What is web to print?
Web to Print, also known as Web2Print or W2P, is a simple and cost-effective solution for Production of personalized printed matter for your company. Individualizations of print templates, so-called templates, can be carried out digitally, regardless of location. Through automated, internet-based transmission of print data, web-to-print solutions make it easier to print personalized advertising materials and products and streamline management and communication processes between your sales and sales partners, branches, branches and the central marketing department. Branch offices can easily adapt and print the templates for printed products and articles according to your needs and your own customers without worrying unnecessarily about the right design. No previous knowledge is required for this, as the Maintaining corporate design The templates always guarantee the fire. A Web to Print Shop is tailored precisely to the needs of the customer and includes a wide range of possible services: posters, flyers or business cards (office equipment) are just as easy to create and print as displays or sales documents. The print documents are still checked in the system and sent to the print shop or can be downloaded directly via the web-to-print software. This is how marketing creates successful campaigns that are true to the corporate design and are geared to the needs of local customers.
- Very good image carrier for sales employees — a tool that really makes a difference
- Defined approval workflows enable system-supported and controlled printing of advertising material in the right design
- Relieve your head office and/or marketing department
- Permanent overview of all printing activities, such as orders, approvals, inventories, etc. within the shop
- Significant simplification in the supply and management of regionally or internationally distributed points of sale with advertising material
- Clarity and overview through central management of all valid advertising materials and printed matter in one platform
- Instant update of all advertising material and printed matter thanks to the central server control system. Printed products can be digitally added, changed, switched off, individualized and ordered with immediate effect
- Huge cost savings in the production of individualized advertising material and printed matter
- Significant reduction of coordination processes and correction loops in marketing thanks to the ease of use when individualizing the products via the system
- Location-independent and time-independent access to 100% web-based web-to-print solutions
With Web-to-Print, you can create individualized advertising material for your company based on predefined templates with just a few clicks.
Why is web-to-print important to you?
The benefits of web-to-print shops are manifold. But does a web-to-print system really suit your company? When is it really worthwhile to invest in web to print software?
Web-to-print solutions are an advantage for your brand at the moment when you are interested in successfully managing campaigns for local marketing (adaptation to local customers) or marketing automation, which are tailored as precisely as possible to your sales and sales partners, branches and branches. This can be a problem with a large number of branch offices. However, thanks to Web2Print software, partners can simply order printed matter based on their current needs and offer local customers exactly what they need. These independent customization options for the templates relieve the central marketing department and can dedicate its capacities to larger projects. In addition, the simple creation of printed matter and the direct transfer of print data to the print shop saves considerable time and money. As a result, web-to-print is not only quick, easy and strengthens the personal responsibility of your employees, but is also reflected in your sales.
Your top 10 benefits from web-to-print software
Easy to use and a streamlining factor in workflow and internal company management — the optimal web-to-print solution should include these functions. But even beyond that, there are numerous functions that companies can use to their own advantage through the various application and modification options offered by Web2Print Shops. But what do they look like in detail?
Overview of key components
For a successful web-to-print solution, the individual components and functions of web to print should be optimally tailored to your own needs.
editor
The layout engine, the editor so to speak, is used to display the entered text or image information for playback on a screen or print product. This is where the products are designed. The editor offers various features that are easy to use. On the one hand, personalized printed matter is presented appropriately in the Web2Print Shop. At the same time, the print documents are checked for their feasibility. The design is based on provided templates. This allows communication and management to run consistently for the entire brand.
Online store
The integrated shop for the various Web2Print articles makes it easy to order printed matter. Not only is the whereabouts of the person placing the order irrelevant, but also the question of whether the goods are in stock or individualized items. At the same time, numerous regulatory functions, such as the management of service providers, approvals or user administration, can be combined within the shop.
Analysis/Controlling
User-friendly reporting tools make it easy to analyze activities in the web-to-print system at any time. Here, companies can monitor the marketing activities of their individual partners/branches/branches: Who orders which advertising material and when — and who doesn't? Through targeted analysis, it is possible to intervene directly and offer assistance and further services where it is needed. It also provides enough data to calculate future spending on marketing for print products.
Who is the technology suitable for?
A web-to-print shop is met with great enthusiasm, particularly among the management of decentralized companies. Remote from headquarters and independent of time zones, printed products can be easily created and ordered via a Web2Print system. Sales representatives can thus easily produce and reorder printed matter such as business cards or displays according to their needs. industries, in which a web-to-print solution can make everyday work easier and enrich, are versatile:
- insurances
- banks
- franchise
- trafficking
- automobile
- voyage
- Clubs and associations
- gastronomy
- hotel industry
- Healthcare
Cost and process optimization
Cheap, fast, easy — all of this offers suitable web-to-print solutions. By using ready-made templates (templates), there is no need for revision loops between graphics and the marketing department. Processes are streamlined, agreements are superfluous. As a result, marketing capacities can be used more efficiently. Automatic transfers from other systems mean that address data do not have to be manually entered into the web-to-print system and could be transferred directly to the products, reducing the error rate. Web to print shops also check the quality and design of the print data before it is sent directly to the print shop. As a result, the printing of advertising material for companies is carried out efficiently and cost-effectively.
Sample calculation to create an ad with and without a web-to-print system:
ActivityManual (in minutes) Automatic (in minutes) Request with Marketing/Web-to-Print System 15 5Display 60 15Dispatch PDF to client 5 0Corrections 25 0Transfer of final print documents to client 5 0Print approval by client 5 5Forwarding to print service provider/customer 5 5Total 120 30Costs per ad (hourly rate: 70.00 EUR) 140.00 EUR 35.00 EUR
What is the difference between web-to-print and web-to-publish?
Web-to-print and web-to-publish are often associated with each other. But what is the difference between the systems? A web to publish system is used to publish content via a central system. It is irrelevant whether it is the design of printed products, websites or apps. In contrast, web-to-print solutions convert information fed into the system exclusively to printed products. Web-to-Print is therefore part of Web-to-Publish.
Which cost models are offered?
Would you like to integrate web-to-print software into your brand? Then choose a cost model based on your calculation.
Kauf
When you buy a web-to-print system, you purchase all services offered by the provider with a one-time payment. In addition to the web-to-print program itself, a purchase usually includes other services such as comprehensive service, support, performance checks, employee training and consulting. Buying a web-to-print solution may be the most expensive cost model. But in return, it offers your brand the most comprehensive services.
rent
Some providers allow customers not to buy a program's licenses at a high price, but to rent them for monthly payments. As a result, the costs of the web-to-print program remain clearer and can be calculated more easily. However, in the case of long-term rentals, the monthly contributions may in full exceed the one-time purchase price.
Participation in order volume
Participation in the order volume results in low or no investment costs for the web-to-print system. This is made available to the company by the web to print provider. In return, the head office pays a “handling fee” to the provider of the Web2Print system, which is linked to the order volume. The company therefore agrees to involve the web-to-print provider with a low percentage of the turnover of each print that is generated when orders are placed via the system.
What does a software solution look like?
Based on your company's own requirements for web-to-print solutions, the scope of a web-to-print system can be adjusted without any problems. Depending on your requirements, the various elements of the Web2Print system are tailored to your needs.
The function with the simple and secure editing tool for optimal editing of your documents. The step-by-step assistant guides you online through the personalization of your printed materials and includes the option to insert images, text modules and graphics into the template and edit them in a targeted manner. With all these steps, you don't have to worry about the design. With the help of the preview function, you also receive direct feedback directly in the platform whenever you make a change.
This function is suitable for optimal and targeted communication between your sales and sales partners, branches or branches and print service providers. Using the open eco-system, any print service provider can contact the Marketing portal be connected and orders and status transmissions can thus be exchanged online.
The key feature for optimal monitoring and general management of your order processes. The approval process is carried out by a central office in the company and thus offers absolute transparency and control. After successful verification, the order is automatically forwarded to the responsible print service provider or canceled if necessary.
What business models are there?
The design of a suitable web-to-print solution can be very diverse. Nevertheless, various business models can be divided into three categories based on their availability:
License-based (commercial) programs
License-based web-to-print programs are classic software applications that are purchased by companies. With the purchase of the (single) license, it is possible to install the program internally. With good support, the web-to-print software can be adapted exactly to individual needs. However, license-based web-to-print solutions can be associated with high costs.
Open source programs
Since open source programs are not distributed commercially, they are largely free of charge. As a result, open source web-to-print solutions can be the cheapest way to access the benefits of this technology. However, in order to be able to guarantee optimal use of the program for all employees, training costs must be included. Open source web-to-print software is therefore particularly suitable if employees have sufficient IT skills and are thus able to familiarise themselves with the programs.
SaaS offerings
So-called software as a service (SaaS) offerings use cloud programs that are made available online as a web app. Through individual user accounts, employees access the service of a SaaS offering online and from anywhere. Instead of paying a large sum once, as with a license-based solution, SaaS offerings usually rely on lower monthly contributions. However, a continuous Internet connection of excellent quality, which enables working online, is essential for the successful integration of a SaaS offering into the workflow.