With wide-format printing comes a wide number of challenges such as fast turnaround times, enlarged customization area, accurate print estimations, delivery, and so on but with web-to-print solutions in town, overcoming these barriers is no big deal.
Want to know how? Let’s understand how web to print solutions prove to be a game-changer for wide-format printing.
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What is Wide Format Printing?
One can easily decode it from the name itself that wide format printing means large-sized digital printing like banners, posters, cardboard standees, billboards, point of purchase displays, wall and floor graphics, trade show signage, etc., that are used by all sizes and types of businesses today for their advertising and marketing purposes.
Where we think printing has become old-fashioned in the digital world, the wide format printing business is multi-folding.
There is no doubt that wide-format printing is one of the fastest-growing markets in the digital printing industry today.
In fact, according to the experts and research papers, the global wide-format printer market size which was valued at $9.15 billion in 2020, is now projected to reach $13.70 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 4.2% from 2021 to 2030.
This segment of the print industry is still experiencing high levels of technological development and is developing a variety of new applications through the use of new substrates, inks, and marking technologies.
Packaging, interior decor, soft signage, garment, and fabric printing, and a wide range of customers, in addition to the established markets for signage and display graphics, have created new opportunities.
The process of taking digitally generated artwork and printing it to large-sized substrates is not an easy job. It requires advanced machinery, materials, and technologies.
Where traditional printing has a maximum size of around SRA2 (450mm x 640mm) and you can only use common materials like paper for printing, wide format printing machines can print up to around 3m x 2m, on to dozens of different substrates on to over 50 different materials such as vinyl, cloth, glass, wood, foam board, corrugated plastic, metal, etc.
Now, wide-format printing already has to overcome various challenges like bulk and last-minute ordering, managing shipping, fast turnaround, etc., along with that, customers today want customization in it which can only be achieved with an innovative tool like web-to-print software.
Top 8 Challenges in the Wide Format Printing Business: Strategies to Overcome
Here, we take a look at some of the most common large-format PSP business challenges.
1. Bulk/multiple, streamlined, and efficient order management
One of the biggest challenges wide-format printing faces is in order management because wide-format printing means the prints are larger than life and any kind of order be it multiple, bulk, and especially last-minute become pretty difficult to handle manually but with web-to-print, it can be managed like a pro.
You can say goodbye to handling paper-based requests for wide-format print orders especially when they are in large numbers because, with web-to-print software, you will receive orders electronically which becomes easy to manage and maintain without any confusion and errors.
2. Less production time and faster turnaround
Customers are turning impatient day by day and they want everything instant, quickly, and of high quality which often becomes difficult for a print business to offer.
To meet the ‘right now’ expectation of customers and the need for 70% of wide format print jobs to be fulfilled within 48 hours of the time they are placed, web-to-print has become the saviour because it offers faster turnaround with less production time, unlike traditional printing which takes the longest particularly when it comes to wide-format printing.
3. Shorter print run and high productivity
With web-to-print software, wide-format printing won’t take much printing time as it takes in traditional wide-format printing. Hence your print runs will be shorter which therefore will give you ample time to take extra print orders means you will get higher productivity.
4. Reduced labour and operational cost
Since in traditional printing a lot of manpower is required it goes without saying how much labour and operational cost you might have spent already. With web-to-print solution and the perks that it comes along with, you can save a lot of time, money, and resources which are usually way higher in wide-format printing.
Since most of the print workflow can be automated, you don’t have to take the load of managing a huge workforce or pay them unnecessarily.
5. Minimized inventory carrying cost
The challenge of storing print supplies and the cost you are required to pay for it both gets eliminated because by converting into a print-on-demand store using web-to-print solutions, you will be able to save the inventory carrying cost as in digital printing you can print any design anytime when the demand arises.
6. Enhanced customer experience and repeat sales
Customer satisfaction is the biggest challenge for all businesses and guess what? With web-to-print, enhanced customer experience is guaranteed. No customer doesn’t like product customization and when they have that option even in wide-format printing, customers will flock in and will keep ordering again and again.
7. Shipping and order fulfilment
Shipping and fulfilment is not an easy job in wide-format printing but is not impossible either. Several on-demand third-party integrations are available with the web-to-print solution, including fulfilment partners such as Cimpress, Sanmar, 4over, etc. via which you can easily overcome this challenge.
The web to print software solution also allows you to automatically outsource jobs to external drop-ship vendors and handle your order fulfilment with little effort and without manual intervention.
8. Print Workflow Management
Any kind of errors, the need for reprinting, in wide-format printing turns out to be a great expense because it will create a lot of unnecessary waste of time, money, and resources which is yet another biggest challenge.
So, effective print workflow management is important which you will get with web-to-print. From quotation workflow, print order, artwork approval, job sheet management, drop-ship vendor assignment, and production to shipment, every part of print production can be carried out smoothly, efficiently, and without any error using the web-to-print solution.
How to Implement Web to Print in Your Wide-Format Printing Business
Think about a customer who needs a 12-foot banner for an event the next day. Traditionally, this would mean back-and-forth emails, manual proofing, and a race against the clock. Using large format printing software makes that whole process easy. Customers can make or upload designs online, see previews right away, and have files ready to print automatically.
To begin, look at your current workflow and see where mistakes or delays happen most often. Next, pick a web-to-print solution that works with your printing equipment, lets you use templates, and gives you real-time pricing and customization. After you set it up, teach your staff how to handle online orders and approvals quickly and easily. Finally, promote your online portal on your website and social media, emphasizing ease of use, faster turnaround, and 24/7 accessibility.
The right web-to-print system will make your large-format printing business run more smoothly, more accurately, and be better ready to grow.
DesignNBuy with years of experience in web-to-print service is today known as a prominent player around the globe, hence with its unmatched customer support, and user-friendly web-to-print wide format printing software specifically designed for wide-format print shop will help you elevate your business to new exciting levels guaranteeing huge success and profit.
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