What unique services does Bookwire offer to publishers in the U.S. market?
Brittyne: Bookwire is a one-stop-shop digital distribution partner for publishers. Bookwire is unique in the US market for 3 reasons: we offer the widest reach to channels worldwide of any other digital aggregator, we’re the only hybrid distribution solution that allows publishers to manage a combination of direct and indirect channels, and our platform, Bookwire OS, is the only distribution platform with production, marketing, and analytics modules truly seamlessly integrated. This unique capabilities combined create efficiencies and unlock new opportunities for publishers.
Jens: Combined with print-on-demand and print metadata solutions, we offer a comprehensive solution to manage all workflows related to digital publishing products and metadata distribution. Our platform “Bookwire OS” is the center of our solution where publishers manage and navigate the business and all workflows around production, distribution, marketing and analytics. We have added a lot of solutions around production, marketing and analytics to make sure we make things as easy as possible and maximize sales and efficiency in the workflows.
Brittyne: Over the past 10–15 years, Bookwire has driven digital standardization and delivered high quality data to channels and publishers alike. Bookwire has developed excellent relationships with channel partners all over the globe and long-lasting relationships with publishers in Brazil, LatAm, the UK, Germany, Spain, etc. This tradition will continue. And US publishers are well poised to take advantage of the benefits this tradition has created: streamlined, global distribution by leveraging the best technology and Bookwire’s international channel network. Let’s bring more books to markets worldwide.
Jens: We are the leading company for ebook and audiobook distribution with almost 3.000 publishers using our solution in all leading publishing markets. We have grown our business continuously from being a startup in 2010 to becoming the global leader in this space. We strive to drive standardization and efficiency for the entire industry and offer every publisher worldwide the best solution to get the most out of their digital business.
Brittyne: Bookwire is uniquely structured to provide publishers and users worldwide with OS, “one solution,” for digital distribution but to service publishers locally with local expertise, project management, implementation, service, and ongoing customer development plans. We have a team in the US who understands US publishers’ needs, and we’ve created the best customer experience tailored to those needs. Local digital publishing expertise combined with a customer-focused team structure is our key to meeting local market needs.
Jens: It’s so important to have great customer service and be very close with our customers! We invest a lot in building long-term relationships. This way we are able to understand the demands of our clients to make sure our platform Bookwire OS provides everything they need to manage ebooks and audiobooks the best possible way.
Brittyne: We love publishers of all market segments, all types, and all sizes. We’ve created a flexible solution that tailors the platform and service options according to the publisher’s needs. It’s not one-size-fits-all, and we know that! Our offering ranges from full-service distribution if a publisher needs a partner to manage it all to a SaaS model that puts full control in the hands of the publisher. With flexible service and distribution options, our publishers create a package that’s meets their exact needs.
Jens: In the first years we have been very focused on creating a perfect full-service solution for independent and medium size publishers. Over the years, our solution has developed a lot and we’ve started working for the leading big publishing groups in many markets. We have developed a customized service approach for each of those segments because the needs are different.
Brittyne: Bookwire invests in ongoing research, development, and innovation. We understand how quickly the publishing landscape, reader behavior, and technologies change. For this reason, we have multiple creative teams who are dedicated to researching and exploring new ways to use emerging technologies. Additionally, our product development team is always listening to our markets and customers to ensure we don’t miss any opportunities for improvements and innovation.
Jens: We love innovation! We never stop thinking about how we can make our platform and our service better to help publishers sell more books. We still have a lot of ideas on how to make our client’s life easier and increase their success. It’s in our DNA as a company to invest in new technologies and try out new things and think ahead what comes next and prepare for the future.
Brittyne: We’re easy to work with! And we understand publishers must manage many systems and platforms across their entire publishing workflow today. Our distribution platform, Bookwire OS, can easily co-exist amongst other necessary publishing platforms in a “hands free” way. OS automatically takes feeds from title management systems, for example, and conversely can export sales data to royalty systems for an end-to-end workflow.
Jens: For many of our medium and larger clients it’s key to have our solution integrated in their ecosystem of solutions. We can be easily integrated with for example the leading title management systems and royalty solutions. We constantly work on making our APIs better and easier to use. We analyze our publishers’ needs prior to onboarding and then provide a well-organized onboarding plan to make things as easy and straightforward as possible.
Brittyne Lewis is Bookwire’s General Manager for the US, bringing over 15 years of experience in the digital publishing industry. With a proven track record of pioneering new digital solutions and holding various high-level management positions including her previous role as Director of Publisher Services & Marketing at Lakeside Book Company, Brittyne is a seasoned professional in the field. In her role, Brittyne will play a crucial part in driving Bookwire’s growth and success in the American market, as the company aims to provide its full range of services and expertise.
Jens Klingelhöfer already worked as a media designer for books at the beginning of his career and returned to the book industry with the founding of Bookwire. Before that, he worked in the music industry for over ten years and was involved in numerous successful music projects as managing director of the music marketing and management company MFM Entertainment. As an entrepreneur and marketing expert for the creative industry, he has been involved in the marketing and distribution of digital content for 15 years and has a lot of experience in developing forward-looking business models.