« How many copies should we print for this title? »
Assess potential and decide on the optimal print run initial then reprint.
For whom: Editorial leadership · Print run lead
When: On every title release.
The Core promise
Put the right books, in the right quantities, at the right booksellers, at the right time without flooding the warehouses.
| Right books | assess potential before signing or printing |
|---|---|
| Right quantities | print accurately no stockout, no waste |
| Right booksellers | allocate down to the point of sale |
| Right time | anticipate inflections, trigger reprints |
A title's sales cycle
A title is steered over 30 weeks, not on a single date.
From manufacturing through to 4-5 months after release, each Core module operates on a precise window.
W-12 → W-5
Preparation
Align commercial ambition and print-run hypotheses ahead of the campaign.
Active modules: Print Run · Allocate
W-5 → W0
Prospection & follow-up
Refine quantities on early signals: KAM commitments, pre-orders.
Active modules: Prospect · Print Run
W0 → W+18
Operations
Anticipate, react, secure performance. Detect trend inflections.
Active modules: Print Run (reprint)
Core architecture
Four specialised modules. One single data layer.
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1.
Print Run
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2.
Allocate
« How do we allocate this sales objectifs across channels and chains? »
Set your objectives and allocate down to the point of sale.
For whom: Sales leadership · Distributors · KAM
When: Before launch.
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3.
Prospect
« What commitments should we get from chains, and how do we track them? »
Drive commercial effort and detect trend inflections.
For whom: Sales leadership · KAM
When: During the campaign
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4.
Budget
« What will the group budget be next year? »
Build and simulate your N+1 budget, from group to product, without overwriting your data.
For whom: CFO · Controlling
When: Annual cycle · Q3-Q4.
Four critical decisions. Four teams. One platform.
01 Print Run
Sets the print run for Lucie X's new novel.
Picks the previous novel as benchmark. "With trend" scenario at 18,500 copies. Quality score: 82%.
09:00
02 Allocate
Allocates the 18,500 copies across networks.
Auto pre-allocation: 4,200 GSA · 8,100 GSS · 4,800 LIB · 1,400 ONL. Manual override for Cultura.
11:00
03 Prospect
Reviews consolidated orders
Alert: chain X is slowing while the trend accelerates. Inflection detected. Decision to revise.
14:00
04 Budget
Simulates the impact of a 15% price increase on graphic novels.
Creates a variance rule. Visualises the scenario alongside the original budget. Exports to ERP.
16:30
One shared layer. Four specialised features.
All modules share the same technical core, the same editorial hierarchy and the same rights model.
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Unified reference data
EAN, collections, divisions, publishers. Updated once, used everywhere.
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Editorial pyramid
The same 4-level structure governs print run, allocation and budget.
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Sales histories
A single source of truth net sales, initial placements, restocks, returns.
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Granular RBAC
Per-module rights: full access on budget, read-only on prospection.
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Audit & traceability
Every decision is tracked: who, when, on which scope.
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Internationalisation
FR / EN / DE in the UI and exports. For multi-country groups.
Where to start
Which module to activate first? It depends on your pain.
Too much waste, or frequent stockouts?
01 · Print Run
Directly improves the initial print-run decision.
Channel/chain allocations done by hand?
02 · Allocate
Automates allocation down to the point of sale.
No consolidated visibility on KAM commitments?
03 · Prospect
Centralises and alerts on trend inflections.
N+1 budget built painfully on Excel?
04 · Budget
Simulate without overwriting, export to ERP.
Build + Licence. 3-year contract, 6-week pilot start.
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Build Fee
One-shot, at deployment. Scoping, connectors, industrialisation.
✓Project scoping & specs
✓Connectors (PIM, ERP, OMS, DW)
✓Platform setup
✓Integration tests & validation
✓Training & change management
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Licence Fee
Recurring, monthly. Calibrated to portfolio and active modules.
✓Full solution access
✓Continuous product updates
✓User support & maintenance
✓Cloud hosting & monitoring
✓Scope evolutions via amendment
Not a POC. Consolidated numbers on groups in production.
- Fewer unsold copies On printed quantities, production clients. 18
- 3-year ROI Over typical contract length, all modules. 800
- Faster workflows Print run, allocation, sales tracking. 8