Nine Features of a Good Web-to-Print System

Efficient and user-friendly web-to-print providers let authorized users access an online library of documents, facilitate collaborative work efforts, and offer both printing services and electronic distribution. According to "How To Gain Business Productivity With Digital Print On Demand," a report from Sherburne & Associates, web-based interfaces for self-service ordering should offer an intuitive interface that allows users to do the following:

1. Access stored materials or upload new ones
   
   
2. Make choices relative to printing and binding specifications
   
   
3. Know immediately the costs accrued for requested services
   
   
4. Designate multiple shipping addresses from a stored address book and add new shipping addresses easily
   
   
5. Specify desired delivery dates and feel comfortable that materials will arrive as requested
   
   
6. Build books from separate units of content (e.g., compile customized course materials constructed from various modules)
   
   
7. Specify kits consisting of various printed, preprinted and non-printed materials (e.g., a sales kit that includes a specified set of brochures to be printed on demand and packaged in a preprinted pocket folder; or a training kit composed of manuals, name tags, table tents and other materials printed on demand, packaged in corporate binders with a CD included)
   
   
8. View a proof of requested materials, whether stored in a library, uploaded during the session or a combination of both
   
   
9. Authorize services and approve pricing