Includes 3 in-depth customer success cases

The next generation of web-to-print is here, according to a WhatTheyThink white paper sponsored by CHILI publish. Web-to-Print: The Next Generation makes a strong case for taking web-to-print offerings to the next level as user requirements have continued to evolve, especially as cloud-based solutions and mobile communications have become ubiquitous and bandwidth is more readily available.

Success cases featuring online print provider Helloprint, direct marketing agency SK+G and provider of die-cut products Blanks USA clearly demonstrate the value of creating a pure play cloud-based clean sheet design that is not dependent on legacy technologies.

“We are pleased to be partnering with CHILI publish to make this important white paper available to our audience,” said Eric Vessels, President, WhatTheyThink. “Businesses across the spectrum of the printing industry will find valuable insight that can quickly be translated to more efficient operations as they think about their future.”

In addition to real-world web-to-print success cases, the white paper also presents lessons learned from the experiences of each organization to make it easier for printing firms to narrow down a path forward. Highlights include:

• Have a clear understanding of the business objectives you are trying to achieve and the price elasticity in the market. 
• The cost model is critical – cloud-based modules that can quickly and easily be integrated to create a full solution typically preset the most cost-effective and flexible approach.
• Make sure the final outcome [of a next-generation web-to-print platform design] will yield a platform that is easy to use for inexperienced users but robust enough to meet the needs of more experienced users.
• Integration with a variety of databases, internal and external, is critical.
• Avoiding the manual uploading of lists wherever possible adds to the effectiveness of the overall solution. Data should be ported to the system in real time to enable fast, responsive campaigns that are more likely to deliver results because of their timeliness.
• Think out of the box. Consult and brainstorm with software providers to better understand what is possible, and then stretch the limits of those possibilities for new and innovative approaches. It is critical to have partners who are willing to work with you in this manner.

“This is just a small taste of the sage advice included in this white paper,” Vessels added. “The three companies profiled in this white paper all have very different businesses. But they all have one thing in common: They took a leap of faith and found game-changing ways to offer new products and services to their customers using a compilation of cloud-based components to design the exact system they needed. And they did this without spending hundreds of thousands of dollars, yet have a system that can scale as their businesses grow.”

The white paper is available for download here.

For more information about the products and services offered by CHILI publish, please visit www.chili-publish.com.

About CHILI publish

Established in 2010, CHILI publish is a software company focused on the development and deployment of powerful online software for the graphic arts industry. CHILI publisher is an online editing solution that can be seamlessly integrated into third-party workflows and production platforms to provide a wide range of customizable, easy-to-use, browser-based, editing functions. CHILI rendro is a revolutionary PDF rendering solution that enables fast, accurate rendering of PDFs which can then be viewed on devices supporting the HTML5 canvas. CHILI software is sold both direct and through a wide network of international value-added channel partners. CHILI publish has its headquarters near Brussels, Belgium, and operates offices in New York City and Singapore. More info: www.chili-publish.com

About WhatTheyThink

WhatTheyThink is the printing and publishing industry's leading media organization. We offer a wide range of publications that deliver unbiased, real-time market intelligence, industry news, economic and trend analysis, peer-to-peer communication, and special reports on emerging technology and critical events. Special interest sections include Economics, Data Analysis, Wide Format, Labels & Packaging, Production Inkjet and Print Software.

WhatTheyThink hosts webinars and live events as well as providing content through a syndication program, delivering content directly to related websites. In addition, WhatTheyThink offers a wide range of lead generation and branding programs that help print- and publishing-related companies achieve business growth.