The Global User Group has been an independent organization since its inception over 20 years ago. Members come together annually to exchange ideas, discuss best practices, and learn about the latest developments in UNISON and Klopotek software.
This year’s conference experienced a whole new dynamic as users of Klopotek software in North America joined users of GTS software. Attendees from across the continent gathered on the 26th & 27th of October 2009 at the Embassy Suites in Parsippany, New Jersey, USA. A wide array of publishers was represented. Users from major independent publishers such as Lerner Publishing Group engaged in open dialog with academic presses such as University of Toronto Press and global publishing giants Elsevier. Regardless of size or type of publishing, all users could participate fully, gaining insight into industry and software practices and contributing to the dialog on trends and improvements.

Find out more about this (after logging in) in the presentation: "Klopotek/GTS's Industry Commitment & Involvement", given by George Logan, Director Customer Service, Klopotek NA.

With so many users meeting for the first time, a special session was held to introduce the member organizations to each other. Susan Lehrhaupt, Klopotek North America EVP Operations, led a lively conversation among the users as they shared a little about their publishing businesses and current technology projects.

Find out more about many of our customers (after logging in) in the presentation: "Project Reviews - Roundup of Initiatives", given by Susan Lehrhaupt, EVP Operations Klopotek NA.

Digital publishing and workflow remain hot topics in the publishing industry. Klopotek, through a partnership with SCHEMA, unveiled a component content management system called ST4 that supports XML-based content creation and assimilation.  Markus Kesseler of SCHEMA explained that ST4 is built from the ground up on a component basis rather than a book or page basis. Attendees were eager to hear about ST4 and the component approach, which allows the publisher to handle granular chunks of content – chapters, paragraphs, images – each with its associated metadata. A component structure allows the published work to take many forms and adapt easily to new formats and technologies, as well as repurposing and aggregations.

Check out more about this (after logging in) in the presentation: "Component Content Management Systems: Lessons Learned from Corporate Publishing", held by Markus Kesseler, CEO SCHEMA.

Gregor Wolf, CTO of Klopotek, and Karen Tiesling, EVP Sales & Product Development North America, discussed Klopotek’s roadmap for the future of GTS UNISON and Klopotek software, and how currently supported business processes will be integrated in the next generation software. Recent and forthcoming enhancements were discussed including new technologies and a glimpse at the new user interface which is planned for release next year. Klopotek’s Best Practice Solution, a pre-configured solution built to support business processes defined by a cross-section of publishers, generated additional interest and discussion. BPS solutions can be implemented more quickly and are available by module on a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) basis.

Find out more (after logging in) in the presentation: "Development Roadmap", by Gregor Wolf, CTO Klopotek AG, and Karen Tiesling, EVP Sales Klopotek NA.

User and Klopotek/GTS experts discussed various topics in breakout sessions, including production, warehouse management, financial systems, order fulfillment, marketing and administration. The combined experience and knowledge of the participants made for some enlightening discussions.

Attendees made many new friends in the industry, with many offering to share ideas and solutions to common problems even after the conference ended.

Registered customers may download the 2009 conference presentations (this link becomes active after logging in!) by logging into the Klopotek website.
(Please note: login button is at top right-hand side of this page).
If you are a registered user and do not have access, please contact George Logan, phone +1.973.331.1010.610 or g.logan @ klopotek.com.

The 2008 presentations are also available for registered users after login.