Publishing and outsourcing: perspectives in 2019

Munt, Kathryn

The Indexer: The International Journal of Indexing (2019), 37, (4), 297–316.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.2019.39
Language: English
Pages: 20

Abstract

Having been involved in publishing for over 25 years, the author has been fortunate to have worked on both the publishing (product) and the outsourcing (service) sides. Recent experience in publishing-training organizations has provided an opportunity to reflect on some of the major developments in our industry: new business models and technologies, digital transition, business transformation, roles evolving or disappearing, job titles which don’t resonate with the past, and increased outsourcing. Research carried out during 2018–19 has shown that outsourcing is one of the biggest challenges in publishing today: it is growing in scale but it is becoming more complex to manage and requiring a new set of skills. This article explores three aspects of outsourcing in publishing, all of which affect indexers to a greater or lesser extent: (1) the growing complexity and challenges, (2) developments at the vendor place, and (3) the implications for the freelancer community. It focuses on publishing outsourcing in India since India continues to take the biggest share of the global outsourcing industry.

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