This document discusses CB, a Dutch book distributor, and its use of print on demand (POD) services. Some key points: - CB distributes books for Dutch publishers to bookstores and consumers. It provides warehousing, distribution, and financial services. - CB started offering in-house single-copy POD production in 2011 and it has grown to 19,000 titles, over 20% of available titles. - POD is integrated into CB's operations and fulfillment centers to provide availability and avoid lost sales when titles go out of stock. It acts as a "safety valve" until traditional print runs can replenish stock. - Publishers are adding POD to ensure availability and prevent

1. Hans Willem Cortenraad, directeur
22 november 2012
Book distribution and POD
Amsterdam Digital Book Printing Forum – 22 March 2016
Mathijs Suidman, Business unit manager Media
Streamlining the supply chain from a distributors point of view

2. Integrale logistieke oplossingen
Ondertitel van de presentatie
About CB
• Founded in 1871
• Owned by Dutch bookstores and publishers
• Distribution services for all Dutch publishers to both
bookstores and consumers (e-commerce fulfillment).
Services include:
• Warehousing
• Distribution
• Ordering, financial services and reporting
• Title information (BIP) and Dutch ISBN agency
• For both physical and digital books
• As of 2012 CB has diversified it’s business into Fashion and
Healthcare distribution

3. Integrale logistieke oplossingen
Ondertitel van de presentatie
About CB media
Figures 2015
Folio books
• 90.000 titles
• 57 million copies
(of which 7,5 mln e-commerce)
• 42 million copies in stock
• 1.000 publishers
• 1.500 bookstores
• 125 webshops
POD
• 19.000 titles
• 500.000 copies
• 275 publishers
• 1.500 bookstores
• 125 webshops
E-books
• 41.000 titles
• 4.2 million copies
(of which 1,7 mln lending)
• 300 publishers
• 190 webshops

4. Integrale logistieke oplossingen
Ondertitel van de presentatie
Media logistics at CB
4
Warehousing
• Main warehouse for fast moving titles
• Dedicated warehouse for textbooks
• Overflow warehouse
Batch picking locations
• Main batch picking location
• Fast mover batch picking location
• Internal Print on demand “picking” location (toner based PB)
• External Print on demand “picking” location (HC, Inktjet)

5. Integrale logistieke oplossingen
Ondertitel van de presentatie
Media logistics at CB
5
Sorting and packing
• Main sorter for trade orders
• E-commerce fulfilment for multiple orders
• E-commerce fulfilment for single copy orders
Shipment
• Groupage sorter for trade orders
• E-commerce groupage for shipment to multiple carriers
such as PostNL, DHL, Feddex etc

6. Integrale logistieke oplossingen
Ondertitel van de presentatie
Integrated print on demand operation
Two print on demand fulfilment centers, fully integrated.
• Small scale sheet-fed operation in Culemborg DC
Delivery time: within 4-6h
• Large scale web-fed Hardcover & inkjet production in Alphen aan de Rijn
Delivery time: within 1-2 days.

7. Integrale logistieke oplossingen
Ondertitel van de presentatie
POD as fully integrated logistic solution
7
• Easy and free management of PDF files in CB portal or through FTP
• A book is printed on demand when ordered (and when no stock is available)
• Delivery time is the same as titles which are at stock
• Our in-house POD facility is “just another warehouse”

8. Integrale logistieke oplossingen
Ondertitel van de presentatie
Declining book sales simply demands digital print
8
• The book market is in interesting market: despite
the decline in physical book sales, the title
catalogue keeps growing.
• 80% of all available titles at CB are better of in
digital print.
• E-book sales catalyse the growth of POD.
• Digital print (mostly short print run) is already
a main stream solution for years now.
• We see major changes in our distribution centre.
We are currently focussing on restructuring our
warehouse substantially in a 2020 Project.

9. Integrale logistieke oplossingen
Ondertitel van de presentatie
Titles in print on demand
9
• CB started offering in-house single copy POD
production in 2011.
• Currently 19,4k titles are available through single
copy POD ( > 22% of all available titles at CB)
• We see a very steady growth in POD. Ca. 20%
increase of titles per year.
• Publishers are not making radical changes in their
current stock at CB to enforce the start with single
copy POD for all titles right away.
• Publishers are adding POD services to their titles
immediately after the publishing to ensure availability
for their titles.

10. Integrale logistieke oplossingen
Ondertitel van de presentatie
Availability is key
10
• GFK research (2012):
66% of sales is lost in case a title is in “re-print”
status at CB and waiting for new stock
• Visibility of used books (through online sales)
is a threat for publishers
• In case of “re print”, 45% buy a used copy!
• A publisher who decides to wait and is
communicating a “waiting for re print” status to the
market for its title to “investigate market demand”
before ordering new print run (or use POD in
between), is short sighted: a 100 orders in back
order, results in losing 200 orders.

11. Integrale logistieke oplossingen
Ondertitel van de presentatie
11
Not just for “slow sellers”
• Unexpected publicity and success in sales is driving our
single cppy POD production.
• Although aimed at the market of “slow sellers”, single
copy POD at CB is recognized by publishers as an ideal
“in between stock” service even for “best sellers.
• Publishers are making sure they will not miss a single
sale.
• Since our POD solution is fully integrated as a
warehouse, it forms communicating vessels with our
stock warehouses: As soon a stock is being replenished,
we will stop single copy POD and deliver from stock.
Vice versa.

12. Integrale logistieke oplossingen
Ondertitel van de presentatie
Single copy POD is not the only answer
12
• Single copy POD at CB is an important "safety valve” for
efficient stock management
• Although we expect to grow towards a volume of 1 mln copies
per year in single copy POD, we need solutions for efficient
printing and distribution for ca. 50 mln copies a year.
• Both for larger (offset) print runs and short (digital) print runs
• CB is working closely with (offset an digital) printers to
optimize (re) stocking process.
• Planning and scheduling between CB and printers to expedite
stocking process at CB.
• Night delivery by our printers to expedite delivery and save on
transportation costs.

13. Integrale logistieke oplossingen
Ondertitel van de presentatie
Supply chain & (integrated) digital print a perfect match!