In an era marked by digital transformation, the fusion of print and online editorial offices, and a digital-first approach has presented Handelsblatt, Germany's leading business and financial newspaper, with the challenge of mastering the increasing complexity of modern content planning. Previously hindered by a patchwork of tools and inefficient workflows, the introduction of Kordiam and Livingdocs brought greater clarity, efficiency and transparency to the daily editorial process, streamlined processes and increased overall productivity.

Stefan Kaufmann, Lead Managing Editor at Handelsblatt, spearheaded the restructuring of the newsroom’s processes, with a focus on the integration and optimization of Kordiam. Marc Renner, Managing Editor at Handelsblatt, led the editorial team’s adoption of the Livingdocs content management system. Together, their collaborative efforts have refined newsroom workflows and achieved seamless editorial planning across multiple platforms.

Planning Stories Before a Dedicated Content Planner

In the period preceding Kordiam's integration, Handelsblatt's content planning was characterized by a fragmented system, which included a mix of emails, Google documents, and a self-developed planning tool. This segregation of print and digital content strategies often led the merged editorial teams to encounter substantial coordination hurdles:

• Keeping a comprehensive perspective was arduous when juggling numerous tools.
• Decentralized planning across numerous digital spaces led to arduous efforts in achieving a harmonized strategy.
• Combining short, medium, and long-term planning was cumbersome.
• Consolidating planning for various print and digital channels was problematic.
• Editorial conferences were like a grab bag for many participants.

The need for a "single source of truth" led Handelsblatt to search for a content planning solution. Kaufmann explained, “We needed a unified platform that was accessible everywhere and on all devices. The merging of print and online editorial processes increased complexity and highlighted the need for better planning.”

Given the pressing need for a reliable planning tool, Handelsblatt quickly decided on Kordiam. Kaufmann noted, “The concept was convincing and largely met our requirements.”

The below graphic illustrates the typical flow of a story from idea to publication at Handelsblatt:

Team Feedback

Kordiam has established itself as the central planning tool in the newsroom, gaining acceptance and consistent use across all levels of the organization. Stefan Kaufmann, Lead Managing Editor states “It runs reliably, and we continue to develop the application of Kordiam iteratively, taking into account new features and options, in order to meet our changing work processes.”

Integrating Kordiam and Livingdocs

With the introduction of the new Livingdocs content management system, Kordiam was able to connect to the editor via an interface for the first time. This allowed processes to be synchronized and work steps to be reduced through seamless access from the planning tool to the content editor. Though the first connection through the API presented as straightforward, achieving a nuanced synchronization encountered challenges due to some initial configuration limits.

In pursuit of overcoming these hurdles, a new global interface crafted by Livingdocs is being implemented. This initiative is driven by a goal to amplify the existing functionalities and refine their integration, according to Renner, "The aim is to unlock further potential and refine the integration."

Results of the Integration

The integration of Kordiam and Livingdocs has fundamentally transformed Handelsblatt's editorial operations. By centralizing planning processes and enhancing the coordination of content production, these tools have resolved longstanding inefficiencies and fragmented workflows according to the two Handelsblatt editors.

“The integration has optimized processes and saved time, meeting our expectations.”  - Marc Renner

These significant improvements have not only optimized editorial conferences but also ensured consistent, real-time access to vital planning information for all team members. Handelsblatt hopes that the planned implementation of a global interface by Livingdocs will further refine and improve this integration and pave the way for even more coherent and efficient workflows.

Looking to the Future

Kordiam and Livingdocs provide the backbone for the newsroom’s digital workflow, ensuring that the team can navigate the complexities of modern editorial planning with confidence and precision.

“The partnership with Kordiam and Livingdocs will play an important role in future success and innovation,” said Renner, concluding: “Kordiam and Livingdocs are by far the most important tools for our planning and content management processes. Together with Microsoft Teams for communication, these three form the backbone of our digital workflow.”