Thank you for your interest in Pubnet® business-to-business E-commerce service. In addition to this letter, which answers some frequently asked questions, you will find the following enclosed:
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PUBNET is an electronic data interchange/electronic commerce (EDI/EC) service designed by and used within the book industry. Its purpose is to streamline the book ordering process, improving efficiency and significantly reducing costs. Operating as a business-to-business service, PUBNET works with book buyers of all types, helping them develop systems to purchase electronically from publishers and other suppliers using industry-specific subsets of ANSI EDI standards (X12 BISAC) for purchase orders and purchase order acknowledgements. Our members include Internet bookstores, college stores, wholesalers, library jobbers, trade stores, international subsidiaries of publishers, exporters, elementary and high schools, book clubs, and more. PUBNET has been serving the book industry since July 1987.
What is Pubnet?
Pubnet is the newest version of the PUBNET service. A customer may transmit files via asynchronous dial up to High Speed Network, FTP over the Internet or though an easy-to-use web interface. This service supports an expanded set of X12 documents including: invoices, advanced ship notices, advanced returns notice, remittance advices, change of address notices, credits and functional acknowledgements.
Why do I need EDI?
Processing orders using EDI significantly reduces operational costs of processing orders via traditional methods, i.e. phone and fax. Business analysts estimate that traditional order processing ranges anywhere from $10-50 per order/invoice. To address these costs, companies across all industries implement EDI solutions. In addition, the errors that are normally associated with manual processing are reduced, addressing hidden costs. EDI provided the foundation for meeting the needs of today’s demanding environment: faster turnaround, faster fulfillment, same-session acknowledgement of orders, and access to interactive informational resources. EDI gives you the edge you need to complete in today’s marketplace.
What set us apart from the other EDI/EC communities?
There are four facets to our business that make us unique; ownership, membership, services and expertise:
Ownership
Pubnet is a limited liability corporation owned by R. R. Bowker LLC
Management R.R. Bowker, LLC provides sales and support for the Pubnet community.
Membership Pubnet offers access to the most fully developed EDI community in the industry.
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How does Pubnet electronic ordering work?
As a PUBNET bookstore, you will receive an electronic mailbox on our private network that connects you to all of your PUBNET suppliers. You will electronically transmit Purchase Orders to your trading partners mailbox in X12 BISAC standard format. They in turn will poll their mailbox to retrieve orders, process them, and return X12 BISAC purchase order acknowledgements electronically to the corresponding bookstore mailboxes. At a minimum PUBNET suppliers are required to return an electronic purchase order acknowledgement within 24 hours from receipt of an order. Suppliers may also transmit EDI standard invoices, advance ship notices and other documents to their trading partners.
What is Rapid Response?
Rapid Response is a new service provided to our bookstores wherein participating Rapid Response suppliers return purchase order acknowledgements within 15 minutes of receiving an order.
What is the PUBNET Ordering Wizard Database (POW)?
Since 1990, PUBNET has provided bookstores access to our title database as an ordering tool. This database is an exclusive resource for price and availability information on 750,000 book titles, and it is updated daily by participating PUBNET publishers. The top 14 U.S. textbook publishers as well, as several trade and academic publishers, currently support this collection of titles. With POW! You can order for all suppliers using standard Web-based interface.
Can I use Pubnet with my point-of-sale system (POS)?
The following providers have Pubnet-certified system:
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How much does PUBNET cost?
A one time $75.00 enrollment fee, after that the publishers take care of the rest of the costs.
How do I get started?
Complete and sign the attached PUBNET contract and registration form and return them to the Bowker Sales Team –
After our customer service group has processed your registration, you will receive a “Welcome to PUBNET” package containing your mailbox information including ID’s and passwords, instructions for connecting to our network, and a step-by-step guide for testing and certification.
If you have any questions about joining the PUBNET community, please call me at 919-572-5659. We look forward to talking with you soon.
