This is the fourth annual Trends in Academic Publishing survey that Deanta has conducted. Over these four years, the topics raised in the survey reports have stimulated various discussions with publishers across the world, including many of a robust nature. Whatever the tone, the feedback and interactions inspired by these reports are always welcome.

Ultimately, we hope that these reports stimulate conversation and change in your own organisations. Deanta has always seen itself as a moderate agitator in this industry, quietly challenging the status quo and offering new ways of tackling age-old problems. Whether or not we are directly involved, we are always delighted to learn that the spotlight we place on these topics has helped change the industry we love, for the better.

Here is a selection of our key findings:

Outcomes

In which we asked publishers about the results that they are delivering, the goals they are targeting, and the strategies they choose to achieve them
  • The uncertainty of revenues reported in previous years is stabilising, with print revenues especially recovering for book publishers.
  • OA is ballooning across the industry as a whole, with increased demand from authors, and confidence in OA as a revenue stream has seen the development of new workflows to cope with the additional volume of work.
  • Driving efficiencies within existing economic models is still seen as the main challenge for the industry, though discoverability is also a key directive.

Processes

In which we asked publishers about the operational means by which they marshal their business
  • The technology divide between book and journal publishers is as wide as ever with journal publishers seemingly far happier with the technology tools available to them.
  • The repeated call for modernisation of the production workflow suggests that many publishers have not modernised to the extent that they think possible and are still looking for further improvements in their production workflow.

People

In which we asked publishers about the skills and culture publishers employ to get the job done
  • Publishers have done a wonderful job to settle a remote workforce, but the industry remains conservative and cautious, despite seeing the clear benefits available from new technologies.

To find out more download the full survey below.