The publishing industry, is in the midst of a technological revolution. With new devices, technologies and platforms coming in to the picture, the way print-based publishing in particular operates has undergone a significant change. There are several ways in which publishing has evolved as a result of new technologies and in this article let’s look at a few of these.

• The move from print-based formats to digital formats

eBooks are becoming more and more popular and with costs of e-reading devices looking more attractive (the lowest priced Kindle is 89 pounds) it’s becoming affordable to a wider segment. A lot of readers have opted to move from traditional paperbacks to the convenience of carrying their entire library in a device. Mobile apps are also proving to be in high usage and publishers are also exploring ways to make content available via smart phones.

• Marketing and publicity goes online

With Facebook, Twitter and other social networks being the place where people’s attention is, much like with marketing and publicity activities of other products, publishers too are focusing their messages on Social Media. In addition to these platforms, book bloggers and online reader communities (e.g. Goodreads) are also new spaces where readers can be reached.

• Print technologies

Despite the rise in eBook use, print however is not dead. The way printing operates itself has been impacted by new technologies. Today publishers have the option of using Print on Demand technology to reduce inventory costs. Print on Demand is exactly that – a book is printed if there is a demand for it. This is an efficient and quick method of printing that can have an impact on overall profitability, particularly for small or medium sized niche publishers.

• Digitized workflows and back office systems

With eBooks and electronic content delivery becoming more prevalent in Publishing, digitization of the processes begins to make more sense. But how can automated workflow applications and systems cut costs and add to the bottom-line? To put it simply, they allow for a more robust and efficient supply chain and any publisher will admit that this is key to profitability and cost reduction. By automating
a process, it not only cuts back overhead costs but also reduces turnaround time and cost. Therefore content Management systems and Business Process Management Systems are vital tools in today’s publishing landscape.

What other ways do you see publishing changing amidst new technologies?