Company background
The Frenchman Pierre Bertrand founded a bookselling organisation in Lisbon, Portugal in 1732. His first shop, which opened in 1773 and is still functioning on the original site, is considered one of the city’s cultural landmarks. Livrarias Bertrand, as the organisation is known, has three main activities: production, book distribution and retail outlets in the form of bookshops.
To the Portuguese nation, Bertrand is a national institution with an important influence on cultural, intellectual and academic life. In fact, when Portuguese readers want to be certain of finding a specific book, they know that the best place to go is Bertrand.
The company employs 260 people and turnover in 2003 was EUR 35 million.
Business issues
Bertrand is a complex organization. The company controls 220,000 stock items and its books are sold via 38 wholly owned bookshops throughout Portugal. Bertrand realized that it must find a system that would integrate its three main activities. The problem was to find one solution that would enable a point-of-sale employee to stock, order a book, deliver it quickly and re-order it automatically in the most efficient and cost-effective way. It was also necessary to improve ROI, with book distribution software that could streamline stock control and central purchasing.
The new solution had to offer competence in back-office processes, but equally as important was an easy-to-use software for the front-office staff. The aim was to provide customers and staff with efficient and user-friendly service, move smoothly through the euro changeover, and keep ahead of the competition in an increasingly aggressive market.
Book distribution companies such as Bertrand have to keep ahead of competitors: time is valuable and inventory and delivery time must be kept to a minimum. Moreover, Bertrand needed to drive down distribution and handling costs to maintain profits. Otherwise it costs time – and in the book business, time is literally money.
Solution and capabilities
After an extensive investigation of three software suppliers, Bertrand chose IBS integrated supply chain software. One of the main reasons for choosing IBS is its strong commitment to building partnerships. IBS has worked together with Bertrand in developing a unique system that is tailored to the needs of customers and staff.
Tailored aspects include a system to allow Bertrand employees to instantaneously search its large database of 250,000 books from every cash point in the company’s 38 bookshops. A book that is out of stock in Lisbon, for example, can be immediately transferred from another store anywhere in the country. This facility is also available to on-line shoppers. A specially adapted version of IBS book distribution software has also been created for Bertrand’s back-office operation, as well as an integrated front-office solution.
Gaining complete control of stock and effective centralized purchasing were also reasons for Bertrand’s choice of IBS. Procurement is a vital part of achieving fast ROI and larger profits. Better procurement operations with IBS software help to increase sales, achieve high levels of customer satisfaction and add value to employee production. On top of that, Bertrand has the assurance of using accurate and powerful planning tools that help to ensure an even better future for the company.
ASW offers a completely integrated business system, which is ideally suited to a book distributor and retailer such as Bertrand. The solution meets Bertrand’s main objectives while providing opportunities for quick ROI and measurable KPIs. To deliver books in the quickest, most cost-efficient manner, IBS has provided Bertrand with an integrated IT solution that automates and optimizes all of the bookseller’s processes.
Benefits and value
Since implementing IBS book distribution software, Bertrand has experienced a huge difference in the running of its business, particularly now that everything is controlled through one integrated solution.
All stock is available on-line, which has resulted in a significant increase in customer service, both in the shops and for shoppers at home who use the Internet.
It’s now possible for Bertrand plan book purchases based on previous sales, and stock is at a minimum. This means that Bertrand can analyze what will sell, what to buy and where to do it in the most cost-effective and efficient manner.
Due to centralized purchasing, Bertrand has increased its ROI, and the company has achieved added value because of better communication with suppliers and customers.
IBS and Bertrand have a strong relationship and have achieved the objective of bringing together production, book distribution and bookshop operations. Improvements in efficiency have provided the most valuable benefit for the company. As a result, Bertrand is expecting to carry on its retail expansion in Portugal, grow its market share and, most importantly, increase its profits.
