Cambridge University Press’ North American facility has entered into a long-term logistics management agreement with Ingram Publisher Services.

Under the agreement, Ingram will manage all warehousing and physical fulfilment of Cambridge University Press' entire US inventory from its distribution centre in Tennessee. Cambridge will continue to provide all order processing and customer service from its operations in New York. The agreement is effective June 1, 2012.

As a result of the agreement, Cambridge University Press (CUP) expects to realise significant cost savings and increased flexibility to manage the continuing migration from physical to digital distribution of content. Further benefits will be achieved by having physical distribution located adjacent to Lightning Source, Ingram's print-on-demand facility, which currently manufacturers titles for the publisher.

The new model will allow CUP to focus on its core business as a leading publisher of academic books, textbooks, reference materials, electronic publishing, ESL materials, and over 300 academic journals.

"By using Ingram's full range of publisher solutions - physical and digital distribution, inventory management and printing to create a new US model, Cambridge can focus time and resources on the best content for today's dynamic market," said David "Skip" Prichard, President and CEO, Ingram Content Group Inc.

He added: "Ingram is pleased to have a key role in Cambridge's future."

Peter Phillips, Cambridge University Press's Chief Operating Officer said: "Publishing is undergoing its most profound period of transformation since our organisation was founded four centuries ago. Our agreement with Ingram represents a key step in our own evolution as more and more of the content we provide moves from a physical to a digital format."

Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge – and is one of the largest university presses in the world, with an editorial and marketing presence in New York City, over 45,000 books in print, plus over 300 research journals, as well as established ESL and Bibles lists.

• PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS: Peter Phillips, COO, Cambridge University Press