History
How it all began
Promising ideas are the driving force behind social development. They provide motivation and guidance, and tap undreamed-of potential. The beginnings of arvato can be traced back to one such visionary idea: a consistent focus on how a company can benefit its customers!
The history of arvato began over 175 years ago, when Carl Bertelsmann opened a lithographic printing shop in the East Westphalian town of Gütersloh. This was the first step in the development of a corporate division that today accounts for more Bertelsmann employees than any other. The business began by printing and shipping books and other printed materials for Bertelsmann’s publishing companies, then expanded to provide services for external customers. This marked the birth of arvato, which subsequently grew larger, became involved in new industries, developed innovative products and expanded into other countries and continents − until it became what it is today: a unique international joint service provider that occupies a leading position in numerous market segments and employs over 68,000 people worldwide.