Situation (Challenge)
With book publishers trending towards shorter print runs to free up cash flow and reduce inventory, the adoption of print-on-demand (POD) zero-warehousing and short-run warehousing strategies are growing. Like many university presses, Stanford University Press sought a partner to provide them with a POD program that would support both single copy print-on-demand, and a short-run warehouse replenishment solution, and could integrate with their warehouse, the Chicago Distribution Center (CDC). The challenge presented itself in that Stanford needed a convenient self-service portal for their short-run warehouse orders to CDC where Stanford staff could review inventory reports and place orders. Additionally, Stanford’s offset orders feature matte lamination and they desired a vendor who could produce digitally printed titles with this cover coating.
Solution
Stanford partnered with Sheridan to achieve their zero warehouse print-on-demand and warehouse replenishment strategy using the Sheridan Select™ platform. Sheridan Select offers Stanford the flexibility to place their orders as necessary and provides the essential integration with CDC. In addition, Sheridan’s digital print division is capable of producing covers with matte lamination.
Zero Warehousing – Print-on-Demand
Stanford and Sheridan worked together to identify and then establish specific titles in Sheridan’s Electronic Warehouse. When an order for one of these titles is received by CDC, the order is consumed directly by the Sheridan Select system via a web service call. Sheridan Select automatically processes and transmits the order data to Sheridan’s digital division for automated print and fulfillment. Sheridan produces the order(s) via print-on-demand and ships directly to the consumer or reseller. Order tracking information is sent back to CDC though an ASN data exchange.
Warehouse Replenishment
Certain Stanford titles were entered into Sheridan’s Electronic Warehouse and set up for POD manufacturing – however, due to demand they are still set as physical warehouse titles at CDC. Having these titles available in the Sheridan Electronic Warehouse allows Stanford staff to review CDC inventory reports on a regular basis and place warehouse replenishment orders via POD for these titles through Select’s web-to-print portal as needed. Upon order placement, Sheridan Select automatically processes the order, prints the title(s) on-demand, and ships the bulk order (typically 100-500 copies) to CDC for warehousing. CDC has specific barcode carton label requirements, so Sheridan created labels to meet their standards.
Results
From single copy print-on-demand, where orders received by CDC are automatically printed and fulfilled by Sheridan, to short-run warehouse replenishment using a convenient self-service portal to place warehouse orders, the Sheridan Select platform provides Stanford the inventory flexibility and integration with CDC they sought from a single partner. In addition, Sheridan’s digital print division is capable of applying matte lamination to Stanford’s titles keeping the look and feel of their digitally printed covers consistent with their offset printed titles.
Products and Services Used
- Sheridan Select
- Sheridan Electronic Warehouse
- Sheridan Digital Printing
Company Profile
Stanford University Press
Established in 1917, Stanford University Press is a leading publisher of academic and scholarly books, and, under its trade imprint, Redwood Press, fiction and nonfiction for a general audience. As the Press nears its centennial year, it is focused ever more on innovating new publishing practices, including its vendors’ digital print-on-demand capability.
About Sheridan
Sheridan is a leading provider of print, publishing services, and technology solutions to publishers, associations, university presses, and catalogers. A division of CJK Group, Inc., Sheridan has nine U.S.-based production facilities; each location has a market specialty that supports books, scholarly journals, reprints, magazines, or catalogs. www.sheridan.com