A closer relationship with GRZ - a long-term partner through VI&VA - will take ppi Media closer to Lufthansa Industry Solutions.

Close cooperation between ppi's ad solutions and GRZ's business solution for commercial processes will intensify in January on product sales, development and some services, complementing GRZ's long-term partnership with Lufthansa Industry Solutions.

ppi Media and the Gutenberg Rechenzentrum have signed an expanded agreement on sales activities, strengthening their position as IT service providers and media software manufacturers. GRZ's core business focusses on development of its SAP-based software VI&VA and e-VI&VA, both designed to meet newspaper publishing requirements.

Among modules are ad and brochure management system, a sales model for subscription and retail sales, and a solution for processing other sales activities.

The sales partnership will bundle its activities in the German-speaking market with the aim of opening up new international markets for VI&VA.

The two partners will also focus on a closer integration of their solutions, with the AdX ad reservation and AdMan production products incorporated directly into business processes.

"This is the logical consequence of our long-term cooperation with GRZ and the Madsack Media Group," ppi chief operating officer Hauke Berndt says. "The VI&VA solution, which is used by publishers throughout Germany, plus our access to international markets and our solutions for planning and production, will offer even greater potential."

Since 1970, Madsack business unit Gutenberg Rechenzentrum has been a leading German IT service provider for the media industry, with products ranging from the conception and maintenance of innovative IT systems for publishing and newsmedia companies, to provision of hardware platforms and software consulting for SAP.