KODAK Web-to-print Solutions with Integrated, Automated Workflow Make it Easy and Cost Effective to Move Print Business Online

New KODAK Web-to-print Solutions enhance and expand on traditional web to print offerings, allowing print service providers to more efficiently implement a web to print program with unprecedented levels of workflow integration via the KODAK PRINERGY Workflow System.

KODAK Web-to-print Solutions, built on proven KODAK INSITE Software and KODAK PRINERGY Workflow Systems, provide connectivity to KODAK NEXPRESS Digital Production Color Presses and additional third party print devices via Kodak’s Print-On-Demand Solutions CREO Color Servers. Connectivity eliminates the need to re-enter job ticket information on the press, improving turnaround time, reducing errors and saving money.

KODAK Web-to-print Solutions include three components: a storefront that facilitates online ordering; a variable data print application; and workflow automation with connectivity to many digital printing devices. KODAK Web-to-print Solutions enable print service providers to add a range of web to print capabilities backed by complete workflow integration and automation.

“Print service providers continually strive to drive greater profitability by expanding and adding services, making it easier for customers to work with them, and enabling more efficient business and production processes,” said Jeff Hayzlett, Chief Marketing Officer, Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group. “KODAK Web-to-print Solutions make it easy for print service providers to address each of these objectives without changing their existing workflow or incurring significant overhead.”

Robust Storefront

KODAK Web-to-print Solutions include a robust storefront—customizable for each customer—to provide greater convenience and cost savings for print buyers, and streamline customer service for print service providers. Online catalogs of frequently printed jobs can be created for ordering from a web application and printing on demand, eliminating warehousing and inventory costs. Print service providers and customers can check the status of jobs from submission through shipping.

The storefront features an intuitive interface that makes it simple for print buyers to navigate the site and make purchases online, while reducing customer service expenses for print service providers. Flexible online payment features include the ability for business to business customers to enter a P.O. number when placing a print order online. Electronic global payment management and automation tools allow print buyers to pay for a job using a credit card, while invoicing data can be transferred from the storefront to a print service provider’s existing MIS system to consolidate billing on one platform.

The flexible and customizable pricing engine supports popular web to print value based pricing options such as matrix pricing with costs per unit, page or order. Customer discounts and quantity price breaks are also supported.

Advanced Workflow Integration Features

KODAK Web-to-print Solutions deliver higher levels of workflow integration and efficiency by providing advanced production features. Seamless JDF integration enables the fully automatic transfer of orders from the storefront to the PRINERGY Workflow System.

The PRINERGY System’s Rules-Based Automation maps job intent of orders received from the storefront into a set of manufacturing processes for lights out production, including automatic refine to PDF digital master and preflight. This advanced level of automation increases a print service provider’s ability to offer cost effective services by decreasing the need for manual file handling. Print service providers also can easily publish PRINERGY workflow system jobs back to the storefront as future catalog items for online reordering.

A solution for non PRINERGY workflow systems will be available in the third quarter of 2007.

Variable Data Print System

In addition to the storefront and advanced production capabilities, KODAK Web-to-print Solutions offers an optional variable data print (VDP) system. A templated VDP solution integrates with the storefront, providing print buyers with an easy to use mechanism to order highly personalized print applications that drive strong response rates and return on investment.

“By creating a powerful web to print solution, we’re enabling customers to take advantage of the growing demand for digital printing applications, and both participate in and create their own commerce networks to provide unique digitally printed products,” said Hayzlett.

The Forum Group, an offset printer in British Columbia, recently added KODAK Web-to-print Solutions to enhance services to its current customers and position the company to fully capitalize on its planned investments in digital printing technology.

Presently, clients of the Forum Group can place orders from new or modified static catalogs for brochures, business cards and other materials online using KODAK Web-to-print Solutions. Once the Forum Group adds a digital production color press, it plans to offer variable data printing services via KODAK Web-to-print Solutions.

“We continually look for ways to better serve our customers and advance our business within this ever changing industry. KODAK Web-to-print Solutions help us do both,” said Garry Gunter, General Manager, Development & Technology Director, the Forum Group. “KODAK Web-to-print Solutions enable faster turnaround by streamlining the processes of ordering and proofing through to printing. In conjunction with these extra services, we’re remodeling our website to fully support and capitalize on all of the benefits of KODAK Web-to-print Solutions, including variable data. We believe there is a great future in high end digital print, combined with variable data, which will also accentuate our existing offset equipment.”

Part of a KODAK Unified Workflow Solution

KODAK Web-to-print Solutions are built on KODAK Unified Workflow Solutions. It extends existing investments in both conventional and digital workflows by building directly on proven portal and PRINERGY technologies. The use of open standards ensures a modular, expandable solution that integrates directly with the workflow, providing increased automation and levels of efficiency over standalone applications.