Women to Watch: We are making our print platform more intuitive, and more smart

Q: What are the biggest barriers for print shops in adopting web-to-print, and how is DesignNBuy addressing them?
Nidhi Agrawal (NA): The challenge is technology’s adoption. When you are already stretched thin, the thought of implementing new software can feel overwhelming. Our approach is personal – we adapt our training to match their pace, work around their busiest seasons, and ensure they never feel like they are navigating this transformation alone. Moving forward, we are focused on making our platform even more intuitive – think “Netflix easy” for print management. Our goal is to eliminate the learning curve, so adopting our solution feels less like implementing software and more like getting a really smart assistant who happens to understand printing inside and out.

Q: You lead by example, mentoring women in tech and print and championing inclusive leadership. Could you share a specific initiative that you've been involved with that made a significant impact on empowering women?
NA: Taking on the role of board advisor for Girls Who Print India was one of those decisions that felt like answering a calling. While women are crucial to keeping businesses running – handling client relationships, managing operations, driving innovation – their voices have been absent from the main stage. We were the backbone but rarely the face of the industry. Through Girls Who Print India, we have created something I wish had existed when I started my journey – a network where women do not have to be the only female voice in the room. We have connected women across different aspects of the industry, from traditional printing to digital solutions, creating mentorship circles and knowledge-sharing platforms. The most rewarding moment came when a young woman reached out to share that she is now ready to step into her father’s shoes and lead the printing business her family has run for decades. She told me that hearing other women openly discuss their challenges and successes gave her the confidence to take that leap.

Q: What inspired you to start Print Gyan, and how has it been received?
NA: I wanted a stage for the unheard voices in print, especially women. I wanted Print Gyan to be a platform where we could dive deep into the real challenges and solutions that matter to our community. Not just the glossy success stories, but the messy middle parts of building a business.  The response has been incredibly humbling. I have had industry veterans reach out, saying they learned something new from a younger entrepreneur's approach to eCommerce integration. Young women entering the industry tell me that hearing these conversations makes them realise they belong here.

Q: Beyond awards, which achievement means the most to you?
NA: Nothing compares to the moment when you see your work creating real impact in someone else's world. For me, that moment happened in a client’s printing facility in Las Vegas in 2019. Seeing our software streamline custom orders and reduce waste was powerful. Walking through that facility was like watching magic happen. Here were real people using software we had spent countless late nights perfecting. Watching their team manage custom orders, reduce waste, and serve customers faster made everything click into place.  There is something profound about seeing your abstract work become someone else's concrete success. Everything that we had done so far came alive in that factory. 

Q: How do you overcome cultural challenges, and what’s next for DesignNBuy? 
NA: Our approach has been to build a strong, flexible core that handles these universal challenges, while keeping the surface layer completely customisable. Looking ahead, we are working towards a truly "no-code" platform where integration becomes as simple as connecting Lego blocks.