EBooks: changing the publishing industry, PwC

2.3 

Online Stores 

Competition posed by global players 

requires a multiplatform strategy

The outlook is rosy for national online 

bookstores, but there will be challenges. 

The primary hurdle is competition from 

international major players. To respond, 

the national online stores need to convince 

customers of the value they provide by 

offering a wide range of products, user-

friendly service, and features like reviews 

and social networking. Stores should also 

develop apps so customers can shop from 

their smartphone or tablet. These efforts 

can improve customer retention, loyalty, 

interaction, and revenue potential.

What do the international online stores 

offer customers? Consider one of the 

advantages of Amazon’s Kindle. eBooks 

are available not only for the Kindle but 

also for nearly every type of computer or 

gadget a user is likely to own: a PC, Mac, 

iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android smartphone, 

or late-model BlackBerry. The applications 

are synchronized to users’ Kindle accounts, 

so when they pick up a book on another 

device they will continue at the place 

they stopped reading on the last device. 

Bookmarks, notes, and highlights are also 

synchronized across all the devices.

As is the case with physical bookstores, 

online stores should explore the integrated 

range of products with their own reader. 

Online stores do not have to enter the 

hardware market for this purpose. They 

may seek out suitable arrangements with 

device manufacturers that integrate the 

online platform on their gadget. In such a 

scenario, the online stores would assume 

responsibility for actively marketing the 

products through their platform.