PRINTING United Alliance Recognized us as the Technology & Product of the Year with - Pinnacle Award 2025

Back to Blog Page

Modernize your Print Business with W2P Technology

Blog | 30 Jan 2024
Modernize Printshop with Web to Print Solution

Quick Summary: Unlock success in the modern print industry with web-to-print solutions. Embrace cloud technology, enhance collaboration, and prioritize customer satisfaction. From print-on-demand capabilities to eco-conscious practices, discover strategies for efficient and competitive print businesses.

Introduction

In the past, large print shops had a natural competitive edge due to their large printing capacity and manpower. That edge, however, is slowly fading as emerging print shops adopt modern printing technologies and trends. As a result of new-age tech, the printing industry is rapidly expanding, with experts estimating a CAGR of 1.74% till 2027.

In response to this shifting landscape, large print companies find themselves at a crucial condition where the need to reassess their outdated business strategies becomes paramount. The key to retaining a competitive edge lies in the seamless integration of modern print technology into their operational workflows. This imperative arises from the acknowledgment that the industry's growth is now closely connected with technological advancements.

In the further sections of this blog, we aim to guide large print companies and on how to leverage web-to-print integrations and modernize their businesses adeptly. The goal is to offer insights into strategies that not only usher in technological advancements but also do so in a manner that is considerate of budgets and committed to maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction.

undefined

On this Page
  1. Introduction
  2. What Are the 3 Cs of The Modern Print Industry?
  3. Different Ways to Modernize the Print Business
  4. How to gain print-on-demand capabilities for your print business?
  5. How OnPrintShop is Modernizing the Print Industry?
  6. Conclusion

What Are the 3 Cs of The Modern Print Industry?

Before looking at the different techniques, here are the three pillars shouldering the next wave of modernization.

Cloud

Cloud printing involves using SaaS to optimize print workflows. First, it helps print shops manage their queueing process to reduce the machine's downtime.

Printers use gang-runs to combine multiple print jobs in a single print run to reduce costs further. Cloud printing solutions highlight and group similar projects to make the process easier. Moreover, cloud printing reduces waste and helps print shop owners make their businesses more sustainable.

Collaboration

The modern print technology heavily relies on cooperation from multiple teams. The editors need to coordinate with the print handlers. The print handlers need to interact with the inventory management team, accounting team, and so on. Now, a cloud printing program offers them a single interface to increase collaboration amongst the various teams, making print jobs faster, more efficient and error-free

Customer Satisfaction

Customers have more options due to an increase in the number of print shops. Consequently, print shop owners prioritize customer satisfaction to increase retention rates and word-of-mouth marketing.

Modern printing solutions for small business offer customers:

  • Higher quality prints
  • Faster price estimations
  • Better customer support
  • More customizable features
  • Editing tools

Different Ways to Modernize the Print Business

Here is how to prepare your print shop for the modern business landscape:.

1. Web-to-print

Web-to-print helps legacy printers migrate to a cloud platform and streamline operational workflows. However, W2P software is capable of achieving much more than just digitizing your print business. It enhances print workflows with:

  • Customizable business model

W2P software is highly customizable and can be designed to deal with specific problems that the print shops face. Moreover, the software’s workflow processing bandwidth can be increased as the company scales.

The platform's flexibility enables print shop owners to handle multiple online storefronts, a bevy of corporate clients, and other ancillary services with ease. W2P interfaces to control different aspects of B2B and B2C print businesses, like automated pricing, invoicing, discounts, and editing.

  • End-to-end automation
    The modernization of print business using W2P softwares enable offering end-to-end automation, starting with price estimation and ending with post-sales customer services. The platform’s integration capabilities create a web of interdependent applications that use each other’s data to provide real-time analytics and insights.

For example, after the order is placed,

  • The accounting software automatically records the cash inflow.
  • The inventory management software records outgoing materials.
  • The commercial printer is updated with the specification of the print job.
  • The online designer automates the specifications for customization
  • The shipping software prepares the labels for delivery.

Some W2P solution providers, like OnPrintShop, offer automated supplier print management with native integrations like 4over, Sina Print, and Print.com.

  • Customizable storefronts

A print ecommerce solution can help business scale their print offerings by creating unique storefronts for the clients. The W2P platform controls all essential design elements, like addresses, logos, images, and fonts, from a single dashboard. While the clients accept orders on their store, the proprietary print shops handle the backend processes and print jobs.

In simpler terms, owners can track their client’s operations without focusing on the finer details. It also provides greater control in terms of brand consistency.

  • Quote management

Modern print businesses connect with multiple vendors while expanding their businesses. As a result, print shops need to manage quotes from multiple vendors for a single project. Eventually, this increases the time taken for quoting on print jobs, making it difficult to procure deals with high-profit margins.

Web-2-print uses smart quote management to handle multiple quotes from corporate and industrial clients automatically. The platform segregates the vendors according to print jobs, specialization, and quote status.

In other words, managers track all quotes and check vendor details from a single interface. The diverse and detailed tracking system helps them select the best quote.

  • Advanced reporting

Lastly, a dynamic print solution that uses W2P technology offers live tracking of incoming orders, print jobs status, and shipping details from a single window. Advanced reporting features include generating highly detailed reports for multiple and bulk orders.

Automation tools convert the data into Excel files and JSON format for downstream analytics software. The CXO personnel use insights generated by this software to make data-driven decisions.

undefined

2. Print-on demand

The popularity of starting a print on demand business is rapidly increasing, especially with the surge of dropshipping. Consequently, print shops that are equipped with technology to handle bulk orders and offer back-end support to budding entrepreneurs, will gain the edge here.

In the print-on-demand business model, sellers only provide the designs and select the products, like t-shirts, paper, canvas, business cards, and cups. The printing partner offering industry print solutions handles all print jobs, order fulfillment, and logistics.

The advantages for the sellers are:

  • No storage and inventory management.
  • No large investments in printing equipment.
  • More creative freedom to experiment with designs.
  • More focus on establishing the brand image.

On the other hand, the advantages for the print partners are:

  • Consistent work orders.
  • Handling multiple clients.
  • No need for graphic designers.
  • More control over the printing process.

How to gain print-on-demand capabilities for your print business?

undefined

  • Infrastructure

Modernizing print infrastructure using cloud offers the tools and technologies to sustain the print-on-demand inflow. In addition, cloud infrastructure provides an online platform, making it easy for clients to access printing services. Later, they can link the backend printing services and an online storefront, like Shopify, to automate their business.

Some W2P software, like OnPrintShop, offer customizable storefronts, enabling large print houses offer multiple services to their customers.

  • Integrations

Since print-on-demand clients operate with a lean team, they rely on accounting, project management, marketing, graphic designing, and other automation tools to run their business. Offering multiple native integrations for your platform increases the value of your services.

Let’s understand this with an example.

OnPrintShop, print management solution that uses W2P technology, offers over 300+ integrations with multiple platforms. Now, a print shop owner, using OnPrintShop’s solution, can provide their print-on-demand customers with:

  • Access to trade printer APIs, like Print.com and 4Over.
  • Workflow automation tools, like Tilia Labs.
  • Payment gateway, like Stripe.
  • Accounting management software, like Zoho Books.
  • Shipping partners, like USPS.
  • Marketing platforms to boost print business, like MailChimp and HubSpot.

To summarize, large print shops can capitalize on the print-on-demand trend by offering all-in-one print solution and great resources of ROI for solo print entrepreneurs.

  • Eco-conscious Printing

To gain print-on-demand capabilities for your print business while embracing eco-conscious printing practices, incorporating web-to-print solutions is the key. W2P automates prepress processes via a web browser, significantly reducing paper usage. Customers can utilize the online designer studio to create their own designs, minimizing the need for revisions and saving paper.

Web to print solutions like OnPrintShop provides digital proofs to end users, allowing them to preview the final output in a PDF format instead of a paper copy. This digital approach eliminates the need for paper-intensive processes like faxing and postage.

Moreover, W2P facilitates easy reordering with preserved digital designs, reducing the necessity to print in large quantities and minimizing paper wastage. Print Businesses can Go Green by adopting web-to-print solutions, print businesses can contribute to environmental conservation and challenge the perception that printing is harmful to the environment.

How OnPrintShop is Modernizing the Print Industry?

Here’s how OnPrintShop provides you with a competitive edge:

undefined

Web-to-Print Solutions:

  • OnPrintShop provides a seamless transition for legacy printers into the digital era.
  • Its W2P software offers a highly custom web-to-print solution that evolves with the specific needs of print shops as they scale.

End-to-End Automation:

  • OnPrintShop's business printing solution is efficient and offers end-to-end automation from price estimation to post-sales customer service.
  • Integration capabilities create a well-connected network of applications, ensuring real-time data flows across accounting, inventory management, commercial printing, and shipping.

Customizable Storefronts for Scaling:

  • Recognizing the diverse needs of print businesses, OnPrintShop empowers print owners to create unique web to print storefronts for managing essential design elements and doing a lot more.

  • With custom business printing solutions, print shops can handle multiple online storefronts, corporate clients, and ancillary services, all controlled through a centralized and user-friendly dashboard.

Advanced Reporting for Informed Decisions:

  • OnPrintShop's advanced reporting features provide real-time tracking of incoming orders, print job statuses, and shipping details.
  • The platform's reporting capabilities extend to generating highly detailed reports for multiple bulk orders, facilitating data-driven decisions by the upper management.

Print-on-Demand:

  • OnPrintShop doesn't just stop at streamlining traditional print workflows; it embraces the print-on-demand trend, providing all-in-one solutions for print entrepreneurs to digitize print business with web to print.
  • Its cloud infrastructure and customizable storefronts seamlessly integrate with online platforms, offering print-on-demand capabilities to handle bulk orders efficiently.

Diverse Integrations:

  • Recognizing the lean operations of print-on-demand clients, OnPrintShop stands out with over 300+ integrations with various platforms.
  • Print shop owners utilizing OnPrintShop's solution can extend services to print-on-demand customers with access to trade printer APIs, workflow automation tools, payment gateways, accounting management software, and shipping partners

Are you a Print Franchisee owner looking for ways to expand your vendor network, centrally manage your operations and provide unmatched customer experience using web-to-print? Also, if you are wondering about which business model between print-on demand and dropshipping would be profitable. Look no further.

undefined

ConclusionWhile eco-conscious practices and print security are slowly entering the printing industry, W2P solutions like OnPrintShop have become a necessity enabling you to boost your print business at zero cost. OnPrintShop’s web-to-print solution facilitates a seamless transition into the digital era, offering a highly customizable platform that evolves alongside print shops as they scale.The end-to-end automation and customizable storefronts empower print businesses to efficiently manage operations, enhance customer experiences, and stay ahead in an evolving market. Connect with OnPrintShop’s industry experts today and let us help you guide through the modernization process of your print business. Request Demo to learn how modernization can boost your revenue.

FAQs

Why should I modernize my print business?Accordion Arrow

How can technology play a role in modernizing a print business?Accordion Arrow

How can I measure the success of modernization efforts in my print business? Accordion Arrow

What role does marketing play in the modernization of a print business?Accordion Arrow

Share This Blog

FacebookTwitterLinkedInMail
Drive More Sales with #1 Web to Print Software.

Fill out the form to get personalized demo now.

By submitting this form, you agree to our Privacy Policy

Discover Unending Market Insights on W2P as an Industry, the Future of Print Commerce and Print Innovation