Is Your Print Business Web-Enabled?

By 2014, InfoTrends predicts that $31 billion of the anticipated $107 billion in commercial printing revenues will be submitted through a Web-to-print (W2P) system. Indeed, the Internet continues to rewrite how printing firms procure and produce work, including the abilities to submit, approve, track and ultimately fulfill print jobs. Web-to-print applications are becoming a common way to Web-enable a print business.

Print Volume Via W2P to Double
InfoTrends estimates that the share of U.S. commercial print volume submitted via a Web-to-print solution will double from 15 percent in 2009 to 30 percent in 2014. The data from 2000 indicated that only 3 percent of print volume was Web-enabled, showcasing that Web enablement has increased five-fold over the course of the past decade.

Volume of Print Submitted Via the Web Will Double by 2014

The printing industry has clearly embraced the Internet to improve efficiency via streamlining the job submission and production workflow processes. InfoTrends research indicates that over half of U.S. print service providers have invested in a Web-to-print solution. In the last decade, the industry has witnessed the rise of print firms—such as Vistaprint, Mimeo, 123print, PrintingForLess.com and many others—that offer print services solely based on online submission methods.

W2P Growth Drivers

InfoTrends expects the growth in implementation of Web-to-print in the printing industry to continue. Pivotal drivers fueling investment include:

• Web-enabled, just-in-time manufacturing is becoming a necessity.
• Marketers are looking for just-in-time ordering solutions that maintain brand consistency, identity and messaging, while reducing obsolescence waste and improving time-to-market.
• Print buyers are looking for tools to more effectively manage the supply chain and print only what is needed.

Looking to Invest in Web-to-Print?

Through PIworld.com, InfoTrends offers its “Ultimate Guide Online”—a powerful tool that enables printers to investigate and compare details of Web-to-print, variable data and multi-channel communications software solutions in the market. We offer two levels of access to fit printers’ needs. You can sign up for a free account to access a high level of information on each software and hardware product category covered.