Editor's Note: See below for commentary by WhatTheyThink's Cary Sherburne

Gent, Belgium - Enfocus, CHILI Publish, Magento, and North Plains; all respected, best of breed technologies in their respective categories, are offering leading-edge print and media companies the opportunity to see the future of web-to-print at Best of Breed Web-to-Print 2.0. This limited seat, free, day-long seminar is scheduled for June 4 at Magento parent company eBay's Los Angeles office; and at The Aloft Hotel on June 6, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To register:

http://www.chili-publish.com/web2printevent/register.

The one-day event demonstrates how these best of breed tools not only deliver the most flexible and efficient web-to-print solution in the graphic arts market today; but also, how these solutions combine to form the smartest, open platform for any direction web-to-print takes in the future.

Presenters will also share testimonials of companies that have successfully integrated the four solutions in web-to-print applications. These companies are confirming, too, that the simple, highly efficient operation of Best of Breed Web-to-Print 2.0 solutions foster closer customer relationships. The result is unmatched competitive advantage gained only when offering the very best technology, along with the willingness to connect, on a deeper level, with a client.

"We thank CHILI Publish for recognizing the critical need for companies to understand, and then employ, this powerful solution mix for web-to-print offerings,"says Antje Grüger, Product Manager, Enfocus Switch.

"Enfocus, CHILI Publish, Magento, and North Plains are doing what they do best - listening to the marketplace," Grüger continues. "Commercial printers and customers needed an easy way to use a generally available e-commerce solution as a framework for their web-to-print solution. This event is being held to show users exactly how to do that." 

Web-to-Print 2.0 Seminar Presenters
Each of the participants in the upcoming seminars will detail the strengths and area of dominance that earned their established products the "best of breed" mark. Combined, they deliver a "best of breed solution" that is easy for users to configure themselves. For an introduction to the way the four work together for unparalleled quality, ease of use, and throughput, read The Scenario in the addendum below.

"The goal is for printers to gain a true competitive advantage in the market. There's a bit of art, as well as science, in that," says CHILI Publish's CMO, Bram Verniest. He continues, "We want the event to trigger the thought process, accordingly, and so putting a focus on solutions and service so easy and efficient that they seem to 'run in the background' is the first step in cementing a true bond with customers.  The magic comes from the fact that this nonintrusive, unassuming web-to-print interface is just that -- an interface. Underneath are the four best of breed solutions, which together accelerate workflow efficiency beyond printers' wildest dreams. 

"The exponential benefit brought by the combined strength of these four applications is substantial," Verniest says. "We look forward to sharing more details with our friends in the Milwaukee and Los Angeles areas next month!"

Event Registration

For more information about the event, please visit: http://www.chili-publish.com/web2printevent. To register for the June 4 or June 6 seminars, go to:http://www.chili-publish.com/web2printevent/register.

The featured partner solutions are:

Enfocus:  A leading software company specializing in the development of tools to control the quality of PDF files for print and to automate workflow processes in the graphic arts industry.

CHILI Publish: CHILI Publisher is an online document editing solution that integrates seamlessly and transparently within a wide range of workflows and production platforms.

Magento: Magento offers flexible, scalable eCommerce solutions designed to help you grow and succeed online.

North Plains: North Plains is recognized as the world leader in helping companies effectively leverage their visual media including images, graphics, videos, presentations, 3D designs and others to maximize market success.

Commentary by Cary Sherburne

It is pretty exciting to see this combination of suppliers to the industry joining together to put on a web-to-print seminar.  It looks like they have the bases covered:  digital asset management, robust online editing capability, workflow automation and ecommerce. 

If you are in either the Milwaukee or Los Angeles areas, these seminars should be well worth attending, even if you already have a customer-facing web solution in place, but especially if you are looking to replace an existing one or are just getting into the game.

Doing business online is increasingly becoming table stakes for printing companies, and the breadth of content covered in this seminar should bring plenty of actionable ideas to attendees that can help sort out the decision making and implementation processes.  As has been referenced in much that both Jennifer Matt and I have written in this space, simply receiving jobs over the Internet is not sufficient.  You must look at the entire process, from concept through shipping and invoicing, and find ways to streamline, taking time and cost out of the process for you and making it “green button” simple for your customers.

These seminars appear to be a good place to start.