Ecce Terram launches photo book app on Facebook

According to photo industry surveys, most of the more than 800 million Facebook members use the social network to store and share digital photos with family members, friends and co-workers, using the platform’s “Photo Album” feature. The custom brandable app developed by Ecce Terram now clears the way for large retailers and photo services to generate new photo book orders from a so far underdeveloped source.

“Facebook has become the premier destination for consumers to share and store their photo memories,” says Frank Simon, president and CEO of Ecce Terram USA. “For retail chains and photo processing services, the white-label version of our photo book app for Facebook could well be the key to unlock the huge potential of this market.”

The new app is backed by Ecce Terram’s long-standing experience with large-scale software deployments for the photo industry. Order processing is handled by Ecce Terram’s Photo2Lab CentralHub middleware. The software facilitates complete solutions from photo ordering to processing in commercial labs, and also supports standard software installations, as well as customized for large photo processing centers.

Ecce Terram positions its photo book app for Facebook as a logical addition to the company’s order channel solutions for desktop, online, mobile and kiosk platforms. For large retail chains with the Photo2Lab infrastructure already in place, configuration and deployment of the new app to work with their existing order processing system can be completed within a matter of days, the company said.

The German version of the photo book app for Facebook has already been successfully tested during the strong start phase of Germany’s holiday shopping season on https://app.share-your-photostory.de/en/.

“The Photo2Lab enables our customers to connect with consumers literally anywhere, anytime they are ready to order photo products and services. Starting immediately, through the photobook app, that includes connecting with them during their ‘quality time’ on Facebook. That’s when they appreciate offers the most which help strengthen their bonds with family and friends,” said Ecce Terram’s president/CEO.

Facebook members who install the white-label version can simply select an album on their Facebook page, choose a background color and pick an image frame. Once they have chosen the pictures to include, added short text comments (optional), defined the sort order and determined the cover photo, they can order the photo book to be shipped – all from within Facebook.

“By offering the new Ecce Terram photo book app, a customer can now enable consumers to create thoughtful, elegant photo book gifts, when and where it’s most convenient for them – on Facebook,” Simon added. “For consumers, it allows them to free their photos from the fleeting digital domain, and create lasting gifts. For Ecce Terram customers, we expect it to significantly increase order volumes.”

Ecce Terram will present its apps for Facebook, mobile apps for a variety of platforms, and Version 2 of its Photo2Lab Online Client in Las Vegas from January 8 – 12, 2012. An appointment can be scheduled via pma2012@ecce-terram.com.