Vpress, which started last year, spent 80,000 building its system and said it recently installed it at a small print firm for 3,500.

Coreprint offers print procurement and online proofing, stock management and trace and tracking.

Small and medium firms often find it a nightmare dealing with material with lots of variables, said director Kelvin Bell. But they cannot afford an IT director on 40,000.

The firm employs eight in Ampthill, Bedfordshire.