Digitization of editorial process management

The client's problem

The publishing house, known for the quality of its editions, continued to manage its publications manually. 

In addition, the materials of the different books were deposited in network folders, which made it difficult to locate and reuse them.

The client's objectives

The main objective was to build a digital repository of bibliographic materials that would allow the detailed tracking of the status of each book within the editorial processes, as well as to possess a traceability of the materials to facilitate book reprints.

Main challenge

To transfer the peculiarities of the editorial processes of each of the editorial lines and of the different types of books that are worked on to the digital world. 

In addition, automation must not be intrusive in the work of the editors and must guarantee the quality and care that characterize the publishing house. As well as covering the process from contracting to reception in the warehouse.

Solution

After analyzing and diagnosing the situation, IN2 defined the implementation of an Open Source Alfresco document manager as a centralized repository for the materials involved in the edition of the books. 

This repository contains all the information about the books (metadata) and the elements used for their elaboration (originals, images, printing proofs...). A set of workflows were implemented to check the different phases for the digital management of the digital process: evaluation, contracting, editing and reprinting.