Lightning Source — Electrified Book Production

To make the on-demand model work, Best explains that Ingram’s distribution inventory lists 100 copies of titles in Lightning Source’s library as “in stock.” In turn, Lightning Source guarantees to print and deliver a title to Ingram in 12 hours or less.

Therefore, the in-stock inventory is virtual and orders are often for a single copy of a book. Short-run orders are shipped within five business days, while drop ship orders—orders that are sent direct to a publisher’s customer—are shipped in two days or less.