How, with DITA, Data Conversion Laboratory and Cybex International Teamed Up to Double Content Production, with Fewer People in Less Time

FRESH MEADOWS, N.Y., April 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Faced with a small team, a growing product line and an increasing global market, Cybex International, a leading manufacturer of premium exercise equipment, was reaching a point of being operationally and cost challenged with the current documentation production process. Enter Data Conversion Laboratory (DCL), the premier content conversion experts, who swiftly streamlined Cybex's documentation production process. The result: the Cybex technical publications team doubled their output, using fewer resources and taking less time. The heart of the solution was a strategic conversion from Adobe InDesign to DITA (Data Information Typing Architecture).

"After working with DCL to make the move to DITA, our team went from lagging behind on updating our materials to being comfortably ahead of the game," said Bob Garber, DITA Information Architect at Cybex International. "Updating materials, whether they were large or small changes, used to be like a CSI investigation. Not anymore."

One of the main goals of moving to DITA was efficiency. Take for example that Cybex's manuals can be up to 80 pages. To update these pages, they need to go through a rigorous review process. Before DITA, all 80 pages would have to be submitted and the revised bits had to be found to be reviewed – a sort of a needle in the haystack scenario. Now, since DITA is topic-based, only the relevant topics that were revised get sent for review.

The other goal was localization. The Cybex team needs to localize their manuals in other languages. This was a process that used to take 4-5 months with multiple team members pitching in to bring a new language on board. Now they do it in a matter of weeks with only one person.

"The project with Cybex was a great exemple of what converting to DITA can do for companies," said Brian Trombley, DCL's National Sales Director. "By converting to DITA, not only can the Cybex team revise existing content more effectively, but they now have more time to do what they really love, which is writing new content."

While DITA projects have a reputation of taking of a long time, because of the Cybex team's commitment to the transition, and DCL's 30-plus years of expertise in data conversion, this conversion project drove to completion in 18 months. The results - Cybex went from producing content in eight languages to twelve, added 58 new products, and were able to forgo replacing a retiring team member.

About Data Conversion Laboratory, Inc. (DCL)
Founded in 1981, DCL (http://dclab.com/) is a leader in helping organizations grow the value of their content assets investment. With digitization and content management expertise across multiple industries including publishing, life sciences, government, manufacturing, technology and professional organizations, DCL uses its advanced technology and U.S.-based project management teams to help solve the most complex conversion challenges securely, accurately and on time. 

About Cybex International, Inc.
Cybex (www.cybexintl.com) is a leading manufacturer of premium exercise equipment primarily for commercial use. The Cybex product line includes a full range of both strength training and cardio training machines sold worldwide under the Cybex brand.

Contact: Ariane Doud, Warner Communications, (978) 283-2674, Email

SOURCE Data Conversion Laboratory

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