers driving variable data jobs on all types of digital presses on the production floor. A shared technology between expansion on the server or on the different DFE’s allow a centralized and solid solution
The expansion task creates PDF/VT files. This is an expanded file that contains both the static elements + all variables in a multipage PDF document The input for this task is a Variable Data Template (VDT), created in Adobe Illustrator with Esko’s Dynamic VDP plugins.
Manage color tasks allows ink savings through a brand new UCR/GCR technology. There's also the possibility to convert fixed ink sets with the Convert to Equinox task.
The integration between Automation Engine and WebCenter is tighter.