Posted by Chris Higgins on Tue, Mar 30, 2010 @ 12:24 PM
A customer recently decided to utilize our Web To Print solution for their business cards. The original goal was to reduce the cost of the cards. they quickly realized a Web To Print solution could provide even more valuable savings by revolutionizing their entire ordering process.
Before Web To Print they had to create group orders of cards to get the lowest price, look at the steps they went through just to order business cards.
Manager sends an email to all employees asking who needs business cards.
Manager follows up to make sure everyone responds.
Manager gathers all the responses and contacts the printer with a list of employees that need cards.
The printer spends the next week creating proofs of each card and sends the proofs back to the manager.
Manager emails the proofs to each employee asking them to approve the proof or make changes.
Manager follows up on all the proofs because many employees don't respond.
Manager collects changes on all cards that are not correct, sends the changes to the printer and the entire process is repeated.
Ordering business cards took 3-4 weeks and created irate employees. The process was not only inefficient, it drove the manager and the employees crazy.
The Web To Print solution changed the process to one that is complete in minutes.
Look at the process using Web To Print.
Employee logs in and either views their existing card or creates a new one. They make any needed changes and view an electronic proof within seconds, they submit the order and they're done.
Manager receives an email that an order is waiting for approval, the manager logs in, approves, changes, or deletes the order, once approved it goes right to production.
What used to take far too much time and too many resources is complete in minutes with Web To Print.
The customer saved close to 40% on the cost of the business cards, which for a company of 500 employees is significant, but the real value is the amount of time they saved, and the increased productivity they gained by changing the ordering process. In fact they are so happy with what Web To Print did for their business cards they are exploring ways to implement Web To Print for their document holders, presentation folders, overnight packages and envelopes. If they can get the same efficiencies as they did with their business cards, its like money in the bank.
Posted by Chris Higgins on Wed, Dec 17, 2008 @ 09:54 PM
For some reason many businesses that buy
printing think they are better off dealing directly with the manufacturer. they believe that if they are not buying direct from the factory then they are dealing with a broker and paying more.
Now the sentiment is one thing but the reality is another. with the exception of apple picking where you actually drive to the orchard and pay for the privilege of picking your own apples, almost everything you buy comes through a distribution channel that reduces the cost. Take the apple picking example: you can stop at the market (distributor, retailer, broker call it what you want) and buy a bag of apples for $5. Or you can go the direct route spend half a day in the car with the family, drive for an hour and pay $30 to pick your own. When you add in the gas and time, the cost can approach $100. Obviously you get a lot more in terms of family time and relaxation but when all you want is apples using the local distributor (market) costs a heck of a lot less.
When buying business printing using a distributor is like going to Walmart, you go to the one place that has everything you need at the lowest cost. Because there are so many different printed products all requiring specialized equipment the distributor matches your project with the best and lowest cost source to produce it. If you need document folders, custom presentation folders, promotional products, or custom stationary, the distributor will make sure each product is produced on the right equipment to ensure the lowest possible cost.
Think about it; you don't go the the ranch to buy a steak, Florida for an orange. China for clothes and, Hollywood for a DVD, you go to Walmart where you get everything in one place at the lowest cost. When you need business printing, from custom posters to desk pad calendars work with a distributor to get all the printed products you need in one place at the lowest cost.