ControlP is consolidating its position as a software developer by launching its e-commerce business stationery software, an off-the-shelf product that allows users to change stored design templates online.


The system can accept any file format, but constructs a PDF of images then breaks down the file and rebuilds it in PostScript.
Chairman Warren Tayler said the product had been in development for several months because ControlP had been unable to find any companies offering the type of software it needed.


ControlP will target the software at printers and large-scale print buyers. It plans to charge for the product in two ways: large customers will pay a large initial non-recoverable engineering charge, while smaller clients will pay a small up-front charge then a per-transaction fee.


ControlP also plans to offer "complete bespoke systems" for larger customers, said Tayler.


The firm still offers an online print procurement service, but has changed its business model to focus on developing software products, the first of which was eprintinternet.com. That allows printers to build an off-the-shelf website hosted by ControlP.


"It has taken us a year but we would never have got where we are if we hadnt gone through the learning curve of trying to do print over the internet," said Tayler.


He said one of the firms problems had been getting its message across to a sceptical market.


ControlP is also looking to break into markets in other countries, and Tayler said it would look at licensing software or establish joint ventures in places such as Australia or the US.


Story by Gordon Carson