Introduction
Print On Demand is a business model that works very similarly to dropshipping, with a few key differences that give you unique advantages. While both models eliminate the need to hold inventory, Print On Demand allows you to brand your own products effortlessly and add an entire catalog of custom items that literally nobody else will have in their store.
The Print On Demand (POD) feature in AutoDS enables you to turn your unique designs into sellable products without managing inventory or handling logistics. With it, you can upload your own designs to various products like apparel, accessories, and homeware, then automate the entire fulfillment process through AutoDS.
This guide explains how to set up Print On Demand (POD) in AutoDS, create custom products, configure your designs, and automate order fulfillment for a completely hands-free operation with custom products.
Watch the AutoDS Print On Demand (POD) playlist for exclusive video tutorials on choosing POD niches, creating designs, and more.
Benefits of using Print On Demand (POD)
Using the Print On Demand (POD) feature from AutoDS brings several benefits for dropshipping sellers looking to offer customized products and differentiate their stores with exclusive branded items.
By using the POD feature, you can:
Eliminate inventory risk: Products are manufactured only after a customer purchases them, removing the need to hold stock or invest in bulk inventory upfront.
Control your brand identity: Apply your unique artwork and designs to multiple product types, including t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, tote bags, and other items, creating a catalog that no competitor can replicate.
Reach customers worldwide: Ship to customers globally without manually handling packaging or shipping logistics, as the POD feature manages international fulfillment automatically.
Test products without financial risk: Launch new designs and experiment with different product types without upfront investment, allowing you to validate market demand before scaling.
Automate the entire process: The POD feature works seamlessly and exclusively with Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA) to handle order processing and fulfillment without manual intervention.
Requirements for using Print On Demand (POD)
Before creating custom products with the Print On Demand (POD) feature, you need to meet specific requirements that ensure smooth operation and automated fulfillment of your customized items.
To use the POD feature, you must have:
Active AutoDS subscription: An active AutoDS account with a current subscription to access the POD feature and its tools.
Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA) enabled: The Print On Demand (POD) feature works exclusively with Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA) for order fulfillment. You must enable FBA on your supplier settings to manage fulfillment of your customized products seamlessly.
Important: Print On Demand (POD) items are non-returnable due to their personalized nature. AutoDS does not provide design services, so you must create and upload your own custom artwork.
Tip: Before enabling the Fulfilled by AutoDS service, review the Fulfilled by AutoDS service Terms and Conditions to understand the fulfillment process and service requirements.
How to access and use the Print On Demand (POD) feature
To begin selling custom products using the Print On Demand (POD) feature, you need to access the dedicated POD section in your AutoDS platform and prepare your design files according to specific technical requirements before publishing them to your store.
Once you access the POD section, you'll see all available products organized by category, ready for you to apply your custom designs.
To access and navigate the Print On Demand (POD) feature:
Open the Print On Demand (POD) section from the left sidebar in your AutoDS platform.
Browse the available product categories, such as apparel, accessories, or homeware.
Click on any product image to open the expanded product view.
When you click a product image in the POD section, the following information displays:
Detail | Description |
Item cost | The base manufacturing cost varies depending on the product size and color you select. Different sizes and colors have different production costs that affect your profit margins. |
Variations | Shows all available sizes and color combinations for the product. Selecting multiple colors during design configuration automatically creates separate variants for each combination. |
Shipping and processing time | Displays the estimated production and shipping duration measured in business days from order placement to delivery. This helps you communicate accurate delivery timeframes to customers. |
Shipping price | Click View shipping options to see all available shipping methods with their corresponding costs and delivery timeframes for different regions worldwide. |
Edit product | Reopens the design editor interface, allowing you to modify your custom design, change colors, adjust positioning, or upload a different design file. |
Message to supplier | Provides direct contact access to the AutoDS Print On Demand (POD) support team for product-specific questions, technical issues, or fulfillment inquiries. |
Product info | Displays comprehensive details, including product descriptions, material compositions, care instructions, dimensions, and technical specifications for manufacturing. |
The image below shows an example of how the details will appear once you click a product image in the POD section:
Uploading designs to Print On Demand (POD) products
Before you can create custom products with the Print On Demand (POD) feature, you must prepare design files that meet specific technical requirements to ensure optimal print quality and compatibility with the production process.
Tip: Watch the AutoDS Print On Demand (POD) playlist for exclusive video tutorials on creating designs optimized for print quality and product appeal.
Your design files for the POD feature must follow these specifications:
Specification | Requirement |
Recommended dimensions | 2100x2400 pixels for optimal print quality across all product types. |
Supported file formats | PNG or JPG files only. |
Maximum file size | 5MB per design file. |
Background recommendation | Use images with transparent backgrounds for isolated illustrations or artwork to achieve the best visual results. |
Important: Design files that exceed 5MB or use unsupported formats will not upload correctly to the POD feature.
To upload your Print On Demand (POD) product design and customize it:
Click Edit Product to open the configuration interface.
In the design pop-up window, select the product color from the available options. Choosing multiple colors will automatically generate size variants for each color selected.
Choose which side of the product to customize by selecting either front or back.
Click Upload your design and select your custom artwork file that meets the format and size requirements.
Position the design by centering it or adjusting its placement on the product as needed using the positioning tools.
Use the Preview function to check how your finished product will look before saving your configuration.
Click Save to move the configured product to the Drafts section for final review.
Important: Adding a design to the back of a product, such as hoodies or t-shirts, incurs an additional fee. This extra cost appears during checkout but does not display on the product page visible to customers.
Importing your custom product to your store
After saving your configured product to Drafts, you can make final edits before importing it to your connected store, making it available for customers to purchase.
To import your Print On Demand (POD) product to your store:
Navigate to the Drafts Page in your AutoDS platform.
Locate the custom product you want to publish and review the product title, description, and design one final time.
Make any necessary final edits to the product title, description, pricing, or design configuration.
Click Import to publish the finalized product to your connected store.
Once imported, your custom Print On Demand (POD) product appears in your store as an active listing, ready for customers to discover and purchase with your unique design.
Click here to learn more about all available methods to import products to your store with AutoDS.
Note: Remember that shipping to specific regions incurs an additional fee. Always review the item cost and shipping price before importing products to ensure your pricing strategy provides adequate profit margins while remaining competitive in your market.
Click here to learn more about pricing settings and how to calculate profits in AutoDS.
Troubleshooting and possible issues
When working with the Print On Demand (POD) feature, you may encounter specific issues that require simple troubleshooting solutions.
The table below outlines common problems and their corresponding workarounds:
Issue | Workaround |
The uploaded design is not displaying on the product. | Verify that your image file is under 5MB in size and saved in either PNG or JPG format. Files exceeding the size limit or using unsupported formats will not display correctly. |
The product does not appear in my store after saving. | Navigate to the Drafts tab in your AutoDS platform and click Import to publish the product to your connected store. Saving only stores the product in Drafts without publishing it. |
If you continue experiencing issues after trying these workarounds, contact the AutoDS Print On Demand (POD) support team using the Message to supplier option available on each product page.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What are the differences between Print On Demand and dropshipping?
What are the differences between Print On Demand and dropshipping?
Print On Demand is a business model that works similarly to dropshipping, with key differences that provide unique advantages. While both models eliminate inventory management, Print On Demand allows you to brand your own products effortlessly and create an entire catalog of custom items that no other store will have.
AutoDS offers features and tools for both Print On Demand and traditional dropshipping, enabling you to combine both strategies in your business. Watch the AutoDS YouTube channel for tutorials on both business models and how to maximize their potential.
Does AutoDS provide designs for Print On Demand (POD) products?
Does AutoDS provide designs for Print On Demand (POD) products?
AutoDS does not provide design services for Print On Demand (POD) products. You can create designs yourself or hire a designer to develop custom artwork that meets the POD feature's technical specifications, and upload the custom artwork to use the POD feature.
Your design files for the Print On Demand (POD) feature should be in PNG or JPG format with recommended dimensions of 2100x2400 pixels. Each file must be under 5MB in size. Using transparent backgrounds is recommended for isolated illustrations or artwork to achieve the best visual results on POD products.
How can I check shipping costs and delivery times for Print On Demand (POD) products?
How can I check shipping costs and delivery times for Print On Demand (POD) products?
To check shipping costs and delivery times for Print On Demand (POD) products, click on any product image within the POD section. In the expanded product view, click "View shipping options" to see all available shipping methods with their corresponding costs and estimated delivery timeframes for different regions.
How do I automate order fulfillment for Print On Demand (POD) products?
How do I automate order fulfillment for Print On Demand (POD) products?
To automate order fulfillment for Print On Demand (POD) products, enable Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA), since the POD feature works exclusively with FBA for order fulfillment.
Can customers return Print On Demand (POD) items after purchase?
Can customers return Print On Demand (POD) items after purchase?
Print On Demand (POD) items are non-returnable due to their personalized and customized nature. Each product is manufactured specifically based on the customer's order with your custom design, making returns impractical.
Review the Fulfilled by AutoDS service Terms and Conditions for complete information about the fulfillment process and policies.
Can I add branded packaging to Print On Demand (POD) orders?
Can I add branded packaging to Print On Demand (POD) orders?
The Print On Demand (POD) feature does not offer branded or custom packaging options. All items and packages are sent exactly as they arrive from the supplier without additional branding materials.
If you want to add branding elements to your orders, you can create a custom branding logo for gift cards, but this feature works only when you use products from AutoDS Private Suppliers. This is not available for Print On Demand (POD) products.