At Book Expo America 2009 we talk to publishers and vendors about successful and unsuccessful implementation experiences. These conversations basically confirmed a few rules for successful projects;
Rule 1. Appoint a project manager.
Rule 2. Appoint an experienced project manager, someone who knows your company and its people. Not a greenhorn that was hired just a week or two ago.
Rule 3. Keep it simple. Ideally, you don't want to customize the software.
Rule 4. Keep it simple. Don't want attempt to integrate a best of breed application that the vendor has no experience with. It will cost you money and time, and may not work.
Rule 5. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate. Hold weekly status meetings and make sure that the top people - the publisher, the CFO and the vendor's project manager attend.
Rule 6. Don't be afraid to shake the tree. If you have a problem take it to the top.
Rule 7. Keep a single list of outstanding issues. Circulate it. Make sure that its updated. Such a list helps to focus attention on the issues that it presents.
Rule 8. Go for a rapid implementation. The faster that you implement the software the less it will cost you in terms of money and staff time. Moreover, you will see benefits from the software sooner.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
BEA 2009 - knkPublishing
At Book Expo America 2009 we met with Wayne Kopesky, of Solution Dynamics. Solution Dynamics is the North American distributor of knkPublishing Software - the only Microsoft Certified Publishing Solution for Microsoft Dynamics NAV (Navision).
We discussed their latest projects and came away with two interesting tidbits from a recent implementation;
We discussed their latest projects and came away with two interesting tidbits from a recent implementation;
- First, the external auditors of a publisher that implemented knkPublishing were very impressed by its audit trail.
- Second, this publisher's controller was able to provide her CFO and the board a set a consolidated financial reports that were unavailable with their previous system.
In the next few weeks we aim to interview officials from this company about how knkPublishing is working from them.
BEA 2009 - Klopotek
Klopotek announced their software as a service offering at Book Expo 2009.
Essentially, publishers can now purchase on-line access to Klopotek applications - such as rights and royalties, editorial planning and title marketing information. What sets Klopotek's offering apart from other SAS solutions is the breath of Klopotek's offering. They have a wide range of optional modules that are ready to go. You can start with Rights and Royalties and add-on production management at a later time.
This SAS offering also has a pre-configured selection of software settings that speeds up the implmenetnation. A small press, using a standard configuration can be up and running in under a month.
Klopotek's SAS offering makes this solution, previously marketed to companies with sales of $30M+, an attractive option for publishers with sales of $10M or more.
Essentially, publishers can now purchase on-line access to Klopotek applications - such as rights and royalties, editorial planning and title marketing information. What sets Klopotek's offering apart from other SAS solutions is the breath of Klopotek's offering. They have a wide range of optional modules that are ready to go. You can start with Rights and Royalties and add-on production management at a later time.
This SAS offering also has a pre-configured selection of software settings that speeds up the implmenetnation. A small press, using a standard configuration can be up and running in under a month.
Klopotek's SAS offering makes this solution, previously marketed to companies with sales of $30M+, an attractive option for publishers with sales of $10M or more.
BEA 2009 - Hi Point Software
We also met with representatives of The Siroky Group at Book Expo America. The Siroky Group (of Toronto, Canada) owns Hi Point Software, a complete ERP solution for book publishers and distributors.
Our conversations with them confirmed the continued growth of their client base and we reviewed the satisfaction of their clients with their rapid modification policy. Essentially, The Siroky Group has a reputation for rapid implementation and release of client feature requests. When a client requests a new feature, its often added at no additional cost and rolled into the standard product. Where a competitor might charge $5K to add a single new field, TSG may charge nothing.
We also discussed their EDI functionality - a stand feature of their program - and why they don't advertise this feature. Whereas other solutions may require you to purchase an EDI module (and EDI translator software), these features are built into the Hi Point Software. Wow! With Baker & Taylor (and Amazon, B&N and others) requiring EDI order placement, confirmation and invoicing this feature will become a required feature for publishers and distributors, and Hi Point offers it for free.
Our conversations with them confirmed the continued growth of their client base and we reviewed the satisfaction of their clients with their rapid modification policy. Essentially, The Siroky Group has a reputation for rapid implementation and release of client feature requests. When a client requests a new feature, its often added at no additional cost and rolled into the standard product. Where a competitor might charge $5K to add a single new field, TSG may charge nothing.
We also discussed their EDI functionality - a stand feature of their program - and why they don't advertise this feature. Whereas other solutions may require you to purchase an EDI module (and EDI translator software), these features are built into the Hi Point Software. Wow! With Baker & Taylor (and Amazon, B&N and others) requiring EDI order placement, confirmation and invoicing this feature will become a required feature for publishers and distributors, and Hi Point offers it for free.
BEA 2009 - IBS Bookmaster
At Book Expo America we met with representatives of IBS Bookmaster to check up on their current projects and learn about their future plans.
During these conversations we learned that the top two add-ons for IBS Bookmaster are Integrator and their document management software.
Integrator automates file transmissions between any two (or more) IT systems. For example, you can tell Integrator to access a file at FTP location every 10 minutes, move the file to a new format, use it to update a specificed SQL database and send an email when the process is completed. What sets integrator apart from the competition is its price - about $25K as compared to $55K to $100K for competitive products.
The IBS Bookmaster document software allows the user to link any scanned document to the appropiate record(s). What sets it apart from other systems is that the user can search these documents for any phrase.
We confirmed that IBS Bookmaster is on schedule for a release of its new java based interface. This JAVA based GUI allows the user to customize the screen by user (or user function) by positioning panels where they want.
During these conversations we learned that the top two add-ons for IBS Bookmaster are Integrator and their document management software.
Integrator automates file transmissions between any two (or more) IT systems. For example, you can tell Integrator to access a file at FTP location every 10 minutes, move the file to a new format, use it to update a specificed SQL database and send an email when the process is completed. What sets integrator apart from the competition is its price - about $25K as compared to $55K to $100K for competitive products.
The IBS Bookmaster document software allows the user to link any scanned document to the appropiate record(s). What sets it apart from other systems is that the user can search these documents for any phrase.
We confirmed that IBS Bookmaster is on schedule for a release of its new java based interface. This JAVA based GUI allows the user to customize the screen by user (or user function) by positioning panels where they want.
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