Keytree & Hachette: Digitally transforming the publishing world
Hachette UK Distribution is part of the Hachette UK group of companies and is the leading book distribution company in the UK providing comprehensive distribution services to both Hachette Group and a wide number of third-party publishers. Services include order processing and fulfilment for a global customer base, invoicing, cash collection, credit control, inventory management, customer services and returns. Book distribution is an industry where customers (including bricks and mortar bookshops like Waterstones, online retailers such as Amazon plus non-traditional book retailers, e.g. supermarkets) demand faster delivery at reduced costs. It is also an industry where publisher clients expect a cost-efficient service that provides full and up-to-date visibility of the operations conducted on their behalf – giving them the flexibility to control pricing and trading terms.
Hachette recognised a need and opportunity to propel the book distribution industry into the digital world through best in class processes and systems that offer improved services, reduced business risk, increased efficiency and that position Hachette as the dominant distribution business in a competitive industry – enabling and driving continued growth. To address this opportunity Hachette launched a transformational programme to deliver new processes and systems together with a new state of the art automated warehouse – the Hely Hutchinson Distribution Centre. A core part of the programme was the implementation of new Order to Cash processes and systems for taking orders, credit management, inventory management, invoicing, cash collection, customer services, claim and query management, returns and distribution finance.
Hachette took a strategic decision to expand its existing Group Finance SAP Suite for HANA system to deliver the Order to Cash solution and, following a competitive RFP process, chose Keytree to be its implementation partner. Keytree was selected for its renowned expertise in extending SAP solutions, cultural fit and world-class skills in delivering custom, highly intuitive UX. The technology and solutions delivered by Keytree have brought Hachette’s processes and systems up to date meaning they will be able to retire its legacy systems and offer customers and publishers a more efficient and informed service while consolidating warehouses and laying the foundation for continued business growth and increased market share.