Lerner Books Selects Global & Klopotek

Press Release from Global Turnkey

Minneapolis-based Lerner Publishing Group, specializing in educational books for K-12 markets, has selected Global Turnkey Systems (GTS) as its publishing solution provider. After an 8-month review of solution alternatives, GTS – a division of Klopotek – was chosen for its range of functionality and professional team. The full spectrum of software from GTS’ UNISON and Klopotek product lines will be implemented to handle Lerner Publishing Group’s publishing lifecycle, from acquisition through distribution. Having recently merged with Klopotek, GTS is able to offer Klopotek’s industry-leading front office solution for title management, production and rights management. GTS’ UNISON product line covers the sales, distribution and accounting needs of Lerner Publishing Group’s back office. Lerner Publishing Group’s distribution center operations will be streamlined and automated through the implementation of GTS’ newest integrated module: Warehouse Management.

Adam Lerner, CEO of Lerner Publishing Group, stated, “GTS offered us the back-end system we need to meet our strategic goals in fulfillment and distribution. With Klopotek we’ll have a fully integrated publishing system, from planning to shipping. As an independent publisher, we look for strong and long-lasting business partners. The collaborative approach GTS took right from the start has been impressive. The addition of Klopotek made this an ideal solution for LPG."

Margaret Wunderlich, VP/CFO of Lerner Publishing Group, stated, “The integrated solutions from GTS and Klopotek will help us streamline our publishing process and gain valuable efficiencies in our distribution operations, while establishing a platform for growth that Lerner Publishing Group has planned for the next several years. The GTS team shows a strong depth of knowledge of the publishing process and is able to understand the unique requirements of our environment.”

Klopotek Purchases Global Turnkey

With the purchase of Global Turnkey Systems by Klopotek in September the book publishing software consolidation that started with IBS's (International Business Systems) purchase of Bookmaster and Media Services Purchase of S3 PubTech (the owners of CisPub) has continued.

On the positive side, Global Turnkey has gained access to the R&D resources of a much larger company. We expect that Global's clients will now have the opportunity to integrate their software with the contract, editorial, production mangement and title information management modules offered bye Klopotoek product - all features that were lacking in the Global Unison product.

Klopotek; a German company, has gained access to the project management staff of Global Turnkey and entre into the large publishers that use Global Software.

Overall, an excellent development for Global clients and Klopotek.

The downside to this purchase is that yet another book publishing software developer; the 3rd in 2 years has been acquired. In the past two years the number software vendors with 50+ clients and sales greater than $2M in the USA has declined from eight to five. Consequently we are seeing a reduction in the incentive for software vendors to negotiate a lower price.