Service

Web Application Development, API Integration, SaaS Development

Date

Ongoing

Made for

Watkins Media

Minerva Cloud

Watkins Media Microservice Ecosystem

Watkins Media is a global leader in the publishing of personal development and mind, body, and spirit books. Offering fresh interpretations on important subjects, old and new, Watkins is dedicated to entertaining readers while inspiring them to make a positive difference in the world.

Opportunity

Looking to capitalize on a blossoming market, Minerva decided to upgrade a legacy bibliographic system that was struggling to accommodate its recent growth. Our expert team recommended creating a series of microservices that would provide both scalability and security. We implemented a set of revenue management tools that addressed two critical aspects of their business - rights and royalties.

Project Scope

SaaS Development
Microservice Ecosystem
API Integration
IT infrastructure
Data Management
Process Improvement

Approach

To support their growing publishing company, our expert team reimagined their existing architecture into a custom SaaS platform with a set of microservices that improved scalability and increased security.

Our unique solution involved four compatible components: Minerva Core, Minerva Rights, Minerva Royalties, and Minerva Gateway. Each service had separate backend and frontend elements with Single Sign On (SSO) authorization. Instead of a single increasingly complex application required to implement multiple business operations, we separated critical functions to create scalable, flexible, and user-friendly solutions

Key Features

Editions Management

Centralized Cataloging: Minerva provides an organized view of all editions, including critical metadata such as publication dates, ISBNs, and rights information. This streamlines access to necessary details for any title and its various editions, accelerating submissions and sales performance reviews

Multi-Edition Tracking: All editions are individually cataloged but linked to their parent title. This unified view simplifies workflow by allowing efficient management of related editions.

Advanced Search Functionality: Robust options allow users to easily search and filter for specific titles or authors by imprint or publication date, enhancing report generation and updates.

Automated Distribution

XML Distribution: One of Minerva’s standout features minimizes manual intervention through its automated XML file distribution to major distributors. Once all necessary fields are completed and editions are marked as ready, the system generates and sends the formatted data according to each distributor’s specifications.

Royalty Management

Real-Time Tracking: The system tracks royalties across all sales channels—print, eBooks, and audiobooks—aggregating data and automatically calculating royalties based on pre-set contractual agreements.

Detailed Royalty Statements: Authors and contributors receive comprehensive statements, breaking down earnings by sales period, title, and format—building trust with partners by ensuring transparency.

Automated Statement Generation: The platform automates the creation of royalty statements, managing calculations for advances, reserves against returns, and net earnings efficiently.

Submissions and Rights Management

Streamlined Submissions: Minerva significantly reduces manual data transfer time through automated rights submissions with auto-fill functionality for book details, territory availability, pricing, and genres.

Rights Management: The system enhances book rights management across various regions, ensuring compliance and reducing submission errors.

Faster Submission Process: The integrated platform reduces submission time by 40%, enabling quicker distributor communication.

Powered By

Java
Spring
Spring Security
JQuery
Elasticsearch
MySQL
Hibernate
Bootstrap
React
TypeScript
Antdesign
JavaScript
Figma

Trusted Results

The implementation of Minerva has significantly improved Watkins Media’s operational efficiency. Key outcomes include:

Time Savings: The publishing team saved 50% of time on manual tasks , allowing them to focus on higher-value activities.
Enhanced Accuracy: The automated processes ensure precise royalty calculations and rights management.
Increased Market Reach: The streamlined submission process has improved distributor communication, expanding market opportunities.

With these advancements, Watkins Media is now better positioned to manage its expanding catalog and partnerships, ensuring ongoing growth and success in the competitive publishing industry.