Web to Print Solution: Why is It Important & How to Choose the Best Provider?

Blog Synopsis:

The web to print solution has become a buzzword in the global print industry. More and more PSPs like you are heading towards this ground-breaking innovation. But why? Why is it so important for modern PSPs? Today, in this blog, we will explore the answers to this question in detail. Also, we will dive into the important step-by-step approach that can help you choose the best web to print solution provider for your print business.

Today we are going through a tough business environment. SME print service providers (PSPs) are facing challenges to cope with stiff worldwide economic problems, and vistas of the print world are changing how clients buy print. PSPs like you worldwide are trying to investigate options to increase customer service and reduce operational costs simultaneously. Now the question arises of how.

How do you reduce your cost of operations and improve customer service?

The answer is a combination of technology and creative thinking.

This combination can help you not only to survive but also thrive. And where do you find such a combination?

It’s ingrained in a modern and state-of-the-art web to print solution.

What is a Web to Print Solution?

Web to print solution is an innovative platform used for commercial printing using websites having a 360-degree capability to shape print businesses digitally. It streamlines the end-to-end functioning of print e-commerce with the highest precision, powered by automation.

There are several realistic print business benefits of a w2p solution. Some of the most critical ones are:

• It can give a digital face to any print business irrespective of the business model (B2B, B2C, or Trade Printer )
• It can automate and synchronize the entire print business workflow
• It can help boost print business sales and revenue with impeccable efficiency
• It can cut-down human costs and errors, making print businesses fund-rich and flawless
• PSPs don’t have to struggle between multiple technologies anymore; w2p offers a holistic platform to manage business

Today, web to print (w2p) solution is no longer an option for the SME print segment. It has become a mandate to automate and achieve your business goals. You can add to your top line by giving end customers a unique experience, reducing operation costs, and streamlining business processes.

Now that you have got a clear idea of the incredible importance of the web to print solution for your print business, let’s discuss how you can choose the most promising w2p provider in the market today.

How Can You Choose the Best Web to Print Solution Partner for Your Print Business?

The best web2print solutions come with several benefits which can craft your print business just how it should ideally be. But not all are the same. Many mediocre w2p providers promise to automate your print shop completely, but their w2p offerings fail. Hence, selecting your web to print solution partner wisely is crucial with the proper planning and strategy.

We have discussed below an ideal step-by-step approach for that. 

Step 1: Define Your Objectives

Why do you need to go online using a web to print store? What are your critical business objectives? Are you looking to increase market reach, streamline business processes & operations, offer multiple products, develop a reseller network, or improve customer service and retention? Define your objectives first and then choose the right web to print storefront or solution for yourself that can successfully accomplish those.

Step 2: Research or Hire Consultant

Setting up an online print shop is equal to establishing a physical commercial entity. There are two critical aspects to understand to avoid significant print business problems and grow as a successful PSP.

• Technology
• Online marketing strategies to engage your customers

The option is to research yourself or hire a consultant to help you define and set up an online print business strategy at every step.

Step 3: Define Key Criteria for Choosing the Web2Print Partner

Define your selection criteria for a web to print provider. Few of the requirements to be highly considered – agile w2p solution features, web to print portal customizations to fit your unique business strategies, customer-centric ecommerce web to print approach, support, new development pipeline, solution comprehensiveness, company background, experience, own developments and intermediaries, and financial stability.

Step 4: Demo

Once you have defined your web2print objectives, go through the demos of different solution providers. Before taking the demo, make a checklist of all the above criteria. Also, if you have questions, then keep them ready. Ask questions about the w2p software and note down the answers for later evaluation.

We recommend you finalize a w2p provider that offers SaaS web to print to scale up your print business and ensures its holistic betterment. As the name SaaS (software as a service) suggests, it will help you leverage all w2p benefits in a synchronized way within one platform.

Step 5: Self Explore the Solution for User-friendliness & Features

Try to explore from your end customers’ and admin’s perspectives. This will give you a better understanding and confidence about the w2p solution. For example, explore the online designing process on the web2print storefront, reorder facility, order flow, etc. These are some critical factors that your end-customers will look for.

On the admin side, know in detail about product and template creation, banner and website settings, order management, status notifications, third-party tool integrations, reports, etc.

You should proceed with the next step once you are satisfied in all aspects.

Step 6: Customizations & New Developments

The online print business is dynamic, with user preferences continuously changing. Your online business strategies should also vary according to the demands of the situation. And that is only possible if your print business owns the agile custom web to print capability. It’s imperative and critical that the web to print shop you choose should be flexible and customizable to meet your changing needs.

Step 7: Support & Training

Training and support are other critical factors to help you optimize your web to print shop and achieve your online business objectives. You want to focus on your core business as a print service provider. Here you need a business partner to take up your technology support.

Support is usually offered through email, telephone, online and at-your-doorstep service, self-help documentation, and training videos. Make sure your solution provider provides the support that you need. Companies usually give only “how to do” support which is not much help if you are not IT savvy.

Look for a company that helps you set up your online store and makes you functional quickly. This is one of the most remarkable ways web to print can transform your print business, if done right!

This is ideally the ultimate step-by-step approach to choosing the right web to print solution partner. But before you finally decide to select the suitable partner for your print business, it is critical to focus on a significant factor – Investment.

Scale Up Your Print Business by Investing in the Right W2P Solution Provider

The most significant challenge for SME PSPs is the cost; as there are many web to print software with varied pricing. One essential aspect of any technology is that it keeps changing, so choose a partner who gives you the flexibility to go for what you need today and allows you to add features later as your needs grow. It’s worth investing in such a w2p solution provider.

Today there are various web2 print models available to start online – subscription (rental model), license (one-time payment model), and sharing (you don’t pay upfront but share as you earn).

If you are a new startup, life becomes easy if the initial cost is low. Here we recommend a web to print store subscription model to start enjoying the benefits of a web2print storefront from the first day while paying the least for it. But if you have unique business needs and are looking for customizations, you should go for a license. The sharing model can work for PSPs who want to partner and share their future revenues, which can be more than the subscription cost. But this way, you can avoid initial risk if you fail.

So, invest in your desired model per your needs. Don’t forget to cross-check with the w2p provider if you can change plans or easily move from a subscription to a license model. Flexibility is highly important in this modern print business world where your needs are ever-growing.

The Bottom Line

The best web to print ecommerce solutions can give your print shop a new and furnished dimension. While helping your business go online hassle-free, an effective w2p solution can immediately ensure valuable global exposure to it. The amazing w2p facts and benefits that we have discussed above in the blog truly demonstrate its highest significance for PSPs.

So, choosing the right web to print solution partner is critical to ensure you make the most out of the outstanding w2p technology and successfully grow in this competitive print business landscape. It will, in turn, help print service providers like you fight against the most common print industry challenges – reduced sales, ROI, and CX, the trouble of handling multiple technologies, and increased business costs & operational errors. And what would it ultimately lead to?

A streamlined and systematic digital print business with 360-degree transformation.

Contact us now to get started with web to print!