Hubcast.com Cloud-based printing service (post also mentions ARC and ishipdocs and Gilmore Global)

Hubcast.com’s business model sounds similar to ARC’s ishipdocs business model …. but “similar to” is not the same thing as “same as.”

The similarity is that both Hubcast.com and ishipdocs are “printing services in the cloud.” And, both rely on a “network” of printers/reprographers around the U.S. and, for that matter, around the globe.

But, beyond that, it appears that there’s a big difference in how hubcast.com and ishipdocs are promoted and sold.

After reading up on Hubcast.com (including reading one of their brochures) and after comparing that information to how ARC’s ishipdocs works, I think the following statements are a fairly accurate comparison (hey, if I’m wrong about this, someone let me know!):

CLOUD-BASED PRINTING SERVICE:

Both are that.

PARTICIPANTS:

Both have established a “network” of printing companies / reprographers (i.e., “print-partners”) around the U.S. and around the world.

SALES & MARKETING:

Whereas Hubcast.com promotes and sells printing services directly to end-user customers, ishipdocs promotes and sells to end-user customers and ishipdocs print-partners also promote and sell to end-user customers.

PRICING:

Apparently, Hubcast.com actively participates in pricing negotiations on behalf of its end-user customers. An ishipdocs “print-partner” negotiates pricing, per order, with the ishipdocs print-partner where the job is to be printed and delivered. (Participants, on both ends of the print-order-transaction, might be ARC-owned facilities or might be independent reprographers/printers who’ve signed up to be part of the ishipdocs network.)

PAYMENT:

I’m not absolutely sure about this, but it “sounds to me” like the end-user customer directly pays Hubcast.com, and Hubcast.com directly pays its network print-partners. With ishipdocs, the end-user customer pays the ishipdocs print-partner who originated the order, and that same print-partner pays the ishipdocs print-partner who fulfilled the order. (In other words, ARC may not be involved, at all, in an ishipdocs print-order transaction.)

TECHNOLOGY:

Apparently, Hubcast.com has developed order-submission technology that enables the end-user customer to enter his/her order into the Hubcast.com system. I’m not 100% sure how ARC’s ishipdocs software works, since I haven’t taken the time to review ishipdocs 2.0.

OTHER:

Hubcast.com’s business model appears to be very similar to, if not the same as, the business model followed by Gilmore Global. (Note: Gilmore Global’s sister company, Gilmore Reproductions, is a member of ReproMAX.)

While visiting Hubcast.com’s web-site, I did notice that one of Hubcast.com’s officers came to Hubcast.com from Mimeo.com:

Gary Millrood, Senior Vice President of Sales

Gary’s experience developing go-to-market strategies, driving new customer acquisition, managing channel development and working with key strategic partners for companies from developing high-growth start-ups to Fortune 1,000 enterprises gives him the skills and experience to lead HubCast's sales and channel development. Before joining HubCast, Gary served in roles as vice president of enterprise sales and channel development for Mimeo.com. Prior to Mimeo.com, Gary was the vice president and general manager of the OEM and Channel Development Group and the vice president of sales for SumTotal Systems. Gary holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Marquette University.

Here’s a link to one of Hubcast.com’s brochures:

http://tinyurl.com/6qlqj46

Here’s a link to Hubcast’s web-site:

http://www.hubcast.com/

And, here’s a link to a video of Hubcast’s President, Tony Dolph, responding to questions from Cary Sherburne of WhatTheyThink.com; Tony shares with viewers the success of Hubcast’s global cloud printing network and the international cost savings potential.

http://whattheythink.com/video/56087-hubcast-president-tony-dolph-updates-about-company/