The End Of eXtyles – Exploring Alternative XML Tools

Outsourcing to service providers is normal

Publishing, at its core, is about content curation and audience reach. Many publishing organizations, especially small to mid-sized ones, simply don’t have the infrastructure, staff capacity, or the technical skills needed to manage the entire publishing lifecycle in-house. 

The technical execution – typesetting, formatting, XML tagging, file conversion, e-book creation, and so on – can often be managed more efficiently by outsourcing to external providers of publishing services. As a result, XML-conversion services are often bundled with a host of other outsourced functions, including: editorial, typesetting, indexing, art and graphic preparation, and final output for both digital and print channels. 

Service providers fill these gaps efficiently and flexibly, often operating on-demand so that publishers don’t need to contend with the overheads of enterprise software licensing or full-time production staff. Now, XML service providers and the publishers they serve face an inflection point as Wiley Partner Solutions calls time on eXtyles.

Searching for a future-proof replacement for eXtyles

This trusted desktop-based tool has long been the go-to for XML conversion for many publishers and publishing service providers. But its time is up. Not only has eXtyles required per-user licensing, local installation, and workarounds or manual steps to integrate with broader workflows, the product and customer support will end in August next year.

The bigger picture reveals a broader industry need for robust and future-ready tools to support complex XML-based publishing workflows, especially for companies still dependent on legacy desktop converters like eXtyles. That’s one reason for the increased interest from XML service providers looking to modernize their digital tools. Many are asking: What’s the alternative to eXtyles? And that’s where PublishOne can help.

Why use PublishOne for XML conversion?

PublishOne’s platform is much more than just a replacement for eXtyles, it’s a streamlined, centralized workflow solution that serves the needs of both publishing service providers and their customers as operations evolve and their businesses scale.

Whether you’re handling XML conversion on its own or providing broader content transformation services, PublishOne enables you to securely manage various production and post-production workflows for different clients in one place, reducing reliance on multiple disconnected systems.

Here’s a summary of what makes PublishOne especially attractive to publishing service providers:

• End-to-end workflow support: Beyond XML conversion, the platform supports typesetting, content validation, proofing, and multichannel distribution, all within a single, secure environment. It integrates all your existing publishing tools, so it’s not necessary to update your entire tech stack in one go (unless you want to):
  
  

• Client-centric data separation: PublishOne is the service provider’s tool. It doesn’t touch or manage the agreements between providers and clients. This means IP control, client confidentiality, and content security remain in your hands.
  
  
• Cost-efficiency: PublishOne gives you the option to consolidate multiple functions into one subscription, lowering the total cost of operation.

 

Addressing data privacy and security concerns

Understandably, publishers and their service providers care deeply about protecting their data. As more and more proprietary content is processed in cloud environments and by external partners, varying standards in data privacy can introduce new, unforeseen risks.

Built in the Microsoft Azure Cloud, PublishOne doesn’t create any new touchpoints between a publisher and an external XML service provider – it simply provides the infrastructure to do the job more securely and efficiently. The platform is designed with data security in mind. It protects the direct client, be that a publisher or a publishing services provider. 

Taking outsourcing beyond traditional publishing

While many academic and educational publishers have long relied on outsourced XML services, they’re not the only ones. Today, we see increasing demand for publishing support in sectors that traditionally didn’t identify as ‘publishers’ – legal firms, financial institutions, regulators, government departments, and corporate documentation teams.

These organizations generate huge volumes of content – technical manuals, reports, compliance documentation – and they need that content delivered in multiple formats. Their core expertise often has nothing to do with formatting or content transformation, so they outsource the function almost by default. 

That’s a huge opportunity for XML service providers. And, as they scale to meet demand, those providers need modern, cloud-based platforms to deliver with consistency, speed, and traceability. PublishOne provides that foundation.

From XML to everything else

For service providers who start with XML conversion but also need to manage multiple aspects of their clients’ publishing workflows, PublishOne grows with them. 

Rather than patching together a mishmash of Word plug-ins, file converters, and PDF creators, PublishOne offers a unified interface, a seamless workflow for managing content from authoring to distribution. It won’t disrupt your client relationships, in fact, it’s going to strengthen them. 

If your team is looking for a scalable alternative to traditional desktop XML tools like eXtyles, or you’re ready to offer your clients a more integrated, end-to-end publishing service, it’s time to consider PublishOne. As a PublishOne implementation partner, BAO Systems can help you make publishing workflows faster, smoother, and more secure, so you can focus on delivering value, not wrestling with the complexities of replacing outdated tech. 

Interested in exploring PublishOne for your publishing services? Get in touch to schedule a demo or discuss the opportunities.