Print on demand (POD) is a printing technology and business process in which a copy of a book is not printed until an order has been received for that book. Print on demand is used for custom printing of books, magazines, newspapers, calendars, and memorabilia.
The key advantage of POD is that it allows publishers to avoid the high cost and risk of maintaining inventory of finished products. In the POD business model, the publisher only pays the printer when an order is placed, and the customer pays the publisher when ordering. This business model is sometimes called print on order (POO).
The disadvantages of POD include the fact that customers may have to pay more for a POD book than they would for a mass-produced book, and that POD books may not be available for immediate delivery.
POD technology has revolutionized the book publishing industry, making it possible for small presses and self-publishers to produce high-quality books at a fraction of the cost of traditional offset printing. POD has also made it possible to print short-run books and customize books for individual customers.
How does print on demand work?
When a customer orders a POD book, the publisher sends the file to the printer, who prints and binds the book and ships it directly to the customer. This is different from the traditional offset printing process, in which the publisher prints a large number of books at once and stores them in a warehouse. Look at an example on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.
What are the benefits of print on demand?
There are many benefits of POD for both publishers and customers.
For publishers, POD eliminates the need to maintain inventory of finished products, which reduces storage costs and the risk of unsold inventory. POD also allows publishers to print short runs of books, which can be custom printed for individual customers.
For customers, POD provides on-demand access to a wide range of titles that might not be available through traditional bookstores. POD books are also often less expensive than mass-produced books.
What are the disadvantages of print on demand?
There are a few disadvantages of POD.
For publishers, the main disadvantage of POD is that it can be more expensive than traditional offset printing, particularly for large orders.
For customers, the main disadvantage of POD is that books may not be available for immediate delivery. POD books are also often more expensive than mass-produced books.
