Amsterdam, 13 July 2009 – Van Gennep has signed a distribution agreement with the O2i group, making O2i sole retailer of the PlanSystem3 solution in France. Developed in conjunction with major magazine publishers, PlanSystem3 is designed to improve publishing productivity and profitability through optimizing workflow management and collaborative working.

With document workflow management at the core of the company’s business, the O2i group is France’s leading distributor of IT engineering solutions for digital graphic production and professional IT training for the graphic arts industry. The company numbers among its clients some of the largest French publishing groups, including Prisma Presse, Marie Claire, Lagardère Active and Hachette Livre, as well as major advertising agencies Publicis and Omnicom where workflow management is key in their business.

"Information professionals today are interested in modernizing and saving time. We think that the Van Gennep solution is the one that best meets the new challenges facing the world of publishing. Publishers have to stay up-to-the-minute, feeding information via a variety of communication channels, whether that is in paper form, web-based or via mobile media such as the iPhone", explains Olivier Fréon, Commercial Director of O2i. "Until now, the market hasn’t offered much choice in affordable software for publishers still using outmoded, in-house processes. There is a real need for a versatile, accessible solution. The PlanSystem3 software is simple to deploy and has already been tried and tested by many European publishing houses. At O2i, we are proud to be promoting Van Gennep in France."

Transparently and seamlessly, PlanSystem3 incorporates a range of modules for process optimization, reducing operating time and improving productivity in publishing. The system simplifies process integration between everyone involved in the publishing chain, from advertising designers and editorial offices through to pre-press professionals.

"This partnership is a marvellous opportunity for the O2i group as it opens up entire new sectors in terms of our client portfolio, in publishing houses, internal advertising departments or design agencies. We provide value-added support for our clients after they have purchased PlanSystem3, helping them to modernize their publishing operations through a tailored implementation, training and follow-up", says Olivier Fréon. "This is made easy by Van Gennep. Among the key strengths of Van Gennep’s PlanSystem3 are its versatility and its accessibility and since the start of the venture, Van Gennep has given excellent commercial and technical support. We receive personalized assistance from fast-response teams, no matter how small the modification."

"We are very happy to count O2i among our partners," comments Gerda Oppewal, CCO (Chief Commercial Officer) at Van Gennep. "We know that we can rely on the quality of their know-how, their high-level service and their strong market knowledge to provide to the publishing specialists a unique solution that will help them boost their productivity, save time and increase profitability."

About the O2i group
With a turnover of almost € 50 million in 2008 and more than 300 staff, the O2i group is the undisputed leading in supplying to the graphic arts market in two complementary spheres of activity:

• IT engineering for graphic and digital production: for more than 20 years, O2i has offered a full range of equipment solutions to all companies, enabling them to produce all types of multi-channel documents "better, faster and more cheaply". The experience and expertise of its teams enable it to offer a comprehensive range of services from production workflow solutions to integrated platforms and certified digital testing systems through to digital print Solutions.
• Professional training in ICT: with more than 800 specific training modules and 80,000 trainees benefiting each year from courses in 250 training rooms throughout France, O2I is France’s no. 1 professional training centre.

About Van Gennep
Van Gennep develops, markets and supports collaborative workflow systems for the publishing industry. With an in depth understanding of publishing challenges, innovative software development, and a culture of dedicated customer support, the company provides easy-to-use software solutions, including PlanSystem3, PlanMaker fE, and Dolce Vita. Combined with comprehensive, personalized user support these solutions revitalize and streamline production workflows at an affordable investment.

For further information, please contact Gerda Oppewal at info@vangennep.nl

CONTACT Info:
Van Gennep – M.A.C. BV
Burg. Stramanweg 105
1101 AA Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Phone: +31-20-6976029
www.vangennep.nl