contact us     help    login  

Web-to-Print Solutions Automate Processes and Improve the Bottom Line

(Weymouth, MA) August 4, 2008 . . . While Web-to-print entered the marketplace as a simple job submission tool, it has transformed into a robust solution that encompasses much more. It has become an integral element of the workflow automation that is increasingly being sought by print service providers and their customers alike. Buyers and sellers of print are leveraging these systems to increase automation, improve operational efficiency, improve brand management, take cost and time out of the print procurement process, and enhance the quality and currency of printed materials.

Web-to-print solutions, particularly branded store fronts, offer many benefits to Print Service Providers that can help them cut costs and improve their bottom line. Some of these benefits include:

• A “lights out” workflow that cuts the costs and labor involved with extensive order handling
• Improved turnaround time resulting from integration with major couriers
• A centralized method of administration where job status can be tracked at any point in the process and various reports (shipping, orders, and inventory) can be printed and/or exported into an electronic format
• Expanded geographical market reach
• Reduced call volume for customer service representatives (quotes can be obtained online)
• Payment for orders can be charged to a customer’s credit card, which contributes to positive cash flow.

Print Service Providers aren’t the only ones that stand to gain from implementing these solutions. For document owners, a branded storefront can ensure brand integrity through the use of templates, which consistently utilize proper assets (graphics and messaging) and correct color. In addition, orders can be soft proofed online before submission, saving the cost and time associated with printing and shipping hardcopy proofs. Orders can also be archived for fast re-ordering.

InfoTrends Group Leader Barbara Pellow commented, “As an increasing number of  Print Service Providers are implementing Web-to-Print solutions, document owners are beginning to expect the efficiencies and added convenience that these solutions provide. Print Service Providers that fail to leverage this technology risk losing business to those that have embraced Web-to-Print.”

InfoTrends has released a report entitled Customized Communications: Web-to-Print as part of a series of strategic assessments that help print service providers understand the technology and market opportunity for every segment of Customized Communications. This document provides a definition of Web-to-print and identifies the market opportunity these solutions present. It discusses the needs of document owners and marketing professionals for more efficient and effective business communications, translating those needs into business opportunities for the print service provider. It also identifies the features and functionality inherent in Web-to-print solutions and the benefits that functionality brings to a business and its customers. We have also published an alternate version of this report that is geared toward solution suppliers.

In addition, InfoTrends has released the first report in a new series aimed at educating print service providers on the plethora of products that are available. The report, entitled The Ultimate Guide to Web-to-print Solutions, is a must-have document for any print service provider evaluating the variety of Web-to-print solutions on the market today. This guide provides an industry overview, a discussion on how to choose the Web-to-print solution that is right for you, and an in-depth analysis of the leading Web-to-print solutions. Each of the 14 solutions has been reviewed using over 75 different metrics.

For more information or to make a purchase, visit our online store or contact Jennifer Skerrett at ext. 111 or via e-mail at .

InfoTrends, a Questex company, is the leading worldwide market research and strategic consulting firm for the digital imaging and document solutions industry. We provide research, analysis, forecasts, and advice to help clients understand market trends, identify opportunities, and develop strategies to grow their businesses. Additional information about InfoTrends is available on the Web at www.infotrends.com.

Copyright © 2008 InfoTrends. All rights reserved. Reproduction or reuse of InfoTrends materials is strictly prohibited without prior written consent. If you are interested in referencing InfoTrends content, please submit your request to .