De Gruyter teams up with 67 Bricks to build new digital publishing platform

De Gruyter is collaborating with Oxford-based software development consultancy 67 Bricks to develop a new digital publishing platform that will function as the central building block of the publishing house’s ongoing digital transformation.

67 Bricks, a trusted partner to some of the most respected names in academic publishing, is currently working with De Gruyter’s technology team to develop a highly customized digital platform that will allow the publisher to become more user-centered and data-driven and react much more flexibly to the needs of its customers.

De Gruyter’s long-term partnership with its current platform provider Sheridan PubFactory will end with the launch of the new platform scheduled for early 2021. The change comes as a result of the publishing house’s decision to move its technology landscape into a new strategic direction.

Scott Williams, recently appointed Vice President of Platform and Technology at De Gruyter, said, “We are excited to be building a fast, user-friendly, and highly flexible digital platform with 67 Bricks. Even more importantly, the work that we are doing will allow us to digitize and fundamentally improve our entire business architecture.”

Sam Herbert, co-founder of 67 Bricks said: “Change, disruption and technological innovation are now going to be constants in academic publishing. Users demand it. By investing in a new digital business architecture, De Gruyter are clearly demonstrating their commitment to changing ethos to become a publisher that builds modern, user-led information products fit for the 21st century. We are delighted to be partnering with them on their digital journey.” 

Carsten Buhr, Managing Director at De Gruyter, added. “We feel that this cooperation marks a big step forward in the digital transformation of our business. The partnership with 67 Bricks forms part of our commitment to invest further in a modern and robust digital technology architecture as the bedrock of our publishing business.”