We're all accustomed to the convenience of online ordering through robust web platforms. Whether for work or home, 24/7 access to a global marketplace has become the norm. B2C pioneers like Amazon and Alibaba dominate, not just through their vast product selections and ease of purchase, but also through their technological prowess – seamless cross-supplier integrations, manufacturing workflow visibility, and robust logistics for reliable fulfillment. This consumer-level experience has reshaped expectations of its cousin in the B2B world that has been left behind.

Today's business customers demand more than just a basic HTML ordering page for their print needs; they want a comprehensive web-to-print storefront solution that is easy to manage and aligns with their unique workflows. They need a personalised, customer-centric web experience that's laser-focused on their unique business needs, available on any device, especially when it comes to ordering marketing collateral, placing custom print orders, or managing brand assets through a web-to-print portal.

Gone are the days when a users settle for a simple product list, a shopping cart, and a notes field for their detailed print needs. Businesses now require a comprehensive web to print solution that delivers the information they need, in the way they need it, personalised to their brand and fully WCAG 2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) compliant for all levels of users on all devices. This transformation affects how they handle everything from office supplies to online print orders, ensuring their web-to-print store platform is ready to meet diverse business needs efficiently.

The Limitations of "Out-of-the-Box" and Bespoke Web to Print Solutions

Addressing complex B2B web-to-print requirements has traditionally necessitated bespoke, in-house solutions. Craig Smith, Product Manager at Vpress, highlights the scale of this challenge: "Custom build projects for web to print platforms, from initial requirements gathering to delivering a beta version ready for customer testing, could take months, even years. You also need a dedicated team of experienced software development and infrastructure professionals. The costs for a supplier to undertake such a project are immense, not only for initial development but also for ongoing maintenance." This costly and time-consuming approach stands in stark contrast to today's customer expectations for better value and improved services from their web-to-print storefronts, particularly when complex requirements like print management are involved.

On the other hand, generic, "out-of-the-box" procurement platforms often fall short. They simply can't cater to the diverse and evolving needs of different business customers, especially when it comes to the intricacies of online print ordering. Every business operates uniquely, with its own workflows, data points, and priorities. A one-size-fits-all approach inevitably leads to inefficiencies and a frustrating user experience, especially when the customer has highly specific needs or extended procurement requirements.

The Evolution of Modern Web-to-Print Interface

Today's web-to-print solutions must go far beyond just transactional capabilities. While they absolutely need sophisticated backend technologies to integrate with any system globally for order fulfillment, the key differentiator lies in providing a simple-to-use yet powerful set of customisation tools. These tools should not only empower the administrator to build a dynamic, B2C-feel front-end user experience – one that feels instantly familiar and aids rapid adoption, much like a seamless web2print portal – but also intuitively guide them, steering clear of common pitfalls and enabling optimal configurations that truly maximise the portal's potential for print ordering.

A truly effective web to print solution must be modular in its approach and collate rich data from numerous sources and present that information back to the user on any page in a simple, intuitive, and highly customisable interface, facilitating everything from standard procurement through to the need for template-based ordering of marketing collateral for web to print solutions. The ongoing administration of the interface must also be quick on any device; be that creating a panel for a new embedded training video or promotion to drive registration for a new seminar, or adding a new online print product. It should all be live in minutes and seamlessly adhere to the brand guidelines and theme of the site using any complimentary colours and ensure accessibility standards continue to be met without any effort on the part of the admin user.

Moreover, an effective web2print interface should also support scalable operations, enabling companies of all sizes to manage outputs ranging from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of print orders annually. Scalability ensures long-term adaptability for businesses experiencing growth or handling fluctuating demand across regional or global networks.

The new standard for web-to-print portals doesn't just manage transactions; it actively enhances your business by delivering:

• New products and promotions relevant to your business (including print on demand services)
• The latest company news and announcements regarding print services
• Easy access to print supplier contacts
• Adding articles, links and help videos (e.g., tutorials for web to print tools)
• Real-time print manufacturing status updates
• Direct courier tracking links for every print order line
• Information views from other systems (e.g. warehousing, manufacturing or CRM)

And much more, all positioned on a page where the user requires it for their print procurement!

Empowering Both Print Buyers and Suppliers

The benefits extend to print suppliers as well. They need a user-friendly interface to efficiently manage the print store's administration, modify content, and strategically position information panels based on user preferences and importance. Crucially, this includes the ability for suppliers to showcase their full range of print products and services, making buyers aware of offerings they might not yet know about – including online print products and advanced print management capabilities. This not only drives additional sales and expands their market reach, but also leads to improved operational efficiencies through streamlined processes and, ultimately, a significant increase in profitability for their web2print business. This collaborative solution ensures the platform remains dynamic, mutually beneficial, and perfectly aligned with print customer needs.

The ultimate outcome? Customers gain a web-to-print solution that is genuinely tailored to their requirements, easy to navigate, in a familiar environment and displaying any additional information precisely where and when they need it. As their business grows and needs evolve, the site can be seamlessly enhanced with new information panels or features, once again all web compliant and fully on brand. For print suppliers, this means the ability to build custom web to print solutions in minutes without large technical teams, leading to improved customer retention rates and easier acquisition of new business.

It’s a Genuine Game Changing Offering for Web-to-Print

As Neil Bridgland, an experienced Account Manager servicing many of the world's leading brands, rightly points out: "Most current solutions unfortunately overlook the importance of deep configurability, thereby missing significant opportunities to truly empower and engage their user base." He elaborates that a platform supporting not only B2B-focused print procurement but also deep site customisation "moves print procurement beyond simple transactions to a strategic function, transforming the buyer experience to meet, and even exceed B2C standards, with personalised and intuitive features," a critical evolution for platforms handling online print and marketing collateral. Furthermore, for the print suppliers he works with, such a system "unlocks entirely new revenue streams by allowing them to proactively showcase their full range of print products and services, not just what's explicitly requested. This leads to significantly improved operational efficiencies for all parties through streamlined, automated workflows for print production. Ultimately, by fostering true collaboration and providing rich data insights, it redefines the competitive landscape and elevates the entire print supply chain."

The Future of Print Procurement: Beyond Transactions

Outdated print procurement solutions, often lacking the deep configurability vital for dynamic engagement, risk becoming a critical bottleneck in a rapidly evolving business world. A truly flexible, user-centric web-to-print platform, accessible across all devices for every user, transforms this. It doesn't just improve operations; by empowering users to discover relevant print offerings and enabling suppliers to strategically promote their full range of print products and services (including specialised areas like web2print), it directly unlocks unprecedented opportunities for expanded market reach, increased sales, and significantly improved profitability across the entire print supply chain.

Will your current platform truly empower your evolution and capture these essential avenues for growth, or will it limit your potential in the web to print market?