The web-to-print specialist launched its trade printing service at the end of 2019.
Helloprint explained that for trade customers using the new API, when their end client of creates a print order on the trade customer’s site, “an exchange of information takes place and that order automatically goes straight into the Helloprint production system”. When the job is produced it is then despatched in plain packaging “without the trade customer having to manually intervene”.
Helloprint also offers in integration with WooCommerce, the e-commerce plug-in for WordPress sites. Both are free of charge.
Country manager Paul O’Connor commented: “By using either the WooCommerce plugin or our API it gives users the ability to select which products they want to add, what margin they want to sell at and let customers place those orders without the need for the shop owner to intervene with the order.
“The API helps trade customers expand into product ranges that maybe they had previously not offered or actively promoted. It’s not just about printing on paper, it gives our trade customers access to the largest platform of printed products that they can order from their local print supplier 24/7.“
He noted that the firm turned away requests for access if it believes the applicant isn’t a genuine trade customer.
O’Connor also said that more integrations were in the pipeline.
“Our focus in the next few months is on the API that can be used for custom coded websites that the larger organisations are more likely to have and the WooCommerce plug-in as this is the preferred option for the small and mid-sized print resellers. Further down the line we will look at the demand for the likes of Shopify as well as a full standalone solution for those wanting a full overhaul of their existing ecommerce solution,” he added.
Helloprint is headquartered in Rotterdam. Its platform links to a range of specialist local print and product providers with 13 country-specific shops across Europe including the UK. The business claims to offer the world’s largest marketplace for customised printed products.
