In this post, we’ll introduce you to web-to-print technology and visual customization. We’ll also explain how these technologies work and their benefits to your business.
The explosive expansion of the internet has massively contributed to the growth of e-commerce as a retail platform for many goods and services worldwide.
Online shopping has risen dramatically, given that consumers can shop 24/7 and access a wide variety of goods and services while enjoying shopping in the comfort of their homes.
So far, 69% of Americans have shopped online, and e-commerce’s share of total retail sales is projected to rise from 22.1% in 2022 to 23.4% in 2023.
That said, it isn’t surprising to see all kinds of printing orders being customized and ordered through a web-to-print solution. This technology has become the center of attention for e-commerce store owners looking to differentiate their products and reach a wider audience.
But what exactly is web-to-print, and why do you need it?
Everyone wants personalization, but for most brands it creates extra work and complexity. These 10 cracked the customization code without drowning in back-and-forth.
What’s Web to Print?
In its most basic form, web-to-print is a technology for commercial digital printing.
Also known as Web2Print, W2P, or Print e-commerce, web-to-print is a service that offers printing products and services online through e-commerce storefronts. This technology provides high-quality print-ready data for your e-commerce print service and ensures high volume print and brand consistency in all print work.
Typically, these systems receive orders, provide live estimates, accept payments, and produce print-ready artworks. From customized apparel to commercial printing to promotional materials—a wide variety of products can be customized or designed and printed on demand with the help of this technology.
Today, the global web-to-print industry is valued at $24 billion and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5% to reach $30.5 billion by 2030.
How Does It Work?
Generally, web-to-print technology offers customers a web portal or platform to design, choose, or customize their goods and place orders.
The customers choose a product from your website or design one, then personalize it in your store’s online portal. Next, they place the order, and you receive high-quality print files of customized products. A print file is generated that goes to the printer for production.
Lastly, you fulfill the orders by printing at your print shop. For this to work, you’ll need robust W2P product design software that easily integrates into your e-commerce storefront.
The best web2print software features an intuitive design studio that enables customers to design any e-commerce merchandise in your store. It should also automate your workflow and send you high-quality printable output files for seamless print job operations.
Benefits of Web-to-Print Solutions
Web2Print technology not only automates your workflows; it also brings a slew of benefits to your business. Companies integrating web to print software can enjoy many benefits associated with this print technology, including.
1. Brand Consistency
Brand identity is critical to the success of any business.
One of the ways to develop a strong (and memorable) brand identity is through print materials such as logos, brochures, business cards, etc. Maintaining consistency in colors and fonts across all your print materials becomes easy with web-to-print software.
Consumers can prepare a set of editable templates with consistent brand elements, customizable based on need, ensuring brand consistency and quality prints.
2. Cost Savings
Web-to-print provides clients with the opportunity to order on demand.
Customers can choose from available designs or create new ones, easily order online, and specify the delivery time. This means that it frees you from maintaining inventory.
Additionally, W2P technology saves you on spending hiring designers because it provides product-self customization, and the entire process can be done online. Even customers with no design skills can easily customize ready-to-print templates and place orders.
For example, if a customer wants to update a business card logo, all they have to do is modify the template to include the changes and place a new order.
3. Fast Delivery
The traditional print workflow is notoriously slow and time-consuming. In contrast, web-to-print is fast and requires only a few steps.
By eliminating some of the usual steps in the ordering process, you can also reduce the overall cost of printing. Clients only need to select a template, fill in their details, and download a printout instantly. Creating a pre-approved print on demand eliminates the usual approval process, significantly reducing the turnaround time.
4. Order from Anywhere
The web-to-print interface allows customers to place orders any time they want and from anywhere. All a customer needs are log-in details and access to a browser.
This means you’re not restricted to one location and can place orders anywhere. A web-to-print solution is also convenient because more than one person can place orders should the other be occupied or out of the office.
5. Print More Orders Instantly
With Web2Print, you can print a high volume of orders within a short period as compared to traditional printing.
Your sales team can accept orders online on behalf of your customers. Also, customers can place their orders via smartphones or desktops at any time of the day or night. This way, your storefront can process a high print volume since the process is automated.
Visual Commerce: The Perfect Solution for Web-to-Print Businesses
When it comes to product customization, web to print takes center stage. It’s a solution forward-thinking companies have to offer to remain competitive in a crowded marketplace. Today, not having a web-to-print solution is no longer an option.
And offering W2P services isn’t enough. You need to provide a smooth and satisfying experience to the customer to encourage them to return. One way to achieve that is through 3D visualization and product customizations.
The trick is to invest in a robust product customizer for web-to-print to automate your printing business, which allows your customers to personalize your products.
A visual product customizer is a software application that enables customers to customize products directly within your e-commerce storefront. You can improve the process with augmented reality (AR) and 3D visualization solutions. These technologies let customers interact with a product and check out every detail before purchase.
Why Is Visual Customization Important?
Visual customization brings many advantages to your business, including:
- Increased conversion rate
- Lower customer return rates
- Increased customer engagement
Whether your business stocks or dropships, a visual product customizer can help it reduce costs as the products can simply be configured through a web-to-print service. But product customizers aren’t created equal.
For a product customizer to deliver a quintessential customer experience, it should possess at least one or all of these features.
- AR and 3D preview
- Flexible printing methods
- Unlimited configuration options
- Print-on-demand and dropshipping service integration
Sell More and Print Easier with Zakeke
The success of your e-commerce store will largely depend on the technology you use. From AR to 3D product customizers to web-to-print solutions, achieving a competitive edge in the e-commerce marketplace requires you to stay ahead of the technology curve. And your choice of the visual product customer for your web-to-print can make all the difference.
Why Zakeke for the print?
Zakeke is a robust yet easy-to-use tool for remarkable 2D imagery, cutting-edge 3D configuration, and augmented reality (AR) functions.
The company offers unlimited customization options—from simple image and text customization to advanced functionalities, showing real effects of different printing techniques like sublimation, DTG, and screen printing.
Contact us today or book a demo to experience how our product can help you transition your business to the next level with high-quality printing and visual customizations.
If you are wondering what you can do with Zakeke, check out our DEMO STORE.
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