Friday, September 22, 2017

Benefits Of Outsourced Magazine Circulation

By Eric Bell


Magazines are produced for public consumption and should therefore be delivered to target audience. While publication can be done with meager resources especially a lean workforce, circulation becomes a challenge especially considering the distances that have to be covered, among other logistical issues. Outsourced Magazine Circulation becomes one of the options that every publisher should consider. What benefits does outsourcing offer to the publisher?

Outsourcing hands over the task of distribution to experts. The experts have the personnel, knowledge and machinery required to effectively execute a wide, fast and effective distribution. With their technical know-how, the task will become a quick success. You are guaranteed quality and professional services that will be praised in the eyes of your partners and associates. This could mean more and better business in future.

Outsourcing frees your time to enable you pay attention to your core business. Considering the time taken to get to all offices, fill delivery forms and especially cover distances, time will be lost leading to delays of other operations. Where you need an in-house staff to distribute, it becomes an added expense. Tap into the resources of an established distributor to get the work done fast and efficiently.

Services that are outsourced cost less than running a fully fledged internal department. You are saved the trouble of hiring personnel, equipment, logistics and their management. Considering that magazines are distributed over a period of time, changing the role of your staff will be counter productive. It may lead to costly delays. Even the lack of infrastructure means that you have to set it up and leave it idle until the next distribution cycle. You only hire a distributor once and when the need arises.

Hiring a distributor is a way of spreading risks for your business. This is an advantage enjoyed by all companies that share away some of their operations. Should a mishap like a fire or flood occur, all your operations will not be grounded. The specialist distributor is also aware of circulation risks and has put in place stringent mitigation measures.

The existence of a specialist vendor to handle your distribution reduces the time taken to get to your clients and associates. The distributor already has the infrastructure and personnel. This being the sole responsibility, he will focus on your assignment and thus complete it faster. This is impressive in the eyes of your clients and associates leading to a boost in image. In fact, more people will be working on circulating your magazines than you can manage in-house.

Outsourcing comes with own risks that should be considered. They include the increased risk of exposing confidential information or data, and especially your clients or business associates. The distributor might not deliver the magazines in the manner you would do in person causing a loss of customer focus. Your relationship with the receiver will have been diluted by the entry of a third party.

Outsourced services have the potential of transforming your operations. With the opportunity to pay greater attention to your core business, this is a step you should consider. Reduction in cost and time taken to complete the distribution is also an enticing element of the entire exercise. If this route makes your operations more efficient, cost effective and fast, there is no reason to pass the opportunity.




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