Dive Brief:

• Ingram Content Group's Vital Source Technologies, Inc., revealed Friday a new digital educational content fulfillment deal with MBS Textbook Exchange, Inc.
• The deal includes both K-12 and higher ed digital content sold across MBS Direct, Textbooks.com, MBS Systems, and other MBS platforms.
• According to a press release, the goal is to streamline how digital course materials are distributed across competing digital platforms.

Dive Insight:

Companies in both K-12 and higher ed are still adjusting to the print-to-digital shift, as the campus bookstore and its local competitors are no longer necessarily the go-to outlet for students purchasing textbooks and other course materials. Along with the number of digital platforms available, the advent of services like Amazon has also necessitated change in the traditional content distribution model — and Amazon itself is even partnering now with higher ed institutions to operate co-branded websites and even on-campus centers.

With all of that in mind, it makes sense for MBS to simplify its own distribution through Vital Source's content platform, creating a uniform reading experience for all institutions and students using MBS' channels. The fewer platforms people are expected to adjust to, the better the experience is likely to be for all involved.