- Web-to-print is the commercial printing of products ordered through a specialist e-commerce platform
- In 2023 the market for web-to-print will total almost $25.1 billion, up from $21.4 billion in 2018
- The sector has grown significantly faster than the overall print and packaging markets and this trend will continue to 2028 with an average CAGR of 5.6% in value, and 7.1% in print volume.
The web-to-print sector encompasses a broad product range, with many successful print companies developing their routes to market, enabling consumers to purchase high-quality printed items at low cost. There is traditional business-to-business printing, way beyond efficient business card production. As digital workflows developed to handle artwork for these jobs the manufacturers changed traditional print production to increase efficiency. They automated prepress and ganged multiple jobs to share make-ready costs, significantly reducing costs for short to medium run jobs. To grow their businesses the pioneers offered trade printing services to other print providers and print management companies, making standard products very effectively.
Our exclusive content
- Web-to-print is the only route to market for some companies, and is used by many others looking to improve the levels of service they offer to their customers without increasing their administrative staffing costs
- As the technology has matured the make or buy decision for many print service providers has become a difficult strategic choice
- A growing number of companies are choosing to use trade print suppliers, focusing on the customer relationship rather than print manufacture.
What will you discover?
- Many of the leading suppliers are broadening their product mix, and players from other sectors are offering print services
- Beyond graphical print there is personalised and short-run printing of clothing, notably T-shirts; wallpaper and décor; and various promotional or miscellaneous items, including gifting applications
- Another key sector is in packaging and labels. In 2023 more packaging converters are offering new artisan brands the capability of specifying and ordering high-quality labels, boxes, pouches, bags, and cans in a more efficient process than that offered by traditional packaging converters.
The Smithers methodology
This report is based on extensive primary and secondary research. Primary research consisted of targeted interviews with material suppliers, converters and experts drawn from key markets. This was supported by secondary research in the form of extensive literature analysis of published data, official government statistics, domestic and international trade organisation data, company websites, industry reports, trade press articles, presentations, and attendance at trade events.
Who should buy this report?
- Equipment suppliers
- Printing companies
- Packaging converters
- Brand owners and retailers
- Industry consultants and analysts
About the author
Sean Smyth has spent more than 25 years in senior technology and management positions for print businesses across the supply chain. Sean has extensive experience in digital printing. In his time with Smithers, Sean has authored many off-the-shelf market studies and has provided strategic consultancy services to a range of clients across the value chain.
Executive summary
Introduction & methodology
- Introduction
- Methodology
- Scope & definitions
- Exchange rates
The top-line
- Market overview
- Drivers and trends
- e-Commerce developments
- Consumer and micro businesses
- Gifting
- Web-to-Print supply chain developments
- Make or buy through web-to-print
- Changing business models
- Future opportunities for web-to- print
Technology developments for web-to-print
- The development of web-to-print technologies
- Web-to-print software
- MIS
- Workflow
Print-for-profit markets for web-to-print by application
- Photobooks and photo products
- Books
- Magazines
- Catalogues
- Commercial print
- Advertising Print
- Business ID
- Direct mail
- Display PoS
- Other Graphics
- Labels
- Packaging
Print-for-profit markets for web-to-print by print process
- Sheetfed litho
- Web offset
- Gravure
- Flexo
- Screen
- Other analogue and pad printing (industrial applications)
- Electrophotography
- Inkjet
Industrial print markets for web-to-print
- Décor / other
- Promotional
- Inkjet textiles
- Industrial gravure printing
- Industrial screen printing
- Industrial pad printing
- Other
Analogue industrial print methods
- Industrial electrophotography
- Industrial inkjet
Geographical markets for web-to-print
- Western Europe
- Austria
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Spain
- Switzerland
- UK
- Other West European countries
- North America
- Canada
- US
- Asia
- China
- India
- Japan
- South Korea
- Other Asian countries
- Latin America
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Other Latin American countries
- Eastern Europe
- Czech Republic
- Poland
- Russia
- Other East European countries
- Middle East
- Africa
- Australasia
Tables
- Time line for web-to-print technical developments
- Top-line web-to-print market categories, 2018–28 ($ billion and billion A4 prints)
- Top-line web-to-print market by print process, 2018–28 ($ billion and billion A4 prints)
- Leading country web-to-print markets, 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
- Annual revenue of leading web-to-print companies, ($ million, current year values)
- Timeline of technology developments in web-to-print 2023–28
- Print for profit web-to-print application market 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
For each application:
- Regional market for web-to-print end use 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
- Market for web-to-print end use 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
List of applications:
- Photobooks and photo products
- Books
- Magazines
- Catalogues
- Commercial
- Advertising
- Business ID
- Direct mail
- Display/PoS
- Other graphical
- Labels
- Packaging
- Décor
- Promotional/miscellaneous
- Textiles
For each print process:
- Web-to-print application market 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
- Regional web-to-print market 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
List of print process:
- Sheetfed litho
- Web offset
- Gravure
- Flexography
- Screen
For each print process:
- Regional market for industrial web-to-print applications 2018– 28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
- Market for industrial web-to-print applications 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
List of print process:
- Gravure
- Screen
- Pad
- Analogue
- Electrophotography
- Inkjet
For each region:
- Major country web-to-print market print-for-profit markets 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
- Top-line web-to-print market categories 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
- Web-to-print market by application 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
- Print process for print-for-profit market 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
- Print market for industrial webto- print applications 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
- Print process market for webto- print industrial applications 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
List of regions:
- Western Europe
- North America
- Asia
- Latin America
- Eastern Europe
- Middle East
- Africa
- Australasia
For each country:
- National web-to-print market by application 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
- National print process for print-forprofit market 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
List of countries:
- Austria
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Spain
- Switzerland
- UK
- Other Western Europe
For each country:
- National web-to-print market by application 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
- National print process for print-forprofit market 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
List of countries:
- Canada
- US
For each country:
- National web-to-print market by application 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
- National print process for print-forprofit market 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
List of countries:
- China
- India
- Japan
- South Korea
- Other Asia
For each country:
- National web-to-print market by application 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
- National print process for print-forprofit market 2018–28 ($ million and million A4 prints)
List of countries:
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Other Latin America
List of countries:
- Poland
- Russia
- Other Eastern Europe
Figures
- Growth rates of print for profit webto- print
- Schematic of web-to-print system for graphics printing
- Functionality of web-to-print technologies – direct to customer
- Functionality of web-to-print technologies for trade print services
- Web-to-Print market growth rates, 2018–28 by application and print process($ billion and billion A4 prints)
- Process split of global web-to-print market in 2023 and 2028 by value
- Process split of global web-to-print market in 2023 and 2028 by print volume
- Global web-to-print market by print process, 2018 to 2028 ($ million, constant 2022 values)
- Regional web-to-print market 2018– 28 ($ billion and A4 million prints
