Clear your mind and focus on what matters!
Read here about the vision of our account manager, Dries Hermans, about focusing on what is important in the production of your books and magazines.
Dries Hermans
Internal Project Manager at Crius Group
I talk a lot with editors and production managers about how to best convert a manuscript into a book or digital publication. It strikes me that it often concerns one specific part of the chain. People often forget that we can do more if we are involved in the whole process. Consider, for example, the layout of pages, the input of content into systems or the creation of an ePub. Often these things are related, but they are outsourced to different suppliers. Why?
You want to turn the knobs
Of course, as a publisher you want to spread your risks and activities are placed with different parties and suppliers. Yet there is also a downside to this. To begin with, this means that the entire chain consists of smaller links and that has its impact. Lead times have to be coordinated and managing multiple parties costs a lot of time and money.
In addition, almost everyone has to deal with peak and off-peak periods. At times it is busy and every effort has to be made to have products ready on time. Then there is another period in which there is (too) little work to keep everyone working. You should be able to turn the knobs and incur costs when there is also turnover.
You cannot know everything
A second aspect is digitization. Everyone knows that almost all books and publications are now published in both print and digital format. But this is not all. Even during the realization of books, more and more use is made of digital applications. Examples? How about (semi) automatic formatting to reduce the page price or using InCopy with which you only have to make corrections once. As a publisher, it is simply impossible to keep up to date with everything.
I am of the opinion that publishers should not or at least be much less concerned with all these matters. There should be a clear focus on bringing supply and demand together. In other words, offer relevant content from appealing authors to interested readers in a way that they prefer.
So, all arrows on Crius Group then?!
Of course it would be nice. 😉 But of course that is not the moral of this story. I am convinced that the concept of total unburdening can offer added value on many fronts. It is cheaper at the bottom of the line, you are agile and you can fully focus on the market.
To support my story, I would like to invite you to read the stories of INNI Publishers and Walburg Pers. Or take a look at the collaboration we have with Amsterdam University Press.
Let's get to know each other!
Do you agree with my story or not? Want to know more about this? Contact me and I will be happy to talk to you!