Web-to-print services increase business sustainability
Sustainability is no longer a choice in modern business practices; it's the new normal. In response to the complex issues raised by climate change, many businesses are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint. A large number of small businesses are moving their production to paperless content on the Web and using third-party companies to utilize web-to-print software for marketing materials, which saves business owners money in the long run.
Reducing, removing heavy inventories
One of the main rules of thumb for any small business interested in developing materials is never producing more product than what is necessary for its foreseeable needs. Small Business Trends writer Susan Payton advised marketing professionals to resist the temptation to print massive amounts of advertising or communications materials to save on costs. What is the downside? A mountain of stock sitting in inventory - no matter how liberally it is distributed - will inhibit the growth of the business. Moreover, this practice is environmentally unsustainable.
When a small business looks to expand its marketing campaign or change designs, it will be handcuffed by an overinflated supply of out-of-date marketing materials. By outsourcing web-to-print services or design of marketing materials, small businesses can more fluidly make changes to the format, save labor costs and reduce the time drain of in-house production and distribution.
Electronic documents save energy, space
Businesses are moving in the direction of Electronic Document Management, a type of software that digitally formats documents for storage on a computer. As a result, the necessity to handle paper copies is reduced, which affects the whole office environment, according to Environmental Leader. Essentially, this practice can help convert physical files and folders into a digital format, allowing for more space in offices, which in turn can bring down energy costs.
This technology is also versatile. In addition to document storage, some systems contain optical character recognition that allows scanned documents to be edited. In addition, EDM can function as a database that can be searched for keywords.
Adaptation is crucial in any industry, and outsourcing printing productions, whether for marketing or internal processes, allows companies to continue to grow and flourish. Businesses can keep their marketing materials current without losing money on aging printing technology and systems. Web-to-print software is reducing the environmental impact of many businesses, which is the ultimate goal of sustainability.