Survey Points to High Web-to-Print Adoption

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 percent plan to introduce one in the next 12 months.

The October 2006 survey of more than 400 magazine subscribers also revealed that about 50 percent 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 percent of respondents built their sites from scratch, rather than by purchasing off-the-shelf software or by using a hosted site. The decision to offer the additional services paid dividends, however: 63 percent increased the volume of work coming into their plant, over a third improved their profitability, and 22 percent 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 symposium is being held in conjunction with PIA/GATF Variable Data and Personalization Conference.