Macmillan Distribution (MDL)

Macmillan Distribution (MDL)) provides a distribution service for the Macmillan publishing group, as well as sales and distribution services for an impressive list of over forty third party publishers. Over 30,000 titles are warehoused at distribution centres in Swansea Basingstoke and Eaton Socon. Together these centres offer over 400,000 square feet of effective warehousing, ensuring the smooth reception, storage and distribution of an extensive range of books.

MDL was the first publisher's distribution company to obtain ISO9002 certification, the internationally recognised standard for quality systems. The company underwent a rigorous internal audit of its systems and working practices by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) who praised the company’s high levels of staff knowledge and conformance. In 2003 we achieved ISO 9001:2000 standard.

The company uses the latest distribution technology : radio data terminals in the warehouses, a PEEM order-forwarding conveyor system in the Swansea warehouse and the latest version of Vista software, which allows versatile Windows-based solutions and reporting. In 2005 MDL invested in sophisticated sales analysis software (aka MIDAS) and a warehouse task allocation system.

The company offers a good spread of electronic ordering facilities and is a committed user of both TeleOrdering and EDI. MDL’s highly sophisticated computer system allows the company to keep online sales details for over two years, and invoice and credit note images indefinitely. The company’s computer already talks to many major customers and suppliers using EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), reducing errors on transcription and enabling speedy processing. Most of the customers who use EDI receive a same-day despatch service; order acknowledgements sent by EDI provide customers with even more information about their orders. MDL was the first book distributor to launch a PubEasy website. Participating customers have access to title data for price and availability queries and information on past orders. They can also place orders directly via the computer system.

Macmillan Distribution and Vista Computer Services were the prime developers of the PubEasy service now owned by Bowker. 24-hour-a-day, 365 days-a-year access is available to data which would only otherwise be available by phoning the Customer Services department. This service is completely free of charge except for any local telephone call charges to the Internet provider.

A central PubEasy site allows access to the sites of all other participating book distributors as well as providing centralised price and availability and ordering. PubEasy/Transact also provides ordering and query interfaces to customers' 'point of sale' computer systems and hotlinks to carriers and shipping agents' web sites for enhanced delivery tracking and proof of delivery information. Bona fide book industry users wishing to access any PubEasy site simply need to register their company details to obtain a password and unique identification number. To register please visit register.pubeasy.com/books/owa/register or send an email to www-mdl@macmillan.co.uk

The implementation of Nielsen BookNet (previously known as WhitakerWeb) also offers online price and availability, as well as an ordering and tracking service, which is provided by Nielson TeleOrdering. For further details please visit www.nielsenbooknet.co.uk/ or email www-mdl@macmillan.co.uk

Over the past few years, MDL has been developing and refining a computerised returns system to automate the process of validating and authorising overstock return requests and subsequently generating the associated credit note. MDL has been working closely with BIC and the MDL returns system has now been adopted as the basis for an industry-wide solution which is in the process of being introduced throughout the trade. MDL’s customers can now submit return requests electronically by EDI or via the web using the free Batch.co.uk Online Book Requests web site.

MDL won the academic hotline and invoicing categories for 2004 at the APSBG conference and the Waterstone's award for Distributor of the Year 2005, and are accredited as an E4Books distributor.

Macmillan India Information Processing Division

Macmillan has had a presence in India since the last quarter of the nineteenth century and Macmillan India is now a major public company in the country. Macmillan still retains a substantial shareholding in the company and is active in its management.

As well as publishing educational material, the company is also one of the largest suppliers of scientific and mathematical typesetting in the world, operating via satellite to a production office in London and also directly to customers world-wide. The full range of text capture and data manipulation services is described on the Macmillan India Information Division website, www.macmillanindia.com

Macmillan India has recently launched an ebusiness venture www.emacmillan.com. This unit is devoted to developing educational portals for the domestic market, and offering web design and development services to overseas Macmillan divisions as well as third-party companies.

Macmillan Production (Asia) Ltd (MPAL)

Macmillan Production (Asia) Ltd (MPAL) is the print and paper buying company of the Macmillan publishing group. MPAL has been producing books cost-effectively in the Far East and South East Asia and shipping them to Macmillan companies all around the world for over 30 years. MPAL has offices in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand. It employs 50 print buyers, production controllers and logistics experts to seek out high quality sources of supply, place print orders, track schedules, control quality and organise shipping.

Sophisticated computer and communications systems keep track of over 2,000 titles per annum, and publishers are given price scales for straightforward work while complex titles are quoted individually. Regular courier services pick up film and deliver proofs if required. Shipping is arranged by MPAL and titles are delivered directly to the customer's warehouse.

MPAL regularly produce titles for the UK, Continental Europe, Ireland, the USA, Africa, South America and Australia, making significant savings on domestic production costs. Products handled by MPAL range from straightforward black and white paperbacks, through case-bound colour books to complicated kits and children's games.

Although the primary mission of MPAL is to save cost, reliability of delivery and high production quality are demanded by all MPAL's customers and tight controls are exercised to ensure compliance with customer's individual specifications and schedules.

Gill and Macmillan Distribution Services

The company originated in 1856 when Michael Henry Gill, who was then printer to Dublin University, purchased the publishing and bookselling business of James McGlashan and formed the company of McGlashan & Gill. In 1875 the name was changed to M.H. Gill & Son. In 1968 Gill & Macmillan was formed as a result of an association between MH Gill and Sons, Dublin and Macmillan London.

Since July 2000 Gill & Macmillan Distribution has been based at Park West, Dublin 12 in new, purpose-built premises of 50,000 sq. ft. that also house the publishing offices of Gill & Macmillan, now one of Ireland’s premier educational and general publishers. As well as providing services for Gill & Macmillan itself, the distribution division has as clients the following Irish publishers and imprints:

Attic Press, Blackstaff Press, Boyne Valley, Cork University Press, Estragon Press, Four Courts Press, Georgina Campbell, Irish Academic Press, Liffey Press, Lilliput Press , Maverick House , Merlin Publishing, Mount Eagle Publishing, Oak Tree Press, O'Brien Press, Oldcastle Books, Round Hall Sweet & Maxwell, Sitric Press, Town & Country House, Wolfhound Press, Wordwell.

Gill & Macmillan Distribution offers a comprehensive suite of services to its clients from sales representation to warehousing, invoicing, dispatch, cash collection, royalty accounting, and information management.

Macmillan Distribution Services Pty Ltd

Macmillan Distribution Services Pty Ltd carries out local distribution for Macmillan Education Australia, Pan Macmillan Australia and various other imprints sold under the Macmillan umbrella in Australia. There are around 70 full time members of staff.

In recent years, the company has also been a third party distribution provider for other publishers and has expanded its capacity to handle numerous additional imprints. In 2000 the company moved into a new custom-designed warehouse with a state-of-the-art picking and conveyor system, and in 2001 the system was awarded the Doug Beatty trophy by the Logistics Association of Australia.

Von Holtzbrinck Publishing Services

The Distribution Center for Von Holtzbrinck Publishing Services (VHPS) is located on two sites in Orange County, Virginia. These sites, located in two buildings on 92 acres, houses the customer service, order entry, accounts receivable, credit, technology services, returns processing, and distribution functions for the Holtzbrinck companies in North America: Audio Renaissance, Bedford/St. Martins College, Farrar Straus & Giroux, Henry Holt, Picador, St. Martins Press, Tor Books, W. H. Freeman, Worth Publishing, and their distribution clients. The operation employs more than 300 people working three shifts daily, five to six days per week. The Virginia locations, opening in 1997, consolidated the functions of five different distribution and service centers. Together, the two Virginia buildings provide 600,000 square feet of distribution/warehousing and 50,000 square feet of call center and administration offices. Approximately 3 kilometers of powered conveyors are used to route packages throughout the facilities, which house 25,000 different titles and 40 million units of inventory. The state-of-the-art facilities feature wire guided vehicles, radio frequency controlled picking and inventory movement, and a huge pick to light system, all ensuring speed and accuracy while retaining a const-effective service.

MPS Technologies Ltd (MPS) offers a range of state-of-the-art publishing related products and services to publishers and librarians. Each solution has been developed to help publishers or librarians to harness technologies in order to develop revenue streams, reduce costs, improve efficiency and better meet the needs of clients.

BookStore

BookStore is a digital content delivery platform that allows publishers to hold and display back-list and front-list book content in a consistent, stable and secure online repository for delivery via multiple channels and in a number of formats. The platform enables publishers to:

• Remain in full control of their digital content:   - Determine branding   - Set pricing and business models   - Protect authors’ copyright • Increase visibility via search engines and e-commerce • Utilise a palette of e-marketing, e-commerce and statistical tools • Build a direct relationship with your readers

With the increasing popularity of online content, it is clear that the world of publishing is moving digital. BookStore is designed to help publishers take advantage of this changing environment to increase revenues and build more direct, more profitable relationships with their readers.

For further information visit www.mpsbookstore.com or email Jayne Marks.

PublisherStats

PublisherStats is a data analysis service that provides publishers with an array of reports and analysis tools, for evaluating the use of their online content. PublisherStats includes over 60 automated reports as well as a powerful suite of reporting tools to drill down and create custom reports which include detailed click-stream analysis of your sites. It will allow publishers to:

• Provide COUNTER reports for their institutional customers • Learn more about how users interact with content • Understand which content is most popular • Improve site design • Identify content abuse

For further information visit www.publisherstats.com or email Alex Boden.

Fulfilment Services

New business models and increasingly complex product offerings are driving publishers to consider outsourcing operational activities or developing and upgrading fulfilment systems. Fulfilment Services from MPS Technologies combine modern technology and off-shored resources to enable publishers to:

• Manage all subscriptions and customer service • Integrate in real time with other systems and platforms • Realise cost-savings through off-shored outsourcing • Consolidate complex customer data • Deliver completely new business models • Receive flexible, sophisticated reports • Focus on publishing instead of routine back-office activities

For further information visit www.mpstechnologies.com/fulfimentservices.htm or email Dominic Pettit.

ScholarlyStats

ScholarlyStats collects, consolidates and standardises library vendor usage statistics. Subscribing libraries are provided with an easy-to-access web-based portal through which their data is returned in the form of a series of consolidated and dashboard reports.

By providing information professionals with a single point of access to their data, ScholarlyStats can help libraries to:

• Save time & cost in administering usage statistics • Understand and analyse trends in user behaviour • Identify training issues • Base budgeting decisions upon real usage • Easily provide management with usage reports

For further information visit www.scholarlystats.com or email Martha Sedgwick.