New methods for specifying and producing printed products are emerging as print service providers seek to streamline order management, reduce costs, and improve efficiencies in print supply-chain management. These emerging print production models rely on system architectures that use Web applications to interface with highly automated print production workflows. The application of the Internet in print supply-chain management is not a new concept and has been previously investigated. However, little scholarly research has been published on Web-to-print or Web-enabled print production system architectures.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the current state of Web-enabled print within the printing industry. The research examined a number of print service providers utilizing Web-enabled print systems. This examination led to the development of an instrument for looking at Web-enabled print service providers. The instrument was then used to analyze a number of print service providers, providing insight into various approaches to developing the Web application processes of a Web-enabled printing system. (The in-depth company analyses are not included in this summary, but may be found in the full monograph available here.)

System Analysis Instrument