By: Rathidevi Thevadas, Head of Branding and Corporate Publishing Section

The rapid advancement of the digital technology era has significantly transformed the book publishing industry. The existence of digital books promises better content delivery, surpassing the limitations of printed text. The popularity of electronic books has also increased due to their easy accessibility, allowing for immediate downloads, which enables readers to obtain reading material quickly and conveniently.

The development of the digital book industry in Malaysia can be observed through the establishment of e-Sentral, the first electronic book sales platform in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, which has been around since 2011. Local Malaysian book publishers, who are mostly experts in publishing books, journal articles, popular books, and references, have also seized the opportunity to adapt to this environment and use it as a strategy to expand their business.

Electronic books, or e-books, represent the latest technological revolution that impacts writers, publishers, and readers. It poses a challenge for publishers to invest wisely in this digital technology and to be more aggressive in learning more about this latest publishing technology. Additionally, it is important to further examine and scrutinize the transition phase from traditional publishing to digital publishing.

The implementation, adaptation, and transition to e-book publishing may bring various effects to a publisher as a whole. The question of the advantages and disadvantages of this technology still remains a topic of discussion in the publishing world. Will the demand for printed copies decrease with the existence of electronic books, or will the revenue generation for a publisher increase by having both print and electronic versions of the same title? To answer this question, book publishers should be aware of the ongoing transformation to study how technological changes will impact this industry by looking at various aspects.

Date of Input: 21/07/2022 | Updated: 07/08/2024 | hairul_nizam