Can You Call Your Software Provider a TRUE Partner?

When you are shopping around for new print software, whether it be to replace an outdated system, consolidate cumbersome tools, or expand your business offerings, what do you look for? What are the categories that you keep in the back of your head as you research, talk to software providers, and schedule demos? If I had to guess, the list in your head probably breaks down like this:

Can I afford it?
Does it have the features I need?
Will it be hard to implement?
Does it integrate with other print systems easily?
Is it intuitive and easy to learn?

Those are all important questions, but when you are integrating into your company a cornerstone component of modern marketing solutions, such as Web to Print, you’ll want to add one more essential question to the list:

Will the team behind this software be a true partner to my company?

Printers seeking a powerful and intelligent web-to-print solution can’t ignore how important it is to consider the team behind the solution. Just as enterprise customers are entering into a partnership when they find a print solution provider, printers are entering into a partnership when they find a web-to-print provider.

If the team behind the software is dedicated to the success of the printers that license their software, they can be a valuable resource for winning and managing the largest and most complicated customers.

Finding a Software Partner for the Long Haul

This topic applies to a variety of categories of print software, but let’s dive by looking specifically at web-to-print software. There are a few key reasons why your experience integrating and utilizing web-to-print software in particular is tied closely to the strength of your partnership with the software provider.

Web to print is more than a tool for ordering print with a web browser. It’s a fundamental solution for printers who want to expand their reach with bigger customers, more order volume, and longer-lasting partnerships. Those who want to compete for enterprise customers, especially in fast-growing and highly regulated fields with complex business rules like healthcare and finance, are quickly finding out how essential a modern web-to-print platform can be.

And of course, as important as this type of solution is for modern printers looking to be competitive, the feature sets and functionalities that define these solutions are only part of the picture. The truth is that technology is a constantly changing variable, so you want to be adaptable with whatever offerings you have for your clients. But you also want to be able to rely on a solution for the long haul after you’ve put all the time and money into implementing it.

Every part of that equation is easier and more fruitful if you’re working with a software provider that understands the importance of going above and beyond for their clients, just as you want to be able to do so for your customers.

That’s why going with a web-to-print provider that can be a true partner rather than just a software seller is paramount to success.

4 Aspects of a True Partner Software Provider

So, it’s easy to see why it’s important to consider more than features and price when searching for a web-to-print provider. But how do you know if a prospective software provider has a business model that is dedicated to the growth and success of their clients?

There are 4 major aspects that define a software partner that you can count on to make your success as a business a priority:

Flexibility:

Flexibility is one of the biggest factors that differentiates web to print systems. Customer workflows, integrations, marketing materials, and producers/suppliers are all going to differ from one another. There is no way to predict every potential use case, business rule, or organizational system that portal customers will want or need.

If a software team values flexibility, then their software will be designed to fit as many use cases as possible. You want to partner with a team that understands the unique challenges of your industry, that means finding a web-to-print provider that has experience in the print industry and has “seen-it-all”, so to speak.

Adaptability:

You want a technology that is adaptable with a development team that is responsive to the changing business needs of their customers. Adaptability sometimes means being capable of integrating with outside systems when needed. Most of the time adaptability broadly refers to an organization that is capable and proactive about meeting the changing needs of customers and what they want to do on their portal.

The best partners adapt to changes in the market and the needs of their customers. That also includes being receptive to the feedback of its users. Will your voice be valued when your web-to-print partner creates its road map of enhancements? Do they offer custom development for one-off projects?

Staying Current:

With technology moving so fast these days, clients expecting more from their print producers, and the print industry evolving, it is important to pick a solution that is proven to keep up with market and technology trends.

How proactive is your partner at keeping up with the latest technology? For example, does the platform support the latest web browsers and single sign-on methods? You can learn a lot with one simple question to a prospective partner: How often do you release new features?

Customer Support:

Ideally, you receive a comprehensive onboarding experience that sets you up for success. The bare minimum to expect from a good web-to-print provider is that they make sure you get the help you need learning the ins and outs of the platform, how to set up products, create storefronts, customize the user experience, etc. However, if you have a question or issue, how responsive is the customer support team? Are they located in a similar time zone (or continent)? What is the process for requesting help? Is there documentation available for quick answers?

This point extends beyond just the nut and bolts of using the software. Don’t forget that this solution is a tool for you to win new customers and expand your market reach. Implementing your web-to-print software is just the first step to truly maximizing your return on this investment. Is your software provider going to be a resource for you in that regard?

What Is at Stake When Choosing a Software Provider

This decision of who to partner with is no small one. Your choice of solution and partner for your web-to-print will affect almost every aspect of your business, from operations to customer support to sales. On the operations end, investment in a strong, modern web-to-print solution will directly result in a more efficient workflow, reduced labor costs, and reduced turn times. On the customer end, it means greater retention, more satisfied customers, deeper customer relationships, and greater order volumes. Those are the goals printers should be aiming for and that’s what’s at stake in the question of which web to print solution to invest in.

The bottom line is this: If you are in the market for a new web-to-print solution, pay attention to the team behind the solution. You are about to select a technology solution to support your most important customers for the long term. Choose a company that cares about your business. This should be a relationship based on growing together.

This topic of finding a true partner in a web-to-print software provider is 1 of the 5 key requirements that we delineate in our guide to modern web-to-print. Get the guide for free here: Requirements of a Modern Web-to-Print Platform.