I learn, like many sometimes more from the little failures than the little successes. Sometimes they are painful lessons, but not-repeating the mistake is the real treasure.
Enclosed is a story of a web-to-print failure. No names will be used.
Client engaged a firm requesting a “fully loaded” print solution, complete with advanced ecommerce, online proofing and a powerful digital storefront. Vendor agreed to provide the solution with the caveat that; the client had staff and resources for graphic design work, data input and testing. In short the vendor provided the technology, and to minimize cost and exposure the client agreed to provide the staff to complete. Vendor provided the first phase of the solution, the ecommerce engine, but quickly learned that client’s staff didn’t have graphic design capabilities nor really any affinity for data and pricing input. Despite the online tools available, the vendor had to spend extra time hand-holding and doing manual input and tweaking of the interface on behalf of the client. Despite the project being signed as a time and materials bid, the client paid the first 2 invoices late and was short on the initial agreed deposit. That should have been a warning to the vendor, but the vendor, almost to a fault wanted the project to succeed. Needlessly to say, many frustrated phone calls, emails and discussions, the vendor still couldn’t find the staff or resources to complete as well as defaulted on the monies owed to the vendor. The vendor faithfully enabled the ecommerce, even some of the web-to-print features that were quite advanced and needed in the marketplace.
Summary, the relationship ended in frustration. The vendor lost out on money from development and the client has no solution to speak of. The question and lesson, aside from the financial, is why did the client think they COULD put together and even manage a comprehensive online print solution? I think its a sad statement, but despite the attempt to provide simple to use web-to-print technology, it still requires true investment from a resources standpoint on a clients behalf. Lesson learned. Painful.
