Angus & Roberson book stores in Australia recently became the country’s first book chain to install the Espresso Book Machine (EBM) which is able to print, trim, and bind a book while you wait.
Espresso Book Machine is reminiscent of the Star Trek replicator allowing you to order up your heart’s desire. Book stores will no longer have to keep printed books on the shelves to make them available. Even obscure and out of print books will always be in stock. The machine can produce a perfect bound book with a full-color laminated cover in about seven minutes.
Even though eBooks and their delivery devices have grown in popularity, many book lovers are reluctant to give up the printed versions. This is just-in-time inventory management with a shopping mall twist.
Quick Custom-Printed Books
The On-Demand EBM is a 7-Minute ATM for Bookworms
Trend Themes
1. Quick Custom-printed Books - Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Explore the potential of on-demand book printing services to eliminate the need for physical inventory in bookstores.
2. Espresso Book Machine - Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Develop and market advanced book printing machines capable of rapid production with high-quality bindings and covers.
3. Just-in-time Inventory Management - Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Apply the concept of just-in-time inventory management to the book industry, enabling retailers to offer a wider range of titles without the need for extensive physical storage.
Industry Implications
1. Bookstores - Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Embrace on-demand book printing technology to reduce inventory costs while maintaining a comprehensive book catalog for customers.
2. Publishing - Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Collaborate with on-demand book printing services and explore new distribution strategies to offer a wider range of titles, including obscure and out of print books.
3. Printing Technology - Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Invest in research and development to enhance book printing technologies, revolutionizing the publishing industry with faster, high-quality, and customizable printing solutions.