For Publishers

Benefits to Publishers
Subscription agents and information intermediaries help publishers save money. This page describes just some of the evolving range of tailored services information intermediaries deliver to scholarly and professional publishers, and describes the many benefits these services bring.

Customer Information
Information intermediaries deliver a range of sophisticated web-based information services which supply publishers with accurate, up-to-date records of their library customers, providing them with a complete picture of customers' profile, electronic and print holdings, purchasing history etc..
• Web-based fully customisable services
• Transparent, detailed customer data including:
- contact information
- IP ranges
- full financial history e.g. orders, payments, cancellations etc.
- status of claims

Market Intelligence
Information intermediaries also work with their publisher partners to enhance their understanding of different markets. Our members have in-depth knowledge of the countries and regions in which they operate and are close to the important developments within each market sector e.g. academic and research, government, pharmaceutical, legal, engineering etc.. They can therefore offer advice on critical issues such as:
• Local funding
• Pricing
• Currency stability
• Other local market conditions
• Information about local consortium/buying groups

Saving you time and money
Information intermediaries are dedicated to saving their publisher clients time and money. They are experts at consolidating multiple orders from multiple library and consortia customers, in a variety of currencies from a range of countries and time zones. As an example, many agents offer consolidated electronic orders via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), delivering the following benefits:

all of your orders in one e-document
prompt pre-payment by e-transfer - in required currencies
agents systems fully integrate with publisher finance systems (e.g. orders are tagged with your purchase order data)
information transfer is fast, accurate and efficient:
     - enhancing efficiency
     - improving publisher cash flow
     - reducing publisher debt risk
many agents also offer electronic ordering options other than EDI for those publishers who do not accept EDI orders

Serving you by serving your customers

Providing comprehensive access support including mediation of access issues (e.g. IP ranges) - reducing access problems and delays, maximising for usage
Automated data population and linking tools - improved service to end-users, maximising usage
Full back office services in relation to licensing - time-consuming tasks managed efficiently
Web-based renewal tools - facilitate renewal of complex package deals, saving you and your customers time and money

Sales & Marketing Services
Information intermediaries offer an increasingly sophisticated range of sales and marketing services to their publisher clients. Some of these services are listed here:

Promotional and publicity services to enhance product awareness and uptake
Advertising, print and e-mailings plus information feeds to established customer
Trial access with follow-up to grow subscriptions
Telemarketing e.g. to convert non-renewals
Open days and roadshows

Some information intermediaries are delivering sales, negotiation and licensing services on behalf of their publisher clients supporting these activities with bespoke marketing services e.g. by title, collection, region, market sector, language etc.

Use the ASA Directory of Members to find out more about the services individual ASA members offer to libraries and consortia.

The ASA sets high standards in relation to the services its members provide to publishers. To ensure these standards are met, the ASA has developed Guidelines to which all ASA members must sign and agree.