Exploring the Impact of Digital Platforms on Publishing: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract Platformization is a phenomenon arising from the process of digitalization and affects businesses of all types throughout the world. While platformization closely relates to digital business models, it also influences the traditional models to some extent, concerning the marketing and distribution functions. This paper focuses on the implications of the new media on the generation, dissemination, and reception of content in publishing. Specifically, the study examines the effects and implications of the platformization processes, and the role played by digital ecosystems in the value chain of the publishing business and the structures of the book market. For the current study, the research carries out a network analysis of scholarly literature on the integration of digital platforms in publishing using VOSviewer. It declared to provide an understanding of the field’s conceptual directions, determine key articles, and depict the developmental process of this phenomenon. The paper contributes to the understanding of the primary discourses; the literature review reveals the research gaps and potential development. The contribution of this research shall be useful for both theorists and practitioners in the field. It can help practitioners analyze the current processes in the publishing industry’s transition to digital formats and inform policy decisions. It can also help small and medium companies within creative industries that possess characteristics that are akin to publishing and other businesses clustered within the book market niche category. Given that current trends and potential directions for development and innovation in today’s rapidly developing digital environment are traced and practical recommendations and further research questions are outlined in this study, it helps to get a detailed understanding of how platformization in the context of the publishing industry is addressed in the academic literature.