Good data aids the discovery and purchase, distribution and
sales measurement of books and there are companies that develop and
manage systems.
Nielsen
Book UK. Every book has an individual reference number called
an ISBN (short for International Standard Book Number) which allows
it to be identified and tracked. Nielsen deals with ISBNs in the UK
and the Nielsen
website has all you need to know about them. Nielsen is
also the company that collates sales information and provides the
top seller and other book charts you see in the media.
BDS
(based in Dumfries) delivers metadata to the library sector,
industry bodies, charities and the book trade.
BIC is the book industry's independent
supply chain organisation and the efficient use of e-commerce is at
the heart of all its activity.
Public Lending
Right (PLR) provides published authors, illustrators
and other contributors with an easy route to register for UK and
Irish PLR. PLR is a legal right to payment from
government in both countries each time their books are borrowed
from public libraries.
Publishers (especially the sales people) also use, collect and
analyse a lot of data themselves. It can eg help them to know where
a book sold best, whether a campaign translated into sales,
identifying markets and so much more.