BookScan get the basic job of data provision to the trade done, but life in a monopoly is cushy. Think what they could do if they really tried. For example, they could dramatically lower the cost of the data if they had an efficiency drive, thus bringing the benefits of epos data visibility to the smaller players in the trade, and saving the bigger players money. They could do more analysis and amalgamation of data, informing processes like category management. They could use their brand strengths to spearhead initiatives like online data-sharing hubs between partners in the supply chain. They could build on their epos collection capabilities by running consumer panels. But all I see are dated web interfaces, inflated rate cards and a level of data provision that the major FMCG companies would find sub-standard.

And don't get me started on BookData.

All good points. I suppose, from the other side, a trade with merging players (i.e. generally fewer customers) makes it difficult to reduce the price of data. Which is not to say, though, that they shouldn't try harder ;D

Emma, On eproblem is that books are not really FMCG. They are, for the most part, SMCG, and thus their revenues cannot support the marketing and market research support granted to eg detergents or motor cars.

Thanks, Richard. My main concern is that the limited resources would go so much further if the organisation was more efficient - and it needs the help of the trade to achieve that. Has the time not come to insist that publishers submit their bibliographic data in electronic form, and take ownership of its accuracy, rather than Nielsen (gulp) rekeying faxes and reclassifying books (which they can get very wrong - a collection of Punch articles by AA Milne which we published found themselves in Children’s, despite me submitting my carefully checked ONIX data)? And the worthy yet archaic promise to deliver orders from customer to publisher - regardless of their form, so they could be a fax or letter - is out of place in a modern industry. Why was the e4books deadline set so late? The capability to trade electronically has been around since the 80s. Nielsen are being too nice to the industry - if they raised the bar a little we would all benefit.

I could not agree more. And lovely MDL have been at the forefront of forcing some of these issues. Maybe I'll get Howard Scott to write a little piece about all this.

If this became an initiative for improvement (which would be good), please could you endeavour to make sure the public library service are an integral part of it.

In the period of the great Book Industry Supply Chain Initiative, public libraries excused themselves from conforming to industry procedures and that has resulted in them being in a terrible mess. (for example, they do not read the barcodes on books- but add a new individually printed barcode on each copy). Tim

MDL has for many years been working with Batch, BIC, Nielsen, PubEasy and its customers and publishers in promoting the electronic transfer of information. We have had considerable success in expanding the amount of electronic ordering and returns requests in the UK but once you have tackled the willing participants the tail is incredibly hard to convince about the merits of automating the supply chain.
E4books is an initiative well overdue, the industry has been too late in recognising the true cost of the paper chase. The keying and rekeying of bibliographic data, orders, supply inquiries, payments etc. results in errors and delays as well as a high cost in manual processing. There are electronic systems out there that can automate all of these functions, some provided free by the publishers or bibliographic agencies. We must get the message out and e4books is a good vehicle to do this, but are they preaching to the converted? Perhaps the time has come for the true costs to be passed on to those that won't sign up to the e4books principles; Nielsen BookNet to not deliver TeleOrders to those that cannot use the net to collect them, Publishers to adjust terms to reflect the cost of handling non electronic orders and other messages and Nielsen BookData to give only a limited listing for paper provided ANs.

On another matter, with thirteen days to go is the industry ready for thirteen digit ISBNs?

Howard Scott

The voice of reason! Hear hear.