From Briefing to Store in Days: How On-Demand Production Works for POS Materials
Traditional print production requires weeks of advance planning, minimum print runs, and storage space. On-demand printing reverses that approach: produce what you need, when you need it.
In this guide, you'll discover how on-demand production can drastically reduce your time-to-market and what concrete benefits this offers for your retail campaigns.
What is On-Demand Printing and When is it Ideal?
On-demand printing is a modern production method where printed materials are produced directly from a digital file, without the use of printing plates and without minimum quantities. Unlike traditional offset printing, which requires expensive aluminum printing plates to be exposed first, digital printing sends your file directly to the digital press.
Perfect for:
- Test campaigns where you want to try different variants before producing on a large scale
- Seasonal promotions that only run for a few weeks and don't justify inventory
- Region-specific materials where each store or region needs different promotional materials
- Last-minute campaigns where speed is more important than volume
The biggest advantage: no inventory risk and no waste. Research shows that inventory storage can decrease by as much as 80% through on-demand printing, while product returns fall by 25% compared to traditional retail methods.
The Difference Between Traditional and On-Demand Printing
| Aspect | Traditional Offset Printing | On-Demand Digital Printing |
|---|---|---|
| Lead Time | Minimum 5-10 working days due to printing plate production | From 1-3 working days, sometimes same day possible |
| Minimum Run | Economically viable from approximately 1,000 pieces | Possible from 1 piece |
| Setup Costs | High (printing plates, press setup) | Minimal (direct from digital file) |
| Flexibility | Difficult and expensive to implement changes | Directly adjustable without extra costs |
| Personalization | Not possible or very expensive | Easy to personalize per piece |
| Materials | Wide range, cheaper at volume | Growing range, slightly more expensive per piece |
| Best For | Large runs (>1000), stable campaigns | Small runs, flexible campaigns, test phases |
The choice between offset and digital depends not only on the print run, but also on your timeline. As a Dutch printing specialist puts it: "Digital printing offers incredibly fast turnaround times due to significantly shorter setup times. Print shops can offer same-day or next-day printing much more efficiently and cost-effectively."
Why Speed is So Crucial for Retail Campaigns
The costs of delayed campaigns are often underestimated. Research shows that 45% of all product launches are delayed by at least one month. For retail campaigns, this has direct financial consequences:
Every day your campaign starts late is a day of lost revenue. A delay of 15 days can easily lead to this revenue loss in lead generation campaigns.
For products in the electronics industry, a delay of 9-12 months can lead to 50% revenue loss over the entire product lifecycle.
Lead times for custom products are reduced by 75% through on-demand printing, while time-to-market for new products decreases by 50%.
Competitive advantage: In competitive markets, customers won't wait for you but will switch to a competitor who is already in store. On-demand production helps you avoid these delays.
What Can You Produce On-Demand?
On-demand printing is suitable for virtually all POS materials:
Small Format
- Shelf wobblers and price tags
- Flyers and leaflets (A5-A4)
- Product information cards
Medium Format
- Posters (A3 to A0)
- Danglers (hanging POS materials)
- Floor graphics and floor stickers
- Table talkers for tables
Large Format
- Cardboard displays and setups
- Photo booth backdrops
- Banners and signs
Custom Made
- Trade show materials such as roll-up banners
- Complete booth setups
- Personalized retail experience per location
The print-on-demand market is growing explosively: from $5.1 billion in 2023 to an expected $59.3 billion in 2033, with an annual growth of 27.8%. This growth is primarily driven by the increasing demand for personalized products and the improved quality of digital printing techniques.
Is On-Demand Suitable for Your Campaign?
Use this checklist to determine if on-demand printing is the right choice:
The more checkmarks, the more suitable on-demand printing is for your situation.
Three or more checkmarks? Then on-demand is probably the most efficient solution. For long campaigns (>8 weeks) and very large print runs (>5,000 pieces), traditional offset printing may still be more cost-effective, but even then a hybrid approach often offers the best solution: large-scale basic production in offset, supplemented with on-demand for variations and reorders.
The Future of On-Demand Printing
The technology behind on-demand printing is developing rapidly. New techniques such as Direct-to-Film (DTF) reduce costs per piece by 40%, while print quality reaches industrial levels. Software platforms now dominate 70% of the market and make it possible to order directly from your systems via APIs, with real-time inventory insights and automated tax and shipping handling.
For Service Bureau Jansen, this means that we can offer you not only speed and flexibility, but also full integration with your existing processes. From digital file to distribution per store—everything from a single source.
Ready to Reduce Your Time-to-Market?
On-demand production offers you the speed and flexibility that modern retail campaigns require. No weeks of waiting, no inventory risk, and full control over your campaign materials.
Contact UsSources
- Market.us (2024). Print on Demand Market to Hit USD 59.3 Bn by 2033. Available at: https://www.news.market.us/print-on-demand-market-news/
- Scoop Market (2025). Print-on-Demand Statistics and Facts. Available at: https://scoop.market.us/print-on-demand-statistics/
- Mordor Intelligence (2025). Print On Demand Market Size, Industry Share, Growth Report & Competitive Landscape 2030. Available at: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/print-on-demand-market
- Dickhoff Design (2025). The Difference Between Offset Printing and Digital Printing. Available at: https://dickhoffdesign.com/het-verschil-tussen-offset-drukwerk-en-digitaal-drukwerk/
- Reproduct (2021). Digital Printing or Offset Printing: What's the Difference? Available at: https://reproduct.be/verschil-digitaal-printen-offset-drukken/
- Gartner (2019). Survey Finds That 45% of Product Launches Are Delayed by at Least One Month. Available at: https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/
- Marketing Vogue (2025). The Impact of Campaign Speed-to-Market on Your Bottom Line. Available at: https://marketingvogue.com/
- Supply & Demand Chain Executive (2021). What Are Late Product Launches Really Costing You? Available at: https://www.sdcexec.com/