EBooks: changing the publishing industry, PwC

2.5 

Intermediaries

Transfer services to the digital environment

Intermediaries will have to redefine

themselves in the digital environment. It 

is true that numerous tasks will continue 

to exist as a result of the co-existence of 

digital and printed books, but they will 

become less important. The intermediaries 

would therefore be well advised to adapt 

to the new requirements and to develop 

services for publishers and stores that 

have difficulty in providing such services

on their own due to their weak financial

position or lack of technical skills. 

This includes support for converting 

content to an eBook format, the 

establishment and maintenance of a 

content management system and payment 

processing, document hosting, eBook 

storage, and digital delivery of eBooks. 

Support for small stores with modern shop 

system 

In addition, a possible solution would 

be to handle online sales by way of an 

integrated shop system for physical stores. 

This would involve technical and financial

processing, as well as new functions such 

as the integration of customer reviews or 

social networks. To successfully stand up to 

the increasing competition posed by small 

independent companies, intermediaries 

will have to ensure that they have lean 

operations and position themselves 

as experienced and accepted service 

providers. They should also establish 

agreements with numerous small stores 

and publishers to cover the fixed costs of

the systems.