Where AI and the Book Publishing Supply Chain Meet

AI in the Publishing Supply Chain:

Smarter, Faster, and Built for What’s Next

The publishing supply chain is being reimagined—and AI is at the center of the transformation. From manuscript to marketplace, AI-powered systems are redefining how books are produced, distributed, and delivered. The result? Faster turnarounds, leaner operations, and unprecedented opportunities to boost efficiency and profitability.

In this can’t-miss session in BISG’s AI and the Book Publishing Industry series, we’ll unpack the real-world ways AI is already streamlining publishing supply chains—and how you can leverage it to get ahead of the curve.

What You’ll Learn:

• AI-driven inventory management for smarter stock control
• Advanced demand forecasting to predict—and meet—market needs
• Print run optimization to cut costs and reduce waste
• Automation in distribution for faster, more accurate delivery
• Supply chain analytics that drive better business decisions
• Proven strategies for reducing costs while maintaining quality
• How to integrate AI across your operations without disruption
• Measuring ROI to ensure your AI investments deliver

Who Should Attend:
Supply chain managers, operations directors, distributors, retailers, printers, production managers, digital strategy leaders—anyone responsible for getting books into readers’ hands more effectively.

Don’t wait for your competitors to figure it out first. Join us and learn how to harness AI to make your publishing supply chain more agile, more efficient, and ready for the future.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

MARC HISPA leads the AI & Data driven Products practice at BearingPoint. Under his leadership, BearingPoint has pushed to the market data-driven tech innovation. He has notably productized demand and sales forecasting tools for Press & Book Publishing Industries. The tool DemandSens.Book is now supporting distribution process for 160+ book publishers and 10k+ new books per year.

As BISG's Executive Director, BRIAN O'LEARY helps ensure that the Book Industry Study Group disseminates information, creates and implements standards, and conducts research to benefit the book publishing supply chain.

Before being named to this role in 2016, he was principal of Magellan Media Consulting, which helped publishers improve how they create, manage, and distribute content. In that role, Brian wrote extensively about issues affecting the publishing industry. He also co-edited Book: A Futurist's Manifesto (O'Reilly Media, 2012) with Hugh McGuire.

Brian served as SVP with Hammond Inc. and oversaw production and distribution operations at several Time Inc. magazines. He joined Time Inc. after earning an MBA from Harvard Business School and also holds an AB in chemistry from Harvard College.

Brian tries to dedicate his spare time to gardening and building model rockets and model railroads. His favorite author is Thomas Wolfe (not Tom Wolfe—an entirely different kettle of fish).

AI and the Book Publishing Industry Series

BISG's AI and the Book Publishing Industry webinar series brings together publishing professionals and industry leaders to explore the transformative impact AI is having on everything from editorial workflows to marketing strategies. Whether you're a publisher looking to integrate AI tools into your processes, an author curious about how technology can enhance your writing journey, or a thought leader striving to stay ahead of industry trends, this is an unmissable series.

Fall 2025 Sessions

• September 30: AI and Ethics in the Book Industry
• October 28: AI & Translation: A Deeper Look
• November 18: Where AI and the Book Publishing Supply Chain Meet
• December 18: AI & Scholarly Publishing: What Publishers Can Learn from Each Other