Guide to Print-on-Demand Automation: Simplify Your Workflow

Summary: Are traditional print workflows slowing down your print-on-demand business? Well, automation can be the solution to this problem. Automating POD operations can be highly beneficial and deliver maximum ROI if implemented on specific pain points. Let’s explore how to successfully execute print-on-demand automation for your business.

It's a known fact that the print-on-demand industry is a highly competitive yet profitable market. As customer demands keep on changing, partnering with a POD supplier and leveraging web to print automation can act as a boon to accelerate your print business growth.

Research states that the global print on demand market size is valued at USD 12.39 billion in 2025 and is anticipated to reach USD 75.30 billion by 2033, rising at a CAGR of 25.3% from 2025 to 2033. This stat proves that POD is a rapidly evolving sector, and there is no better time than now for boosting your print-on-demand operations via automation.

Leveraging emerging technologies like forward-thinking web-to-print software with automation capabilities can help print-on-demand business owners like you to ramp up your productivity and profitability. Read on to explore a comprehensive and effective guide on automating POD workflows.

What Is Print on Demand Automation?

Print on demand automation is the utilization of advanced technologies to automate the entire POD workflow from order placement, routing to supplier, printing, packing, shipping, fulfillment, and tracking.

When a customer places an order, the print on demand automation software automatically intakes it, generates print-ready files, and routes it to the POD supplier.

This order is then printed, packed and shipped to the customer’s doorstep by the supplier, providing customers with complete control over order tracking. In essence, POD automation helps to reduce manual intervention, eliminate repetitive errors, save time, and scale operations, making it ideal for both new and well-established print businesses.

Why is Automating Your Print-On-Demand Business Crucial?

Automating your print-on-demand business is crucial to accelerate time-consuming tasks and streamline end-to-end print operations. In today’s fast-paced eCommerce world, starting a print-on-demand business while staying competitive requires automation.

Leveraging this technology can help printers to stand out from the crowd and deliver extraordinary customer experiences. With POD automation, printers can handle more tasks with ease, lower operational costs, and quickly adapt to market changes.

Benefits of Automation in your Print on Demand Business

POD businesses can increase productivity and profitability by leveraging automation. Apart, from these, there are several other benefits of implementing this robust technology. Let’s look at what these include.

1. Faster Processing of Print Orders

One of the biggest benefits of using print on demand automation software is faster order processing. It helps to automatically accept and send orders to the POD supplier for fulfillment, thus resulting in smoother print business operations and increased revenue.

2. Reduced Errors in POD Operations

Print on demand automation tool helps to eliminate manual data entry, validate print-ready files, standardize print workflows, and provide early error detection. All these aspects contribute to reducing the overall manual errors and enhancing customer trust in your print business.

3. Improved Cost Efficiency for Your Business

By eliminating manual methods that are prone to errors, automated POD operations play a huge role in reducing material wastage and improving cost efficiency. Automation does the heavy lifting, enabling your team to focus on other important tasks for print business growth.

4. Enhanced Online Experience for Print Buyers

Print-on-demand automation enhances customer experience by streamlining the print ordering journey for customers. With 24/7 access to print ecommerce storefronts, easy-to-design tools, and order tracking capabilities, automation improves customer convenience at every step of the way.

5. Better Print Business Scalability

Automated print on demand operations maximizes the scalability of print businesses, helping you reach more customers and offer diverse print segments. Furthermore, businesses can leverage advanced third-party integrations to expand operations and effortlessly handle high-volume seasonal orders without investing in additional infrastructure or staff.

7 Areas of Print-on-Demand Workflow that Can be Automated

Automation-driven workflows can do wonders for your print-on-demand business. But the secret lies in identifying the areas of optimization and then adopting the pod software. Below revealed are the 8 focus areas that can be automated for maximum efficiency.

1. Product Launching to the Storefront

Printers can use AI-based web-to-print systems to customize and personalize print tasks like launching products into the storefront, enhancing designs, and more. Print business owners can automate the design creation and description generation of products, cutting 70% of the time required for setting up a web-to-print storefront.

2. Personalization of Print Products

Automation-based designer studios in new-age personalized print software help PSP’s and print buyers to create professional-grade designs. Emerging tech like AI, tools like pre-designed templates and VDP, all-combined help to streamline this process.

3. Workflow Automation of POD Operations

By utilizing a scalable print workflow automation software, businesses can automate the print-on-demand operations from start to end. Critical tasks like order intaking, pre-press, production routing, fulfillment, order tracking, and reporting can also be automated.

4. Management of Print Inventory Levels

Managing inventory levels is a huge challenge when it comes to print-on-demand operations. POD automation software can help to track stock levels of materials, and provide alerts on shortage, leading to better coordination between printers and suppliers, less delays and faster turnaround times.

5. Effective Marketing of Print Products

Automating your marketing efforts in a POD setup can boost your sales conversion and customer retention. PSP’s can leverage powerful marketing automation tools to provide automated product recommendations, targeted marketing emails, and personalized promotions or discounts to achieve this.

6. Cost Calculations and Pricing Strategies

It is necessary to have an efficient price management system for PSP’s and suppliers to ensure smooth print-on-demand operations. W2P systems offers precise print cost estimating and pricing strategies by managing product pricing, profit margins, and supplier costs.

7. Reporting & Analytics to Optimize Operations

Monitoring and tracking the performance of your print on demand business can be automated with modern reporting and analytics tools. It offers valuable metrics like customer’s online behavior, and sales conversion rates to enhance your online store.

Wrapping It Up!As the demand for personalized products and faster turnaround times is on the rise, automation is no longer an add-on, but an essential investment for print-on-demand business success. Adopting powerful web-to-print software for printers like the ones provided by OnPrintShop can automate your business with unmatched efficiency.If you haven’t explored OnPrintShop’s automation pod capabilities yet, then this is your chance to schedule a demo and get in touch with our solution experts. From new print business owners to established firms, our team will create a personalized roadmap for your unique print-on-demand business.