The Real Challenges in Educational Publishing and How to Solve Them

It’s been quite some time since I’ve been a part of the educational publishing industry. A lot has changed. Now, everything’s about technology—interactive e-books, digital courses, and multimedia lessons that make learning more engaging.

But with growth comes challenges. And if you’re in charge of content production, you and I, both know the struggle. Tight deadlines, shifting requirements, multiple formats, and tech headaches—all while keeping quality high. Teams are dealing with this all the time and are trying to simplify the process without losing control.

 

4 Challenges Related to Content Production

Managing content production is a constant balancing act, and finding the right approach is all you need. So let me take you through those 4 main challenges that refuse to let go.

Juggling Quality, Speed & Budget

I remember working with a production manager, and she mentioned how they’re always racing to meet school calendars and product launches. There’s always too much to do and not enough hands to do it. I’m sure this feels all too familiar.

With so much pressure to deliver quickly, every dollar has to stretch—covering writers, editors, multimedia experts, and the tech. Teams juggle multiple projects at once, and that’s where the quality can be compromised. In this constant juggling, you’re stuck redoing work, wasting both time and money. Take what happened with  Global Green Books Publishing as an example. After some early success, they ran into missed deadlines, rising costs, and quality issues—all because of resource bottlenecks.

So, what’s the way out?

The key lies in working smarter and getting the workflows right. Simple fixes like templates, style guides, and automated checks can catch mistakes early and save hours of back-and-forth. Even a basic checklist helps. Outsourcing quality assurance can be a lifesaver. It gives your team more time to focus on the bigger picture instead of drowning in revisions.

Keeping Up with Changing Educational Standards

Curriculum changes won’t stop. Just when it feels like everything is finally in place, a new policy update comes along and turns things inside out. I’ve seen this happen over and over—one moment, a textbook is fine, and the next, large chunks need a complete revamp, often with very little time to make the updates.

The current administration has made big changes to DEI and Title IX rules. And before that, the Biden-Harris administration introduced the draft School Improvement Guidance to help students succeed. This meant every four years, publishers have had to tweak their content to match new standards.

It’s a lot to keep up with, especially when it all happens fast, and publishers are left rushing to make changes while still keeping everything up to standard.

The key here? Build for flexibility.

Flexibility is everything. I always recommend designing content with future updates in mind—using placeholders where possible. Modular lesson structures and question banks can be tweaked without a complete rewrite. A solid content management system (CMS) is also a lifesaver, keeping revisions and state-specific customizations organized.

Managing Multichannel Production Without the Chaos

Publishing is not “print” anymore. Everything is digital, and every platform has its own features. One format needs reflowable text, another requires fixed layouts, and just when you think you’ve got it right, something else breaks. I’ve seen teams fix one issue, only to have it mess up something else.

And it’s not just the tech. There are so many people involved—writers, editors, designers, digital specialists. If they’re not on the same page, things will get messier. Miscommunication leads to delays, rework, and a whole lot of frustration. Without a clear workflow, it’s easy to lose track of what’s been done and what still needs fixing.

How do you simplify this?

I would always recommend testing content early across platforms to catch issues before they become bigger problems. A good project management tool keeps everyone on the same page, so nothing gets lost in the shuffle. It also helps avoid the last-minute issues that come with miscommunication. Plus, using a single system to update content across multiple formats saves time.

Tech Upgrades That Work (Without Breaking Everything Else)

Digital publishing is moving fast, but outdated systems? They slow everything down. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “We spend more time fixing tech issues than actually creating content.”

A recent client I worked with wanted to add interactive quizzes and videos to their e-books but hit a wall because their CMS couldn’t support it. They tried workarounds—manual embeds, endless formatting
tweaks—but every platform showed some new error.  Weeks went by, and instead of building great content, they were stuck fixing glitches.

There was another scenario where a publisher upgraded to a “better” system, only to realize halfway through that their entire content needed reformatting. The team was juggling two platforms, redoing work, and missing deadlines—all because the transition wasn’t planned with real challenges in mind. What’s the learning here? Technology should work for you, not against you.

What’s a smart way out? A phased approach.

A phased approach works best when transitioning to new systems. Instead of a complete overhaul that disrupts everything, I help teams integrate new tools with their existing setup using APIs. This way, they can gradually shift without throwing their entire workflow into chaos.

The key is to keep the technology simple and reliable because too many tools just create confusion. And training is definitely a must. If the team isn’t comfortable with a new system, they won’t use it properly, and the upgrade will cause more problems than it solves.

Outsourcing doesn’t mean losing control. Trying to do it all often leads to burnout, missed deadlines, and expensive mistakes that could’ve been avoided with the right support.

A good service provider can help smooth out workflows and keep quality on track. Instead of always rushing to fix problems, you get to focus on what matters, i.e. big-picture strategy, innovation, and creating impactful content.

At the end of the day, you don’t have to do it the hard way. The right support can make all the difference. To get the right support you need, contact us here.