It is possible to automate the transmission of job information by linking online print sales portals to the mis/erp, production, finance, or customer relationship management (CRM) systems of printers. There are three primary techniques to this integration. The process of developing bespoke software involves the creation of a one-of-a-kind, customized system that, in theory, should provide the best possible match to the specific requirements of a printer. However, this process typically requires skills that are not typically found in printing companies of a smaller or medium size. APIs, which stand for application programming interfaces, are offered by a great number of w2p and mis solutions; nonetheless, having specialized understanding of programming is necessary in order to utilize them. Outsourcing the development is one option that may be considered. It is possible that this will be costly, and the budget will also need to cover continuing maintenance and development. This is a hidden expense that may amount to more than fifty percent of the original budget for development over a period of three to five years. Regardless of where the development is carried out, it will be essential to maintain documentation that is up to date in the event that the duties for system maintenance are shifted. There is a constant evolution of web browsers and support for new platforms such as tablets and smartphones to take into consideration. In addition to adding functionality as required to the w2p system in order to keep up with customer requirements and new print or related products, there is also the additional consideration of the constant evolution of web browsers. In the case of single-vendor solutions, certain vendors provide comprehensive solutions that include everything from the software for the W2P portal to the mis/ERP and prepress/production systems for digital, offset, or wide-format presses. In some instances, these vendors are also able to supply the presses themselves. Despite the fact that there is a small but growing category of integration solution providers that specifically aim to address this issue, they may use proprietary technology in order to provide the necessary communications and integration. This may limit future integration with products from third-party vendors. It is possible that solutions such as this one will command a higher price due to the additional value that the integration provides. Additionally, it is possible that these solutions will not always be the first to implement novel new features or capabilities; however, having a single point of support may more than compensate for this. connecting multi-vendor systems through open standards: in the same way that PDF offered a standard format for job hand-off, it was envisioned that jdf (job definition format) would offer a standardized method of communicating job details, initially between prepress, press, and finishing systems. This was the case. Despite the fact that there is support for JDF among providers of prepress systems, litho presses, and finishing equipment, it is not extensively utilized in digital print and is almost unheard of in wide-format work. One of the criticisms that can be leveled against JDF is that its specification is not as stringent as it should be. Additionally, JDF-compliant files from various vendors may contain quite different levels and types of information, including proprietary vendor-specific tags, and as a result, they do not interoperate as well as they should. An other concern, which is contradictory, is that it is too print-specific and, as a result, does not expressly support the information kinds that are required for the administrative and financial components of work-from-home (W2P) opportunities. This format is much less production-specific than jdf, which means that it requires more development work and is even more open to different implementations. However, generic xml, which is an extensible markup language and also serves as the foundation for jdf, is a popular choice for managing metadata in the community of web developers. The vast majority of work-to-play projects in the real world are a blend of these many techniques. The current state of standards is such that there is no “plug-and-play” solution that can combine the products of multiple vendors without additional integration work that requires the expertise of specialists in both information technology and print production. However, single-vendor systems do generally use existing standards to the extent that they are appropriate. It is important to approach the decision of which path to pursue in the same manner as one would any other significant long-term financial strategy. Printers need to consider which suppliers will have the experience, resources, and longevity to provide ongoing support and development. In the case of bespoke development projects, printers should also consider bringing those skills in-house over time in order to control costs. This is in addition to calculating the return on investment. No matter whether path is chosen, it is essential to take into account the fact that the printer will need to exert consistent effort in order to complete the task. When it comes to integrating work-to-play, it is not as simple as carrying on with business as normal while someone else manages the web site. Every member of the management, production, and sales personnel will be required to demonstrate understanding, support, and dedication. To address the technical and organizational challenges, it may be appropriate to form a work-to-play team that is charged with responsibility for the success of the project as a whole. This team should have representatives from each discipline or access to each discipline in order to address the challenges. An appropriate minimum roster might include a sales specialist who would concentrate on the customer experience and its connection into production, thereby assisting in the identification of the integration requirements, as well as a member of the technical staff who is familiar with both the production processes and it, and who would be able to suggest solutions or frame the requirements in technical terms for suppliers or consultants. Based on previous experiences, it seems that the potential advantages of integration are not often readily evident until after it has been accomplished. The production team may be hesitant to trust the automation, particularly in the wide-format industry, where the average operator’s expertise is still mostly focused on a craft-based process that is mainly manual. It is not unexpected that this mindset exists given the consequences that are associated with failure. Additionally, there is not always a replacement for printers for seeing how it functions, which is why the search for reference sites will be an essential component of the pre-purchase study. This article is an excerpt from “making web-to-print work,” a free white paper from efi written by a technology writer from the United Kingdom named Michael Walker. The paper outlines the mistakes that were made by early users of web-to-print technology and explains how this experience can be used to ensure that current implementations maximize the potential of online sales and job capture through automation and integration.
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