Summary
The printing industry has made surreal growth over the past decade. As per the stats, the web to print software market was valued at USD 867.3 billion with an estimated growth rate of 7.62% until 2025.
It’s the time when Printing companies have to cater to a competitive market, increasing customer demands and shifts taking place in the printing climate all at the same time. That’s why here is the list of trends with the potential to rule the web to print market that you can follow to stay relatable and remarkable.
Throughout.
Automation
Put simply: any delay in the printing process is now a direct reflection of the inability of the business to meet deadlines and keep up with their customers’ demands. With the web to print industry growing in popularity, keeping up with the market demands and orders becomes a full-time commitment for business owners. To fulfill the demands efficiently, the industry introduced further automation in the processes.
Recently, with wholly automated programs and strategies, the industry of web to print continues to improve the experience for all the parties involved. For the consumers, this is a welcoming update. For example, they can easily load and send photos via any channel without having to go through manual ordering processes.
The goal of these programs is to reduce the dependency on manual processes. Instead, these solutions push for not only the auto-creation of designs but also for the wholesale and production processes too.
3D Printing Technology
3D printing is a readily embraced prototyping technology these days. With a large chunk of manufacturers adopting 3D printing into their business plan, this has become an even more popular option than subtractive manufacturing.
Not only is 3D printing faster, but it is also more accessible. And now, more so with the web to print answering the demands of many entrepreneurs in various industries.
Now, even the healthcare sector can simply send in their specifications to the web to print service providers, and they can get the final results in no time.
Augmented Reality
And let’s not forget about augmented reality. AR technology is now being used increasingly in web-to-print solutions to improve customers’ experiences.
With AR, people can see how their custom designs will look in real life. For example, they can use their smartphone or tablet camera to show a printed product overlaid on their surroundings. This cool and immersive experience helps customers make smart choices, make more sure about their decisions, and reduce the chances of being unhappy with the final printed product.
Variable Data Interface
A print e-commerce solution can now be an excellent receptor to information that is still subject to change.
How does this work?
Say, your customer has just sent in a printing request for business cards. A few minutes in, they realize that there has been a typo in their request. Instead of having to go through all of that, they can simply edit their file and the web to print technology can easily recognize and acknowledge this update.
This is the benefit of a variable data interface. With it, requestors and customers can change their information instantly, without going through multiple channels and operators.
By introducing this new capability, customers can simply alter the content of their request and the software will instantly recognize the change. It’s a quick and efficient way to update for consumers and business owners alike.
Personalization Options
There is a constant need to establish one’s own brand in today’s society. Naturally, the web to print industry recognizes this trend. As a clap back, it now allows multiple personalization features to users.
This isn’t just about the design — this also encompasses the printing format, specs, and other information that the service provider might need. All customers have to do is to put in their preferences and the system can recognize their input.
Integration with a Fulfillment Partner
When it comes to the web to print technology, the initial transaction may be carried out online, but the output still needs to be shipped to the customer. This is why it has become increasingly important for solutions to have an in-house shipping or fulfillment partner.
Now, with just a click of an “Order Now” button, the system transmits a request to a third-party to have the designs shipped to their customers. This real-time connection, although a fairly new introduction, has worked seamlessly so far.
Tracking is made possible too. This way, the customer is given real-time updates on the status of their order. The fulfillment partner is given more accountability on the orders made through them as well.
Voice Control and Command
The web to print industry recognizes the need for efficiency — the very precept from which it was built. And so, in a continuous attempt to make their solutions even more customer-friendly, some products have introduced voice integrations into their models.
Just imagine having your customers printing out their materials with just their voice. Now, that is a giant step into the new age of technology.
Online Printing Portals
The economy is now a free-for-all environment. With so many consumers patronizing small-time businesses and disrupting enterprises, it’s no surprise that the web-to-print service continues to thrive.
One telltale sign: the launch of dozens of online printing portals in the marketplace.
Small-time entrepreneurs and web owners have now opened their space to customers and have linked their businesses to web to print software providers such as PrintXpand. This comprehensive web-to-print solutions is a digital designing and printing hub that upgrades entrepreneurs’ eCommerce business by including an additional web to print forefront.
By partnering with online printing portals such as PrintXpand, business owners like you can offer your customers more convenience and ease of transaction.
Who knows, exploring this new business avenue might just bring in new customers and a steady flow of growth. In this case, you’d need more than just a web to print solutions, but a POS software too. Don’t have one yet? Take a look at this ranking of best POS systems to get started.
Finally, let’s talk about sustainability, which will be a big deal in the future of web-to-print. As people become more aware of the environment and rules about it get stricter, there will be a push for using eco-friendly printing methods and materials.
Web-to-print businesses will give more choices for using recycled or biodegradable materials. This helps in using resources wisely and creates less waste. Already, we see more customers choosing eco-friendly options as a priority.
The Continuous Demand for Web to Print Solutions
What used to be seemingly impossible feats some years ago is now within our reach thanks to technology. The web to print industry is one of the biggest testaments to this.
And even then, with the myriad of updates to the web to print technologies, it’s still hard to tell just where it is headed and what new updates there may be on the horizon. There continues to be a demand for these solutions, and there are more updates being introduced regularly to keep up with it.
So what’s next for this newly emerged but thriving business sector? Yes, there are 3D printing technologies, multiple launches of online portals, mobile-first designs, in-house shipping services, etc., but we’re confident that there is a lot more to uncover.
With the state of the web to print industry constantly growing, it is important for software developers to keep up with the times and demands as well. To this, we wait and see what the future holds.
All product and company names are trademarks™, registered® or copyright© trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.
