5 answers to the most common web2print customization questions

Granted, life under lockdown came with its fair share of challenges, but it also brought about some interesting opportunities that raised the bar for e-commerce personalization and customization. So, I hope you’re ready to hop on the booming e-commerce trend or are considering optimizing your current setup and offer. Having the right tools in place can elevate your digital platform with a depth of customization and personalization options while maintaining a fast and efficient process. Choosing the right online editor will define how well you’ll do from the start. And how flexible you’ll be in the future, if I might add.

E-commerce is spinning faster than ever. Customers are spending more and more time on their laptops and phones, and that includes fulfilling the need for customized and personalized marketing via web2print services.

Customized direct mailers sent to the doorstep of potential new customers give organizations the ability to deliver integrated campaigns that mesh perfectly with traditional mail shots and smart data-driven marketing/advertising. But making e-commerce work on a really personal level requires leveraging the right digital print tools.

Q&A on customization through online editing and its bigger role within your web2print solution

We get a * lot * of questions, especially when it comes to connecting digital design processes with an efficient printing setup, optimized for customer personalization. So, to save you some time, we’ve done some of the legwork and listed the most common questions we get on all things online editing for web2print.

1. How do I transform my web2print portal to upgrade my customization offer?

This will depend mostly on your bigger picture, your selection of an online editing tool, and how well this connects with your other setup elements. When it comes to your web2print setup, you’re either considering the DIY route rather DFY (Done For You).

Let’s assume you assembled your web2print setup with existing technology. The success of your operability will depend on the interconnectivity of all these elements and plugins. But what most consultants are too little aware of, is that your customization success will depend on the flexibility of the online editing solution.

More flexibility enables more integration, increasing your chances of truly optimizing your solution offer without its complexity influencing your customer’s user experience.

Make sure to involve your in-house UX/UI designer from the start to see how seamlessly a tool like say CHILI publisher would integrate into your existing online system. And how flexibly it will kickstart, or up your customization game, now and in the future.

Transformation can only come from optimization, we want you to always stay profitable and operational.

2. I’m not a developer or an expert in IT? How complex is a project like this going to be?

A great place to start is your e-commerce platform. You have plenty to choose from, and many have proven themselves to be flexible enough to support both small and enterprise-sized organizations. The most common platforms are Prestashop, Magento, Shopify, and WooCommerce.

After you’ve made your choice, we can help you find the right CHILI e-commerce plugin to define your best web2print setup. Without stressing out your IT department, mind you. If you use the plugins, you’ll be surprised at how plug-and-play your solution gets. Plus, our solution comes as a SaaS, meaning we take care of getting you fully operational in record time, so you can focus on your customers.

Your next steps? Implement, build, experiment, finalize. As your experience with the solution and applications grows, so will your experimental success. Get profitable before you get a little bit crazy, it will only boost your commercial goals.

3. What kind of customization options would I have using CHILI publisher?

The sky’s the limit for the personalization at scale potential of CHILI publisher, but I recommend starting on a smaller scale and building up from there. Try kicking things off with a set of simple dynamic templates that customers can personalize with key information and their company logo; then you can start scaling up and adding more complexity as customer demands grow (like the Precision offer).

Ease into it like you would with any other product. Familiarize yourself with the software, its functionalities, and your client demand. That’s the best route to leverage your investment optimally.

4. Am I going to need DTP (desktop publishing) skills to work with CHILI publisher?

We’ve all got creative ideas, but we don't expect you to be a designer with specific knowledge of certain tools or apps. We built CHILI publisher to be both accessible to new users and complex enough to appeal to experienced developers.

The interface for the non-designer offers all the same tools in the backend, but with a frontend that’s far easier to work with. Whether you’re a template creator, a developer handling the integration, or an end user using the online designer in the webshop, you’ll be working in a CHILI setup that works for you and your level of expertise.

5. Do I need to download a piece of software, or will CHILI publisher work right out of a web browser?

That’s the beauty of using CHILI publisher — it’s designed to be fluid and instantly accessible (got to love a good SaaS solution), so you can use any web browser and still enjoy every facet of the platform. That way, you can get down to designing and launching your templates in record time!

Word to the wise - know your size to create a web2print platform that fits your goals

SMALL

Your business is unique, so you need a web2print solution that suits your operation’s size and scale. So, if you’re a small company, you should start with a small project where you’re utilizing existing components (such as your e-commerce platform).

You’ll need an e-commerce plugin to hook up your starter online editing integration into your platform. And a template creator to create those templates for you.

MEDIUM

Same principle, but bigger. You should establish a project method for mid-market organizations and define your targets and goals—that’s elementary when moving up to a larger scale.

You’ll need to define a team of in-house professionals (project manager, designer, developer) or hired expertise (integration partner)— best look into booking some training as well to get it right from the start.

You also need to outline your solution ecosystem to see if it will do for the web2print setup you have in mind. Determine the budget you’re willing to spend and start researching other e-commerce solutions, connectors, and MIS out there that may be better suited to your growing business. We have a broad partner network to help us select your best options.

LARGE

Finally, for enterprise companies, follow the steps for organizations in the mid-market scales – defining your budget and technology ecosystem will always be a driving factor – and be sure to have a full-time project manager assigned to the platform to ensure the project is properly managed to meet KPIs and maintain customer demand.

I’m pretty sure this will also call for DAM integration and cross-departmental support throughout your organization. The people of Airbus and the American Cancer Society know all about it.

2021 teamwork

We might all be working from home longer than we expected, but that distance doesn’t need to define us. Collaboration and cooperation should be the mantra for 2021, so you need to find the right creative partners and technology teammates to help turn your e-commerce printing aspirations into a complete web2print reality.

We’re not just here to deliver that technology but to provide a support base that helps you grow, stabilize, and expand with confidence, even from a distance.

Have any more questions?

Sylvain Westerloppe

Great, happy you’re spotting the potential for your business! Let me connect you with the Smart Template knowledge you need. Get in touch for a virtual chat on all things web2print.

Sylvain Westerloppe