As publishers’ costs continue to rise, book professionals are increasingly looking to printers and manufacturers for support. In recent years, print-on-demand has emerged for publishers and booksellers as one of the most significant means of maintaining high quality production while reducing overhead and cutting waste.
Founded more than 50 years ago, Ingram Content Group began addressing the need for a new print paradigm in 1989, when the company launched its printon-demand business, Lightning Source. Since then, Ingram has grown to become the largest print-on-demand service in the world, serving tens of thousands of publishers, authors, book and specialty retailers, and libraries in nearly 150 countries, on six continents, and in over 350 languages. “Our approach to printing has always been to help publishers manage inventory, reduce costs, and extend distribution reach” says Kelly Gallagher, VP of content acquisition at Ingram Content Group.
Print-on-demand, Gallagher says, saves on storage costs and eliminates the risk of unsold inventory. Publishers can keep titles available indefinitely without the financial burden of maintaining large print runs while also ensuring that no sales are lost due to lack of stock.
It also helps that Ingram has a global print and distribution network with partners located worldwide, enabling printon-demand orders to be processed close to the customer. This proximity lowers shipping rates and speeds up delivery times—a particularly significant benefit when distributing books internationally.
As the company has grown, Ingram has further addressed the changing needs of the publishing industry by evolving into a comprehensive technology services company that offers digital e-book distribution, logistics management, marketing services, sales support, detailed analytics and reporting, and full support for selfpublishers. “We are continually investing in new ways to improve the efficiency of our manufacturing and distribution services,” Gallagher says. “By offering these comprehensive services, Ingram Content Group helps publishers navigate the complexities of the modern publishing landscape, ensuring that their content reaches the widest possible audience efficiently and effectively.”
Ingram deploys artificial intelligence to optimize workflows and help improve the accuracy and effectiveness of business functions like manufacturing quality assurance, optimizing content distribution networks, metadata management, distribution automation, forecasting, and more. AI technology is just one of the advances that make Gallagher excited for the future of book manufacturing. The growth of digital content with e-books and audiobooks continues to accelerate, offering both convenience and accessibility. Self-publishing, which Ingram facilitates through its IngramSpark platform, enables independent authors to publish their work without traditional gatekeepers, leading to a more diverse range of voices and stories in the market. Ingram is also part of the growing movement to incorporate environmentally responsible practices and eco-friendly materials into their processes.
With print-on-demand technology becoming more prevalent, Gallagher says the global market is cracking wide open, making it a great time to be an independent printer. “In the old model, it was not possible to have a substantial catalog available for sale around the globe,” he says. “Today, those barriers no longer exist. A culturally important independent publisher in any country and any language can have equal footing with the biggest multinational publishers to promote their books.” Publishers and booksellers interested in Ingram’s print-on-demand services should visit IngramContent.com.
