The Benefits of Print-On-Demand
Print-on-demand is being increasingly mentioned nowadays, mostly as an alternative to large print-runs and expensive inventory-carrying costs. For first-time, amateur and self-publishing authors, the benefits are fairly obvious. However, companies, small and large, too can benefit from print-on-demand and realize a significant reduction in their administrative costs. Some of the organizations that can benefit from print-on-demand are:
a. Schools and Educational Institutions: Students now expect to be spoken to and print-on-demand allows that. By tailoring college admission forms and prospectuses, students can be made to feel that the college actually cares about them. Placement brochures can also be developed according to the company being targeted - having profiles of only the interested students. Back in the classroom, professors have taken to compiling notes, that can be updated each time advances in the particular field occur or changes need to be made. Professors may also choose to compile their lecture notes into a convenient text book to be distributed only among students.
b. Small and Medium Enterprises: SMEs stand to benefit for many reasons, particularly due to the fact that their budgets are small. Print-on-demand allows SMEs to personalize their marketing campaign brochures and pamphlets, designing a different one for each customer. It affords SMEs the professionalism of handsome looking financial reports and user-manuals without the (financial) burden of large print runs. Most print-on-demand companies, including CinnamonTeal Print & Publishing Services, also offer delivery as part of their services and this allows SMEs to outsource this mundane, yet time-consuming, task. These benefits can be accrued by NGOs too.
c. Large Enterprises: Large enterprises can do well to rid itself of the costs of having a small print shop within its four walls by engaging the services of a print-on-demand provider. Such an initiative allows corporations to have their many documents printed, handsomely bound and dispatched without having to worry too much about the logistical and administrative aspects of the tasks. Such corporations can also endear themselves to new employees and their families by developing material handed over during induction that is more personalized than just “Hello Vinay”. Personalized literature may include a photograph of the new employee along with his/her personal information and benefits.
d. Publishing Houses: Print-on-demand can help make available backlists, out-of-print, and “Long Tail” content. In a country like India, this is especially significant as information can be disseminated according to its relevance to a particular region. Publishers can use print-on-demand to print copies of books when individual or small batch orders are reported, or when it appears that there is renewed interest in a title. The publisher can do this without having to invest time and money in large print runs and expensive storage, thereby betting against uncertain demand.
e. Libraries and Bookstores: Many libraries have taken to print-on-demand to meet the need for books, especially those out of copyright. Instead of ordering for copies of a book and, perhaps losing a customer, print-on-demand seems a better option to instantly gratify the customer. The same holds for bookstores too, legal issues notwithstanding.
f. Marketing Agencies: Print-on-demand allows marketing agencies to deliver very personalized messages to prospective customers. These messages could have information tailored to ones tastes and preferences as well as reflect regional conditions. Marketing material such as brochures for an apparel firm could, therefore, market a different set of clothes line for customers living in Chennai and a different set for customers living in Jammu.
Print-on-demand is also about being responsible about your investments and thinking strategically about areas where savings can be realised. To see how print-on-demand can help your company, do write to us at editorialservices@dogearsetc.com or visit our website at http://cinnamonteal.dogearsetc.com. CinnamonTeal Print & Publishing Services is a print-on-demand service provider, the only one in India that publishes any number of copies, from 1 to 1000.