EFI released a reengineered and redesigned version of its web-to-print platform, EFI Digital StoreFront, providing EFI customers EFI released a reengineered and redesigned version of its web-to-print platform, EFI Digital StoreFront, providing EFI customers with an intuitive e-commerce interface and powerful back-end automation. Developed with input from hundreds of EFI customers, Digital StoreFront (DSF) version 3.0 includes a highly customizable user interface, easier and faster web-based administration, new VDP choices, and new features across the entire system.

The new DSF was unveiled in EFI partner booths at On Demand, held from April 16-19 in Boston. Partners who demonstrated Version 3 included Canon, FujiFilm Graphic Systems, Konica-Minolta, and Ricoh. Already in use at more than 1600 locations, DSF enables print service providers to create a unique, loyalty-building user experience for their customers, allowing them to easily navigate through a full suite of print products and services all in one place, including personalized print items and managed catalogs. Print buyers can shop, specify, proof, and buy print products using familiar e-commerce tools. Inside the print operation, DSF acts as an on-ramp to the digital production workflow and print management systems, reducing manual data entry, decreasing the likelihood of print errors, and reducing labour costs.

Marc Olin, senior vice president and general manager, EFI Professional Printing Applications, said: "The print process continues to grow more complex, so making it easier and more accessible for document owners and print buyers helps deliver more volume to service providers. To handle this increased volume, with shorter turnaround times, requires automation for print service providers to keep costs down and margins high. EFI Digital StoreFront enables this automation to begin at the customer's desktop, allowing providers to successfully extend their services to the Web while streamlining their production workflow. After several previous successful releases of the product, and abundant customer input, Digital StoreFront 3.0 incorporates hundreds of new features, most notably a world-class user interface, enhanced VDP options, and greater customization capabilities."

Major 3.0 enhancements
DSF now has a unified "storefront" shopping experience, enabling customers to purchase a full array of products and services from a single interface, including non-print items, kits (a set of products that are ordered together), and personalized products.

Digital StoreFront 3.0 is much more easily customized, letting the print service provider control the "look and feel" of sites deployed for each of their customers (or even for anonymous "walk-up" Internet browsing users). User interface elements such as branding (customer logos and colour schemes), number of columns, fonts, access to specific features of the site, as well as new merchandising features (to encourage buying) can be deployed through a simple interface. And instead of relying on a built-in library of images, the administrator can now use their own graphics and images to tailor the site.

Easier and faster job specification and ticketing templates let users - with little or no technical expertise in printing - submit files, and then build and order more sophisticated print products. The new interface is the result of extensive usability testing. Once the product is defined by the user, a new real-time product preview lets users see an on-screen graphical representation of the product they are ordering - showing the whole product, down to the level of binding choices and coloured paper stocks.

Features to support print services providers' growing business in wide and superwide format products have been added to version 3.0. The system now has support for large paper and other substrates (glass, gatorfoam, sintra, etc.), roll or sheet media. Print service providers can employ different pricing models for different manufacturing steps (area based, fee based, etc.), mixing and matching within the same product, providing unparalleled flexibility. Media, printing, and post print processes can all be priced individually by flat cost, area, or quantity. In addition, many shops employing wide and superwide output also produce and sell items like trade show walls, light boxes, easels, mounting kits, and other items, that can be ordered via DSF in addition to print.

For greater VDP power, Digital StoreFront 3.0 adds the XMPie personalization technology. This will be offered as an option, in addition to the FusionPro engine, making DSF the only solution to offer a choice of technology providers. Both allow print service providers to offer customers single record (versioning) products such as business cards, as well as 1:1 personalized products to support applications such as direct mail campaigns.

EFI Digital StoreFront stands out
DSF is the only offering on the market that gives customers a choice between hosting the application themselves and using EFI to host it for them (delivered as a managed "Software as a Service," or SaaS). Companies that choose to self-host can provide their own hardware, or purchase a bundle that includes server-class Dell equipment.

The unlimited license EFI PrintMessenger PDF generating drivers are another unique feature included standard in the product. These ensure that all files submitted by customers are in print-ready PDF format, eliminating guesswork and inaccuracies in the production workflow at the printing operation. Using PrintMessenger, customers "print" to DSF via an installed virtual printer from almost any software application, whether using an Apple Macintosh or Windows PC.

To leverage other powerful EFI solutions, Digital StoreFront provides integration with workflow and MIS solutions by creating an end-to-end content and commerce workflow from the desktop of the printer's customer directly to EFI Fiery(R), Balance(TM) and MicroPress(R) solutions for digital printing, and to EFI Hagen(TM), Logic(TM) and PSI(TM) print management systems.

Availability
The English language version of EFI Digital StoreFront 3.0 will be available in May. Digital StoreFront is available from many EFI partners including Canon, FujiFilm Graphic Systems, IKON, Konica-Minolta, Ricoh and Toshiba, as well as independent dealers, in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.