How to create a digital annual report? Here is our 2019 update of our comprehensive guide to digital annual reports. In this presentation we'll talk about different technology options available, their advantages and disadvantages, and also, a list of must-have features for these solutions.

1. Digital Annual
Reports
Why & How

2. On today’s agenda

3. Here’s what you will discover:
● Why people create digital formats next to print and PDFs
● A look at some software options
● Design tips
● Ideas
● Bad practices
● A list of cool examples

4. About us

5. Readz: Experts in digital publishing and content
We work with large B2B organizations (IBM, Deloitte, Baker McKenzie, AON,...)
and large B2C companies (Nike, Ashley Stewart, Mead Johnson,...)
And of course organizations such as AIHA, Nurse.com, DC Planning Office,
and schools and other non-profits...
We work with clients on
Technology, user oriented design, conversion optimization

6. Why digital annual
reports?

7. Content is made to be read.
We see people using three technologies to put their annual report online:
- PDF (most people)
- Flipbooks
- Digital web publishing

8. Let’s have a look
We’ll check the advantages and disadvantages of these three technologies.
And we’ll do this taking into account the user’s perspective, with the most
common screen resolution today (you might be surprised)

9. PDF
Let’s check how hosted PDF files perform

10. The report is professionally designed, but the issue is of course the format.
Print and desktops have different dimensions.

11. And this causes text to be hyper-small, and the reader has to move the
page around to read it.

12. PDF - Usability
PDF’s are unfortunately hard to read, even on a large
desktop. And it is a real struggle on mobile devices.

13. PDF - Usability
Here is another example to illustrate that print layouts very
often do not translate to digital.

14. This 2-page spread shows the compant is BREAKING NEW GROUND.
(Unfortunately the rest is hard to read)

15. But on mobile the result is a a PR crisis.

16. PDF
Benefits
- Easy to make (export PDF
file from print and host)
- Practically free IF you have
print
Disadvantages
- Usability is poor
- Looks like print on a screen
- Very limited interactivity, if
any
- Very limited analytics
- No SEO results
PDF’s are easy for you, but offer very poor usability and features
online.
In today’s age of mobile-first, the results of readership and impact
will be low.

17. PDF
And lastly, what is the effect on your stakeholders when you use
technology that is a burden to read?
Your annual report will not only be a struggle to read, but also:
Your annual report will portray an image of your
organization not being a leader and innovator.

18. Flipbooks
Let’s check how flipbooks perform

19. What are flipbooks?
Flipbooks are PDF’s which are hosted and
delivered as a reading experience by a 3rd
party.
Typically, there will be some user interface to
make the reading experience more dynamic.
Let’s have a look at this example

21. Flipbook
Benefits
- Easy to make (send to
technology provider eg
Readz)
- Provider takes care of hosting
- Feels more dynamic vs PDF
Disadvantages
- Still looks like print on a
screen
- Limited interactivity, if any
- Limited analytics

22. Digital web publishing
Let’s check what digital web publishing looks like

23. What is digital web publishing?
With web technology, an HTML/CSS version
of your content is created.
This offers native, mobile-friendly layouts
and a great user experience.

24. IBM’s Annual Report
All content is easy to read. Navigation is obvious.

25. Mobile is optimized, and modern.

26. Digital Web Publishing
Benefits
- Great user experience
- Mobile-friendly
- Detailed analytics
- Interactive
- Animations, CTAs, ...
Disadvantages
Requires extra work to
create
Digital Web Publishing offers you the best results, but it does
require more effort to create.
It will generate the best results in terms of readership, and can
boost your image significantly.

27. Conclusion: PDF - Flipbook - Web Technology
- PDF are not really readable on-screen, and especially not on mobile
devices
- Flipbooks add some interactivity and more navigation, but do not solve
the issues of readability
- If you are serious about getting more support with your annual report,
PDF and apps on a store are NOT an option
- Flipbooks are a start, web technology is THE best solution
- Split out your financial reporting and keep that as a PDF for people to print

28. Digital annual report
software

29. Flipbooks
What do the best flipbooks offer:
1. User Interface: Limited functionality.
This is a case of ‘less is more’. Users want
content, and anything in the user interface
needs to serve the purpose of easier
reading.
Plus, users want a zero second learning
curve or they will bounce. So limit the
options.

30. Flipbooks
What do the best flipbooks offer:
2. Fast loading speed.
Close to zero waiting time for the first
pages.

31. Flipbooks
What do the best flipbooks offer:
3. No extra software installation.
No Flash or anything similar.
These technologies will often be blocked
and requires extra downloads. Many
people don’t do this.

32. Digital web publishing
What do the best platforms offer:
1. 100% Responsive
Layouts that adapt to the device,
whether this is desktop, tablet or mobile.
Capability to modify the mobile version
is often desired.

33. Digital web publishing
What do the best platforms offer:
2. Super-fast loading speed
Re-use blocks like footers, call-to-actions,
etc.

34. Digital web publishing
What do the best platforms offer:
3. Media & animations
A great digital annual report will leverage
images, video, and will have subtle
animations to give the report a dynamic
feeling.

35. Digital web publishing
What do the best platforms offer:
4. InDesign import
Having your content ported over from
InDesign can be a huge time-saver when
creating a digital version.

36. Digital web publishing
What do the best platforms offer:
5. Re-usable content blocks
Re-use blocks like footers, call-to-actions,
etc.

37. Digital web publishing
What do the best platforms offer:
6. Detailed analytics
Detailed analytics on a page-level.
Analytics should be available for traffic,
but also for call-to-actions and goals.

38. Readz
Readz is used by the best brands world-wide.
Check with your account manager for Readz pricing.