What does the product do?

Chili Publisher 3.0 is an online document editing engine sold typically to printers, designers and advertising agencies to provide the service on their web portal for corporates and end-users. Customers range across the graphic arts, pre-media print management and packaging sectors. 

Customers will already have a web-to-print e-commerce platform and need a portal to allow end-users to view and edit their document online.

When was it launched?

Version 3.0 was announced at Drupa 2012 and made commercially available in June. Chili Publish co-founder Bram Verniest says Australian were among the throng of visitors who looked at the tool at Chili’s Drupa booth. While some local printers have already previewed the technology, the GASAA PrintCom trade show in Sydney in September will play host to the first official hands-on demonstrations in this market. 

“We will use PrintCom as the launch event for prospects who couldn’t travel to Drupa earlier this year. This will be the first opportunity for Chili to provide local and one-on-one demos,” says Verniest.

The developer is in the process of expanding its footprint in Australia and New Zealand. Spearheading this push is Alan Dixon, the chief executive of UK-based distributor Workflowz. 

“Alan has worked with Australian companies for many years, and this has been the springboard for the next steps, which include PrintCom and recruiting Chili specialists,” says Verniest.

The software is available within other systems, such as Tharstern, which has integrated Chili into its e4print system.

Tresta Keegan, managing director of Tharstern Australia & New Zealand, says: “The release of e4print with Chili should be of particular interest to printers of all sizes and work types because it’s almost a standard now for printers to interact with customers online – but those with true, value-added solutions maximises the likelihood of making good money from it.”

How does it differ from previous versions?

The latest product has an accompanying application to enable users to view it on tablets with HTML 5 browser. Packaging applications are also possible with version 3.0, which has 3D folding to create 3D documents on screen for users and integrators. End-users can visualise how the 2D design will look once their product is folded. Verniest says: “It’s always beneficial, if for example you are doing the graphic design for a box, to be able to visualise that editorial content on the box.”

What is the USP of the product?

Version 3.0 enables users to present figures in a table structure, which Verniest says is not available on any other online document editing system. 

In addition, Chili Publisher has been designed to be easily integrated with other third-party products, such as workflow or e-commerce software. This is central to Chili’s partnership approach.

Verniest says: “We are only focused on a quality document editor. Competitors can become our customers, as they have to maintain a product that is much bigger than ours and could replace their editor with Chili. It is the desktop publishing application for the online world.”

How much does it cost?

Chili Publisher can be sold as a one-off licence for $50,000 and service providers can integrate the product with their MIS to create applications to suit customers’ needs. Customers can use this licence to set up as many e-shops as they like by hosting the solution with one licence on their server, but discounts are offered to customers buying more than one licence. 

A 20% annual maintenance charge is also incurred, which covers service and upgrades. Workflowz Alan Dixon points out: “There are various pricing options depending on suppliers. For example, Tharstern e4print Pro is sold as a software as a service model with an initial set up fee and then a monthly payment.”

How easy is it to use?

The front-end document editor is made simple for the end-user to access, but Chili Publisher customers will need their own developer to integrate the system into their workflow. 

What training is provided?

Chili Publish offers training for the templating side of the system, showing customers how to convert a template into the Chili Publisher system. 

Developers are also offered assistance with integrating the product into their workflow system.

How many are installed worldwide?

The company has sold 60 licences worldwide since version 1.0 was launched two years ago. Verniest says: “Since Drupa, we are growing very fast and looking for new countries to supply. We have more than doubled the sales we predicted when we started the company so we have to re-evaluate our targets.”

The company landed its first Australia user in June, after Sydney-based Satellite Digital starting using the tool though its investment in Tharstern’s e4print Pro system. 

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