IBS, represented by IBS Australia , have completed a survey of publishers and book distributors at the Frankfurt Book Fair and found that 95% wished they could have better forecasting. 94% say they kept stock in their warehouse for three months or more, which creates financial pressure on the business that they would like to ease.
IBS Publishing ERP software, exhibited at the Frankfurt Book Fair, provide complete software solutions specifically designed for publishers and book distributors. IBS carried out an industry survey with more than 120 publishers and distributors visiting the stand and completing the survey. The survey covered important issues facing publishers and distributors, including warehousing and distribution, inventory management and forecasting.
According to Mike Irving, VP Publishing for IBS, it is a difficult and uncertain time for businesses throughout the world. The results of IBS survey show very clearly that publishers are looking to reduce costs in the supply chain as much as possible in order to maximise potential profitability. Good inventory management, tight control of warehousing and distribution and sophisticated forecasting and demand planning techniques can help to deliver these benefits and are some of the major strengths of IBS Bookmaster.
Survey results
Warehousing: The split between publishers using third party warehouse facilities or their own is close, with 53% operating their own warehouses. Just 33% of publishers have stock held at their printers. The survey highlighted that just 18% of publishers ship more than half their books directly from the printer to the customer.
Print-on-Demand: 58% of publishers and distributors in the survey do no print-on-demand at all. Just 5% say that more than half of their business is print-on-demand, but this figure is growing. Of those that do print-on-demand, 33% ship only direct to the consumer, 7% only to the retailer, while 60% send to a combination of both.
Forecasting: 33% of publishers have no defined method of forecasting sales of new books and 37% have no method for backlist sales. Of those that do have a defined method, only 19% of these methods are automated. On average, 95% hold stock for three months or more, while 94% would like to hold less stock for less time. 97% of companies said that they could benefit from better forecasting.
System Management: 29% of publishers and distributors have an integrated IT system. 60% have individual applications covering a range of services and 11% outsource their IT requirements.