Enterprise-Level On Demand Print and Fulfillment

Enterprises and large organizations are constantly seeking innovative ways to be more agile -- streamlining their operations and cutting costs. For many, one solution that's gaining traction is on-demand print and fulfillment. This approach uses eCommerce-style websites, designed exclusively for a company's authorized employees. These eCommerce sites centralize the ordering, storage and distribution of customizable print and promotional items. Using on-demand print and fulfillment can revolutionize the way large organizations manage their print materials and promotional products, saving money and time in the process.

The Power of Internal eCommerce Websites

On-demand print and fulfillment rely on internal eCommerce websites that house a company's entire catalog of customizable print and promotional items. These websites are accessible only to authorized employees, ensuring a streamlined and controlled ordering process. The beauty of these platforms lies in their versatility. They enable employees to order any quantity of items, from a single unit to bulk orders, and have them shipped to any of the company's locations, addressed to the care of specific employees. This level of customization and convenience is invaluable for large organizations with multiple sites and diverse needs.

A Boon for Multi-Site Enterprises

For multi-site enterprises, franchise operations, and companies with a broad geographical presence, on-demand print and fulfillment provides a game-changing advantage. These organizations can leverage their print supplier's warehouse for storage, picking and packing, kitting, and shipping of products as needed. This eliminates the need to rent, operate, and staff warehouses specifically for print materials and promotional products. With rent and utility costs soaring, the cost savings and efficiency gains of outsourcing fulfillment services can be substantial.

The Role of the Right Print and Promotional Supplier

To take advantage of on-demand print and fulfillment, an organization must partner with a print and promotional item supplier that has a certain degree of sophistication. Here are the key elements to consider when selecting a supplier:

1. Customized eCommerce Website Development

Look for a supplier capable of creating a fully customized internal eCommerce website tailored to your organization's unique needs. This website should seamlessly integrate all of your customizable options for print and promotional items, making the ordering process straightforward and efficient for your employees. Ask how many software developers and project managers the supplier has in house, and what similar sites they have created for other organizations.

2. Warehouse and Fulfillment Capabilities

The chosen supplier would need the infrastructure to store, pick, pack, kit, and ship large volumes of products. This includes advanced logistics systems, robotized insertion for letter-sized envelopes, well-organized storage facilities, and a sizable team to do manual insertion when robotized insertion is not an option.

3. Short and Long Run Print Capabilities

If printed materials are required, organizations will need to choose print suppliers with both digital and offset printing presses in house. The digital presses can be used to produce shorter run, highly-customizable documents which can include personalized text and images. Offset presses can economically print longer runs of identical documents. Using digital and offset presses in combination, can be an efficient way to take advantage of the digital press' ability to do personalization and the offset press' economies of scale. An example of this would be when a press pre-prints the non-customizable parts of a complex print job using an offset press, then runs the same sheets through a digital press to add the customized elements on demand. In the interim period between offset printing and digital printing, the printing company can store the pre-printed sheets in its warehouse awaiting customized orders from the client.

The Benefits Are Clear

On-demand print and fulfillment not only enhances efficiency but also allows organizations to redirect their resources away from managing physical warehouses and towards the more productive areas of business. The key lies in choosing the right print and promotional supplier: one with the capabilities and expertise to make the transition seamless and beneficial for your organization.

Parker Lake is a veteran of the document management industry having spent the earlier part of his career with Bowne & Co. as a financial printer and electronic data room provider.  After several years away from the industry during which time he became licensed in life insurance, health insurance and annuities, he has returned to the world of document management.  Reach out and connect with Parker on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/parkerlake.