One journal platform. One seamless workflow.

The London Book Fair 2026 was an exciting and eventful three days brimming with innovation and inspiration. It was an opportunity for us at Kriyadocs to underscore our commitment to scholarly publishing and build connections with fellow scholarly publishing professionals who share our passion for publishing.

Across the three days at Booth 5C131, Ravi Venkataramani (CEO) and Jason De Boer (Growth Director) spent time connecting with publishers and peers, sharing ideas and exchanging perspectives.

Our panel discussion at London Book Fair brought together a full room and a shared question, how is the role of the journal publisher changing?

Joined by Adam Sewell (Chief Technology Officer, IOP Publishing) and Natalie Jacobs (Chief Product Officer, Emerald Publishing), Ravi Venkataramani led a discussion grounded in both early signals from our “Future of Journal Publishing” industry survey and lived experience.

Several themes stood out.

‍Peer review remains the foundation, but pressure is growing
Research integrity and high-quality peer review continue to sit at the core of publishing. But rising AI-generated content, alongside ongoing challenges like paper mills and reviewer fatigue, is making this harder to sustain. Supporting and recognising reviewers is becoming more important.

‍Discovery is shifting quickly
AI-driven search is changing how research is found. Traditional traffic patterns are becoming less predictable, and publishers are beginning to explore new approaches such as generative and answer engine optimisation (GEO and AEO), alongside stronger metadata and trust signals.

‍AI adoption is deliberate, not wholesale
There is clear interest in using AI to improve workflows and efficiency. But adoption is cautious. Publishers are piloting tools, setting boundaries, and keeping human oversight central.

‍Operational pressure is forcing focus
Financial constraints and evolving models are pushing organisations to prioritise. Legacy systems and fragmented workflows are increasingly seen as barriers to long-term sustainability.

‍Trust and transparency are central
Across all themes, trust remains critical. Clear communication, especially around AI use, and a continued focus on purpose-led publishing are key to maintaining credibility.

‍Collaboration will matter more
Many of these challenges are shared. Upskilling teams and working more closely across the industry will be essential to navigating what comes next.

‍Journal publishing is being reshaped not by a single shift, but by several, unfolding at once. Our task ahead is to evolve what works, while preparing for what is changing.