A new study from NAPCO Research, conducted in collaboration with Propago, reveals that commercial printers offering customized web portals are seeing significant business gains. The survey of 122 printing industry professionals, conducted in May 2023, found that 93% of participating printers reported increased sales from existing clients after implementing these digital platforms. On average, printers experienced a 12% revenue boost, along with shorter buying cycles, reduced labor costs, and higher print order volumes.
The research highlights the growing importance of web-to-print technology in the commercial printing industry. According to the findings, 92% of printers noted a shorter buying cycle, 90% reported reduced labor costs, and 88% observed higher print order volumes. Customized web portals have become a standard offering, with 89% of surveyed printers providing clients with dedicated portal access. These platforms function as operational tools that improve service accessibility and deepen working relationships between printers and their business clients.
Marketing collateral emerged as the most frequently processed order type through portals, cited by 86% of respondents. Direct mail followed at 71%, and promotional products accounted for 65% of portal-based orders. The range of order types reflects the breadth of services that web-to-print platforms make available to commercial printers serving diverse client needs.
The study also identified the industries most commonly served through customized portals. Healthcare and retail each appeared in 64% of respondents' client bases, followed by education at 60% and financial services at 58%. This distribution points to the adaptability of web-to-print solutions across sectors with distinct print management requirements.
On the feature side, inventory management was identified as a critical portal capability by 68% of respondents. Workflow management and reporting tools also ranked among the most valued functionalities, cited by 55% and 53% of respondents respectively. These capabilities contribute to more efficient operations and give print service providers measurable data to improve service delivery.
“Web portals are strategic tools that help commercial printers win larger clients, expand services, and build unbreakable customer relationships,” said a spokesperson from Propago, a collaborator in the research.
The data presents a clear case for commercial printers that have not yet implemented customized portal offerings. Printers that have adopted these platforms report both financial gains and stronger client retention, reflecting a broader shift in how print service providers are using technology to remain competitive.
For more information, the complete report is available at Web Portal Research Paper. Learn more about Propago at Propago: Web-to-Print & Marketing Asset Management Solution.
