What is Print on Demand (POD)?
Digital printing is an innovative printing process that makes it possible to print books one at a time. Books are digitised and sorted in an electronic library to be printed in small quantities as required to fill orders. In principle, any title can be considered for digital printing but generally, publishers use this printing system for new titles, current back list, OP (out of print) and OSI (out of stock) titles.
Partnerships
TBS/GBS work closely with Lightning Source UK Ltd and Antony Rowe Ltd. These partnerships offer TBS publishers reduced start-up costs, enabling them to set up a programme of titles for print-on-demand. Titles printed in this way are available in a matter of days for the distributor to fulfil dues and unlock trapped sales revenue held in back orders.
Order Fulfilment
Digital printing is an innovative printing process that makes it possible to print books one at a time. Books are digitised and sorted in an electronic library to be printed in small quantities as required to fill orders. In principle, any title can be considered for digital printing but generally, publishers use this printing system for new titles, current back list, OP (out of print) and OSI (out of stock) titles.
Partnerships
TBS/GBS work closely with Lightning Source UK Ltd and Antony Rowe Ltd. These partnerships offer TBS publishers reduced start-up costs, enabling them to set up a programme of titles for print-on-demand. Titles printed in this way are available in a matter of days for the distributor to fulfil dues and unlock trapped sales revenue held in back orders.
Order Fulfilment
- Existing ISBN can be used
- Can deliver to UK and export markets
- Automatic process for POD titles, that generates order to supplier and handles information on order status through to completion. Titles are flagged to indicate they are POD titles and who the supplier is
- Information regarding order process is sent by the supplier, which is then updated on the Vista system and available to view/report
- POD supplier sends messages to advise on order progress
- Distributor collects orders from supplier and orders are blended back seamlessly into the next TBS consolidated delivery

