ST PETERSBURG, FL – 22/01/2026 – () – Independent bookstores are increasingly looking for technology that streamlines daily operations while supporting both digital and in-store sales. According to industry sources, Emersoft intends to launch a Pubnet electronic ordering integration for its Emersoft Books Shopify App in Q1 2026, transforming Shopify into a unified commerce and operations platform designed specifically for booksellers with multiple sales channels.
This upcoming integration aims to resolve persistent fragmentation in bookstore technology stacks, where retailers frequently depend on disparate systems for ecommerce, point-of-sale, inventory management, and publisher ordering. By integrating Shopify’s ecommerce and POS features with Emersoft’s bookstore-focused application and Pubnet’s Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) network, the solution creates a unified operational setting that synchronizes sales, inventory, and purchasing processes in real time.
Seamless Operations Across Digital and Physical Channels
The integrated platform links Shopify POS for brick-and-mortar stores, Shopify’s online storefront capabilities, and Pubnet’s publisher ordering system into a continuously synchronized solution. Sales completed at the register, online, or at external events automatically update location-specific inventory without requiring manual reconciliation. This real-time visibility enables employees to track sell-through rates, spot replenishment requirements, and base purchasing decisions on up-to-date information instead of manual projections.
Ordering processes are also unified directly within Shopify. Employees can create purchase orders from the same dashboard used for inventory and sales management, with Emersoft directing these orders via Pubnet to participating publishers and distributors. Order confirmations, shipping notifications, and invoices flow back through the same system and link to the original purchase records, cutting administrative burden and reducing manual follow-up.
Advantages for Multi-Channel Booksellers
The platform is designed to accommodate bookstores whether they function mainly online, primarily in physical locations, or through a mixed omnichannel approach. Real-time inventory synchronization stops customers from ordering online items that are already out of stock at the physical store, while in-store restocking orders automatically update digital catalogs. A common ISBN database, standardized inventory logic, and consolidated purchasing processes remove redundant data handling.
For physical store teams, the system offers organized insights into high-velocity titles, low-stock warnings, and reorder patterns by publisher or distributor, facilitating uniform purchasing performance across employees with varying experience. For ecommerce operations, precise inventory data decreases customer frustration, returns, and order cancellations linked to stock inconsistencies.
Pubnet Access and Industry Onboarding
Joining Pubnet’s electronic ordering network generally requires bookstores to have approved terms accounts with vendors. Emersoft collaborates with MVB, which manages Pubnet services, to help bookstores with account configuration and eligibility. The onboarding procedure involves a one-time setup cost of $75, exempted for American Booksellers Association members, with no ongoing subscription fees for Pubnet access.
Community Involvement and Continuous Development
The integration demonstrates Emersoft’s wider strategy to aid independent bookstores through continuous platform enhancement and educational programs. The company conducts regular webinars and community meetings that gather booksellers to share operational knowledge, discover new functionalities, and remain updated on industry developments.
Further details about the Pubnet integration and Emersoft’s bookstore technology solutions can be obtained via the company’s official channels.
About Emersoft
Emersoft creates unified commerce solutions that allow independent retailers to handle both digital and physical operations on a single platform. Its Books Shopify App is tailored for bookstores needing integrated ecommerce, point-of-sale, inventory, and ordering features.
About Pubnet
Pubnet delivers standardized electronic ordering infrastructure that connects bookstores with numerous publishers and distributors via EDI protocols. The service is managed by MVB and functions as an industry-wide foundation for professional book trade transactions.