Global information and measurement company Nielsen, US, and ProQuest affiliate R.R. Bowker, a provider of bibliographic information and management solutions, have signed a definitive agreement for Nielsen to acquire Bowker's Business Intelligence and Commerce Solutions products. This acquisition will build on Nielsen's existing global book intelligence by adding enhanced offerings in transaction services and sales measurement and analysis.
Bowker's industry-leading Business Intelligence and Commerce Solutions products will be integrated into Nielsen's book portfolio upon completion of this acquisition. Nielsen will soon be able to measure the impact of eBook sales in the U.S. and UK and provide insights and trends around the volume and value of books sales by various demographic criteria. Nielsen will also be able to offer for the first time a B2B service that enables retailers to source and order books throughout the English-language book market.
Bowker will continue to play a key role for book publishers by powering and transforming book discovery. Working closely with its affiliate ProQuest, Bowker will focus on facilitating and enhancing book discovery through technology solutions, such as Syndetic Solutions and Summon, and through identifier services (including ISBNs and ISNIs).
Bowker products that will be available as part of the Nielsen Book portfolio include Business Intelligence products - PubTrack Digital, PubTrack Christian, PubTrack Higher-Ed, and Bowker Market Research Books & Consumers, Global Ebook Monitor, and custom research; and Commerce Solutions products - PubEasy and Pubnet.
