October 11, 2006, Sewickley, PA -- The trend for printing companies to expand their Internet-based services is growing rapidly. A recent survey by PIA/GATF and Printing Impressions highlighted the trend— of those respondents not yet offering a “web to print” solution,” 54% plan to introduce one in the next 12 months. The October 2006 survey of over 400 magazine subscribers also revealed that about 50% of the respondents already involved in such services are offering branded customer storefronts, compared to production portals (26%), and digital storefronts (18%). The addition of these services was not without considerable work—41% of respondents built their sites from scratch, rather than purchase software or use a hosted site. The decision to offer the additional services paid dividends, however: 63% increased the volume of work coming into their plant, over a third improved their profitability, and 22% cited better cash flow. PIA/GATF will be exploring the business and technical issues tied to this opportunity at its newly announced Web-to-Print Symposium on Sunday, November 12 in Phoenix. The day-long event will feature printer case studies, explore the various W2P strategies in use, and help printers evaluate an increasing array of software solutions. “While the trend is clear, determining which type of strategy makes sense, and whether to build, buy, or go with a hosted solution are tough decisions for companies,” said Jim Workman, vice president of training for PIA/GATF. “Our new Symposium was organized to help printers make informed choices.” The Symposium begins with an overview of W2P strategies by Julie Shaffer, who has been leading PIA/GATF's research in the area. Additional sessions explore the decision to build, buy, or use a hosted W2P system, and how to handle the various challenges to success. A dozen suppliers of W2P software will be represented. The Symposium takes place before the start of PIA/GATF's Variable Data and Personalization Conference in Phoenix and is being conducted in partnership with the Digital Printing Council and the E-Business Council. For further information on the PIA/GATF Web-to-Print Symposium, visit www.gain.net (“Events and Training”) or contact Ned Herrick at PIA/GATF at (800) 910-4283 (x712).