While demand for digital content is growing, printed books still dominate

An educational publisher with a base in northern India, Shivalal Agarwala and Company started its journey in 1940. It was set up by Radhey Mohan Agarwal, a freedom fighter, who felt the need for quality and authentic books on history. The company has published books authored by eminent personalities, including Dr Rajendra Prasad, Dr Pattabhi Sitaramayya, and Dr S Radhakrishnan, among others. 

With the advent of different educational boards and the growing need for school education, Shivalal Agarwala and Company started publishing books to meet such requirements. Currently, the company publishes more than 500 titles covering the syllabi of different boards and universities.

Excerpts from an interview with Vivek Agarwal of Shivalal Agarwala and Company…  

What is your focus in publishing?
Our primary focus is K-12 education, providing textbooks, guides, practical books, project books, and exam preparation materials in both Hindi and English, specifically for Madhya Pradesh.

What challenges do you face in the production and distribution of educational books?
We face challenges such as managing production costs, ensuring timely distribution, and maintaining content relevance across regions due to different board requirements for each state.

How do you ensure the quality and relevance of the content in your educational books?
We ensure quality by collaborating with experienced authors, educators, and our in-house editorial team. Regular updates, content reviews, and feedback from schools and teachers are key to maintaining the relevance of our materials.

Can you walk me through your typical publishing process from manuscript submission to final printing?
Manuscripts are first reviewed by subject experts, followed by editing. The next step is DTP, after which the content goes through a production process using CTP platesetting and then printing. The final step includes binding and three-side cutting to get ready for dispatch.

What trends are you seeing in the demand for printed versus digital educational content?
Although demand for digital content is growing, printed books continue to dominate, particularly in underprivileged areas where technology access is limited. We are advancing digital education with our Ten Square project to help students be fully exam-
ready.

What type of print technology do you use for educational books?
We use web offset and sheetfed machines in printing for large-scale production.

How do you ensure consistency in the quality of printed materials?
We ensure consistency through quality checks at every stage — pre-press, printing, and post-press — and maintain our equipment for uniformity among all the books which we produces.

Do you offer eco-friendly options?
Yes, we use recycled paper as and when it is required.

How do you handle bulk orders or seasonal demand surges, especially during school openings?
We manage bulk orders and seasonal surges through pre-production planning months. We do this advance. Our dispatch team ensures efficient coordination by organising delivery schedules based on distance and prioritizing far-off locations.

What are your turnaround times for large volumes of educational books?
For large-volume orders, our turnaround time ranges from one day to a maximum of three days, depending on the order size and complexity.

 
For large-volume orders, our turnaround time ranges from one day to a maximum of three days

Do you offer customised book solutions for educational institutions or regions?
Yes, we provide customised book solutions tailored to the specific needs of educational institutions and regional requirements.

What binding and finishing options are available for educational books?
We offer binding options like saddle stitching and perfect glue binding, with finishing touches such as lamination and UV coating.

Can you accommodate specialised requests like bilingual books, interactive content, or custom covers?
Yes, we accommodate requests for bilingual books, interactive elements, and custom covers based on needs.

How do you handle ISBN allocation, copyright, and other regulatory matters for educational books?
We manage ISBN allocation, copyright, and regulatory compliance, adhering to national standards and ensuring all books meet the necessary legal requirements.

What is your approach to warehousing and distributing books to schools and educational institutions?
We maintain an efficient warehousing system and distribute books through a network of wholesalers who supply books to schools and educational institutions.

How do you manage the logistics for supplying books across different regions, including remote areas?
Logistics are managed through local transport, including buses, trains, and trucks, to ensure timely deliveries even to remote regions across Madhya Pradesh.

What role does your company play in helping to bridge the gap between book demand and supply in underprivileged areas?
We aim to bridge the gap in underprivileged areas through affordable pricing. Also our wholesalers collaborate in order to improve book accessibility.

Are you exploring digital printing technologies to improve efficiency in educational book production?
We are exploring digital printing to enhance flexibility and reduce production time for smaller, on-demand orders, though we have not yet implemented this technology.

What is your approach to integrating digital learning solutions alongside traditional printed books?
We are gradually integrating digital learning solutions through our Ten Square exam companion application, along with QR codes in printed books that provide access to additional study resources and board exam timelines.

Do you foresee a shift from physical textbooks to eBooks or blended learning formats in the near future?
While there is increasing demand for eBooks, we do not foresee a complete shift from physical textbooks due to infrastructure challenges in many parts of India.

What sets your company apart from other educational publishers and printers in the market?
Our deep understanding of local education systems, extensive distribution network, and focus on affordability set us apart from competitors.

How do you stay competitive in an industry that is rapidly digitising?
We stay competitive by embracing new technologies, continuously updating our content, and nurturing strong relationships with our dealers, distributors, teachers, and schools.

Shivalal Agarwala and Company maintain an efficient warehousing system and distribute books through a network of wholesalers

How do you maintain affordability while ensuring high-quality production?
We achieve affordability by optimising production costs while ensuring high-quality materials and efficient printing processes.

There are more than 15 lakh schools in India, and many of them are facing challenges in accessing books. How do you see the opportunities?
We see an immense opportunity to bridge the gap in book accessibility by expanding both our print and digital offerings, utilizing strategic partnerships, and improving distribution networks.

More than 67,000 babies are born each day in India. It means around 2.5 crore new students per annum. What are your plans to grab the opportunity?
We plan to tap into this growing market by expanding our reach, offering affordable content, and engaging early with new students through innovative education materials in multiple formats.

Regional language is a huge market, with 22 listed in the constitution, 122 major languages, and 1599 other languages. You are into English and Hindi for the moment. How big is the opportunity according to you and what are your plans to grab it?
The regional language market presents a vast opportunity. While we currently focus on Hindi, English, and Sanskrit, we see potential in expanding into other regional languages to meet the growing demand.