An Overview Of Web To Print Software And Web Technology

By Author: beikashi
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For most modern printers and print brokers, the world of web-to-print (a.k.a. web-to-print or W2P) is either currently in use by their shop, or is being rapidly adopted. It has migrated from a nice feature to have to a full blown requirement of printers handing large accounts or even managing small retail operations, no matter what region they may cover. The following is a simple overview of web to print technology, and why the demand for it only keeps growing.

What is Web to Print?

Web to Print or Remote Publishing is a type of digital printing software that lets your customers create print jobs on your website. Once they create and submit their digital print jobs, you can either do the printing internally or forward the print information to a fulfillment house.

What kinds of problems can be solved with Web to Print (W2P) Software?

Web2print lets the end user do the design work without visiting your office. This allows you to reach more customers and spend less money on job preparation.

Web2print allows your company to use a print on demand ordering model. This saves money on inventory because ...
... you only print what the customer orders from the website when they need it.

Variable data printing allows the end-user to mass-customize their print products. Marketing companies place a high value on this aspect of W2P because it allows different text and image elements to be used on each printed piece.

Web2print allows customers to create a relationship with your product through design customization. They can see the final result before they submit the order.

Payment, data capture and PDF creation processes are all automated, reducing steps and time delays.

Customer retention increases due to the speed of the process and the level of interaction.

If your business is printing, it eliminates design work and lets you get back to printing.

If your business is design, it eliminates lengthy meetings and costly last minute changes. It will also increase customer empowerment over their own print collateral.

What can my customers use it for?

Identity products like: business cards, brochures, labels, newsletters, letterhead and more.

Marketing items like: T-shirts, coffee mugs, door hangers, direct mail pieces, catalogs, and advertisements.

Internal business products like bank statements, invoices, internal memos, letterhead and envelopes.

How easy is it to use?

The end user does not need to own or know how to use professional graphic design software.

How do I get started?

Forix makes an affordable software solution called PrintBridge. I'll list a few of the things it lets your company do.

- Accept orders and files through your website

- Provide customizable designs to your customers

- Use targeted mailing lists (for marketing campaigns)

- Track orders in real time

- Automatically outsource jobs to your vendors and fulfillment houses

Written by Howard Dinatale in cooperation with Forix PrintBridge, affordable web to print software.