In today’s fast-paced digital world, print businesses are increasingly turning to web-to-print (W2P) solutions to streamline their processes, reach more customers, and stay ahead of the competition. But if you’re just starting to explore the concept, you may be wondering: what exactly is web-to-print, and how can it benefit your business?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about web-to-print (W2P), how it works, and how it can supercharge your print operations.
What Is Web-to-Print?
Web-to-print is an online service that allows customers to design, customize, and order printed materials through a website or platform. Simply put, it’s the process of placing print orders via the internet. W2P platforms enable print providers to receive customer orders in a digital format, eliminating the need for traditional, time-consuming manual processes.
A good W2P solution is more than just an online store; it’s an end-to-end solution that integrates with the print provider’s production system, automating order management, design, production, and even shipping.
For customers, W2P offers the convenience of being able to place orders anytime and from anywhere, without the hassle of emailing designs back and forth or dealing with complicated ordering forms. For print providers, it brings efficiency, accuracy, and better customer service.
How Does Web-to-Print Work?
Here’s a simple explanation on how the web-to-print process works:
- Customer customization: Customers access your web-to-print platform and start customizing their print products. Whether it’s business cards, flyers, posters, or custom promotional items, they can use design templates or upload their own artwork.
- Order Placement: After customizing, the customer places the order and provides necessary details (e.g., quantities, shipping info). The platform automatically calculates pricing based on the order specifications.
- Print ready files: Once the order is placed, the system generates print-ready files for production, ensuring that everything is ready for the printer. These files are typically pre-flight (checked for quality issues) before heading to production.
- Production and fulfilment: The print provider processes the order, prints the materials, and ships them directly to the customer.
- Customer notification: The customer is notified when their order is complete and shipped.
Why Should Print Providers Use Web-to-Print?
If you’re still on the fence about adopting a web-to-print solution, here are a few reasons why it could be a game-changer for your business:
- Efficiency: by automating order intake, file handling, and invoicing, web-to-print reduces manual intervention and saves time. As Marc Forest, Digital Services Manager at Talient Action Group, shared: “We’ve eliminated the profit loss from manual steps. Now, jobs fly through without a single human touch until they’re on the press.”
- Accuracy: Since W2P platforms pre-flight files and automatically check for common errors, the risk of mistakes and costly reprints is significantly reduced.
- Better customer experience: With easy-to-use portals and design tools, customers can place orders whenever they want and receive a seamless experience from start to finish.
- Increased profitability: By streamlining your workflow and cutting out manual processes, you’ll save on operational costs, improve margins, and increase your bottom line.
- Scalability: W2P platforms can handle an increasing volume of orders, making it easier for print providers to scale without adding significant overhead.
Customer Success Story: Talient Action Group
Talient Action Group, a print service provider (PSP), faced many of the same challenges that SMBs experience in the print industry: inefficiency, manual errors, and costly delays.
Marc Forest, Digital Services Manager, for the PSP, said: “Before we started using Infigo, everything about our print process was super manual… The biggest headache was never knowing how broken the files would be. That uncertainty killed our efficiency and ate into profits.”
After implementing Infigo’s web-to-print solution, Talient Action Group automated their order intake process and integrated their MIS. The result? Orders were processed 10x faster, with almost zero errors, and a significant increase in profitability. “It’s kind of funny watching these jobs fly through the shop without anyone touching them,” Marc said. “The profit loss we used to get from the manual steps. Gone.”
How Can Web-to-Print help your business?
Web-to-print is not just for large enterprises; it’s perfect for SMBs too. Here’s how it can help:
- Time saving: Web-to-print platforms automate manual tasks, cutting down on turnaround times and increasing production speed.
- Reduced costs: By eliminating human errors, miscommunications, and delays, your business can save on both time and money.
- Simplified workflow: All your processes, from order intake to production and fulfilment, are streamlined into one seamless flow.
- Customer empowerment: Allow customers to place and customize their orders at any time, without needing to communicate with a sales rep.
Web-to-Print is the Future of Print
Web-to-print isn’t just a trend: it’s the future of the print industry. It helps print providers like you stay competitive, improve operational efficiency, and deliver a top-tier customer experience. Whether you’re an SMB or a large enterprise, there’s a web-to-print solution that fits your needs.
With Infigo, you’ll have access to a fully customizable and scalable platform that integrates seamlessly with your existing workflows, enabling you to deliver high-quality, on-demand prints with ease.
Ready to see how web-to-print can revolutionize your business? Get in touch with us to learn more about our solutions and how they can help you grow!
