Today nearly everything can be purchased on the Web, even print products. The necessary portals are essentially the print shop's individually programmed shop solutions.
If a print shop would now like to enter into web commerce and take advantage of the huge market potential, it was previously possible only through protracted,
cost intensive in-house development.
With "HIFLEX Webshop," software developer HIFLEX offers a complete web shop system that is fine-tuned to the needs of the print product market. The portal layout
can be configured freely and, using a network API, references a streamlined HIFLEX MIS packet. This packet pulls the strings in the background, by managing customers,
orders, and products.
The system facilitates a simple product configuration. A print product can be assembled from several modules (such as number of pages, color, paper, finishing, and
refinement) at lightning speed (Example:
Product configuration at Printplaza.com).
During the configuration process, unworkable combinations are excluded using a plausibility check, and necessary processing steps are added (e.g. scoring with 200g/m2 paper).
The products can also be based on multiple product components, for example, cover and content. This leads to a huge number of possible combinations. The special
feature: only a few modules are needed in the background, because more than 1000 product combinations can be generated from only 20 modules. Modifications to the
products (e.g. a new price for a specific paper grade) can be entered easily, and will then apply to all dependent products.
The price feedback (market price) is immediately generated, and scaled according to print run. The prospective buyer can open a PDF quote with complete fact sheet
(product specification) and receive immediate notification when the print data must be delivered and when the product will ship. He can define the shipping type based
on the calculated weight. Exactly like at Amazon, he brings his virtual shopping cart to the checkout. After the customer has registered, various payment methods can
be selected, including credit card payment. The customer receives the invoice through an automated e-mail PDF.
At the next step, the portal offers the upload of the print data for the issued order. The print data is checked immediately (Preflight), and the customer receives
immediate notification of whether the data can be further processed. If "Soft proof" was selected when the order was placed, the Print Shop system will digitally
process a proof (online proof.)
The customer can keep track of the order status all at times during the order processing. As soon as the delivery process has begun, he can also track the status
using Package Tracking.
But the HIFLEX Webshop is not only convenient for buyers. A large portion of a print shop's administrative and technical processes are automatically processed through
the HIFLEX back-end. Customer master data, supplier addresses, and orders are automatically applied. The system automatically generates quotes, order confirmations,
job dockets, invoices, and delivery notes. Furthermore, the order is placed in package pickup using a direct UPS interface, and a standard UPS shipping label with
tracking number is generated.
Conclusion: HIFLEX Webshop is a useful tool for every print shop that would like to quickly and effectively enter the online business world; ideal for offset,
digital or folding box printing. |
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Convenient product configuration using intelligently linked modules
Efficient management of the entire product selection because only a few modules need to be administered
Simple expansion of the product assortment through the definition of new combination possibilities or new modules
Fully integrated online estimate to determine the selling prices of even individual runs
Unique global Web2Print System with variable product formats (format of one's choice)
Shopping cart with secure payment processing via bank transfer or credit card (PCI Certification possible)
Payment receipt before start of production
Automated application of customer master data, delivery addresses, and orders in fully integrated MIS System
Integrated data upload function with automated data check (Preflight)
Integrated online proofing for release of print jobs
Integrated order tracking ('Waiting for data,' 'Data complete,' 'Data check,' 'Waiting for release,' 'Data released', 'Production', 'Shipment')
Automated issue of quotes, order confirmations, job dockets, invoices, delivery notes, and shipping documents
Automatic booking of transactions and invoices in your financial accounting
Automated booking of the shipped goods with UPS, including receipt of a tracking number
JDF Interface for integration with third-party system (MIS, Prepress, Digital Printing, external suppliers etc.)
Google-friendly page-layout enables top-ranking in search engines
Prepared for internationalization through support of multilingualism and online check of VAT identification number |
The enabling technology is minimal. What you need are two Intel-based servers with Redhat Linux (beside a firewall that you most probably already have in use).
Both servers each run a virtual machine (VmWare). In VmWare 1 the Apache Webserver, a mail server and HIFLEX Webshop will all be set up. The software for pre-flight
checking and for PDF-Online will also be installed on VmWare 1. In VmWare 2 HIFLEX MIS will run as backend for the HIFLEX Webshop.
In general, the system will be set up ready to go. A useful approach for this would be the following:
Joint development of target specifications in order to detect possible variations on the standard
Acceptance of target specifications, purchase order of the system from HIFLEX
System installation
Launch/Start-up and final acceptance of HIFLEX Webshop |
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