Tools for Easy Content Management and Repurposing
Content is still king in book publishing. The challenge to publishers today is to move, manage, exchange and manipulate that content in the most efficient and profitable ways.
In the age of new media, publishers must be able to accept content from external sources, traffic it through all the pre-publishing phases and then be agile in the way they output it, so that it’s cost-effective but also meaningful to readers.
As with any new technology, publishers should evaluate software solutions with these basic considerations in mind:
Functionality: What solutions out there have the types of capabilities your company needs? Once the field has been narrowed, dig deeper into the solutions—get a demo to see what else, beyond its core capabilities, the system may be able to offer.
Reliability: Does the software have a good track record among existing users? Will it require minimal downtime for implementation and routine maintenance? Are there any known bugs?
Cost: Whether considering an ASP model or a self-installed solution, does the pricing model meet with your budget? Are there any hidden costs for things like updates, training, additional users, troubleshooting, and so forth?
Developer reputation: Does the maker of the solution stand behind its product? Does the developer have a solid record for supporting its customers? Does it have a clear entry point to technical staff when you need them? Does the developer offer meaningful training? Is the developer known for fixing bugs in a timely fashion? Are updates free, and how frequently are they rolled out?
Flexibility: Does the solution not only address the publisher’s content needs today, but more importantly, is the solution flexible enough to grow with your business? Is it possible to grow the system with new utilities and functionality your company may not need now, but could possibly use in the future?
