Friese
Friese Software GmbH, founded 1994 in Cologne, Germany, develops VERL., a modular integrated publishing software for German Fachverlage (specialized publishers) and mail-order bookshops, covering subscriptions, advertising, book trade, CRM, and marketing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersKöln, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Friese does
Friese Software GmbH, headquartered in Cologne, Germany, develops and distributes integrated publishing software for specialized German-language publishers (Fachverlage) and mail-order book retailers (Versandbuchhandlungen). Founded in 1994 with roots traceable to 1982, the company's flagship product is VERL., a modular integrated publishing platform that centralizes address management, subscriber management, advertisement management, book trade, CRM, and marketing under a single database, eliminating interface problems across publishing functions. The company has over 25 years of exclusive vertical focus and explicitly distinguishes itself from adapted generic ERP vendors.
Technically, VERL. was originally built on IBM iSeries (AS/400), migrated through an NT/DB400/Oracle generation (VERL 2000-NT), and was fully rewritten on Microsoft .NET as VERL.dot (2014) with MySQL and Microsoft SQL support added alongside legacy IBM iSeries compatibility. Since 2020, the platform is also offered as a cloud/SaaS deployment hosted in Germany under DSGVO compliance. Supporting products include the WEB.Buch e-commerce shop, WEB.Veranstaltungen event management with ticketing, the emm@ email marketing tool, a SEPA module specific to media-industry payment processing, and WordPress-based internet solutions delivered via a cooperation with Friese Media GmbH. The firm also offers a CRM module delivering a 360-degree customer view across subscription, advertising, book, and seminar operations.
Friese Software GmbH is a privately held GmbH controlled by its founder and managing director, Dipl.-Wi.-Ing. Dirk Peter Friese, with 1-10 employees. Revenue is generated through subscription/recurring software licensing of VERL. modules, plus professional services for implementation, data migration, branch-specific consulting, and custom internet solutions. The go-to-market is consultative direct sales targeting enterprise Fachverlage exclusively in the DACH region (Germany), with marketing delivered through the company website, industry association participation (Deutsche Fachpresse and its Online Kommission), and email-marketing-driven content. A 2013 milestone indicates the 100th specialized journal was being managed through VERL.
Friese firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Friese
- Legal name
- Friese Software GmbH
- Website
- https://friese-software.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Friese Software GmbH, founded 1994 in Cologne, Germany, develops VERL., a modular integrated publishing software for German Fachverlage (specialized publishers) and mail-order bookshops, covering subscriptions, advertising, book trade, CRM, and marketing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Friese industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Publishing Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210), Software Publishers (51321), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Publishing Platforms (News/Magazines) (BPAMAJAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Email Marketing + Newsletter Publishing Suites (MPACAIAE)
Keywords
Where Friese is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Köln
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Friese business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Software Licensing (VERL.): Modular publishing software system VERL. offered with configurable modules including address management, subscription management, advertising management, book trade, CRM, and marketing. Software is deployable on IBM iSeries, Windows Servers, or as SaaS/cloud solution.
- Implementation & Consulting Services: Branch-specific consultation, system setup, data migration, and ongoing system support services. The company emphasizes ausführliche branchenspezifische Beratung (comprehensive industry-specific consulting) as a core service component.
- Internet Solutions: Custom internet applications including e-commerce, editorial systems, paid-content solutions, closed user groups, and WordPress-based web solutions with SEO optimization.
- Email Marketing Tool (emm@): Professional email marketing tool with personalized templates, HTML emails, and campaign analytics - offered as part of the integrated system.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Friese product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Friese Software GmbH develops, installs, and distributes the VERL. integrated publishing software platform for specialized publishers (Fachverlage) and mail-order book retailers. The platform is modular, with interchangeable modules for address management, subscriber management, advertisement management, book trade, CRM, and marketing, built on IBM iSeries and Microsoft .NET architectures with cloud/SaaS deployment. The company also offers the emm@ email marketing tool and custom WordPress-based internet/eCommerce solutions, backed by branch-specific consulting and migration services.
Product overview
Friese Software GmbH offers VERL., a modular integrated publishing software platform for specialized publishers (Fachverlage). The platform consists of a core VERL. system with interchangeable modules including Adressverwaltung (address management), Abonnentenverwaltung (subscriber management), Anzeigenverwaltung (advertisement management), Buchhandel (book trade), CRM, and Marketing. Supporting services include the emm@ email marketing tool and WordPress-based internet solutions. The software runs on IBM iSeries and Windows servers, with cloud computing (SaaS) options available since 2020.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- VERL. Integrated publishing software (Verlagssoftware) for managing addresses, subscriptions, advertising, events, book sales, and CRM for specialized publishers (Fachverlage).
- WEB.Buch
- WEB.Veranstaltungen
- emm@
Products and services
- VERL. Verlagssoftware (Integrated Publishing Software) Modular integrated publishing software system providing comprehensive management for address administration, subscriber management, advertising, book sales, CRM, and marketing. Designed for specialized publishers (Fachverlage) and mail-order book retailers, deployable on IBM iSeries, Windows Servers, or as a SaaS cloud solution hosted in Germany.
- VERL. Adressverwaltung (Address Management Module) Centralized address management module for maintaining customer relationships and efficiently managing addresses and business contacts, with seamless integration into other VERL modules via the central address system.
- VERL. Abonnentenverwaltung (Subscriber Management Module) Comprehensive subscription management solution enabling efficient administration of subscriber processes from customer management through accounting and CRM integration for publishers.
- VERL. Anzeigenverwaltung (Advertisement Management Module) Modern advertisement management software tailored for publishers, providing control of the entire advertising process including order processing, billing, and campaign analytics.
- VERL. BUCH (Book Trade Module) Inventory management and book sales optimization module for book publishers and mail-order book retailers, featuring order management, pricing control, and marketing campaign creation.
- VERL.CRM (Customer Relationship Management Module) Holistic CRM module for publishing companies integrating and optimizing all customer-related processes across departments, providing a 360-degree customer view.
- VERL. Marketing (Marketing Module) Marketing software helping publishers organize and automate marketing tasks, manage customer interactions, distribute messages, and analyze data for targeted campaigns.
- emm@ Email Marketing Tool Email marketing tool enabling creation of personalized email templates and distribution to multiple recipients with HTML formatting, embedded graphics, and campaign analytics for publishers.
- WordPress Development Services Custom WordPress-based website and eCommerce development services including information architecture, web content preparation, visual design, SEO, marketing campaigns, staff training, and responsive design for publishers.
- Internet Solutions Services Complete internet solutions from server infrastructure to functional internet applications, covering e-commerce, editorial systems, paid-content solutions, and closed user groups for specialized publishers.
Companies that use Friese
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Friese technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Friese partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Friese Media GmbHcoreStrategic cooperation partner for WordPress-based internet solutions and eCommerce shops. Friese Media GmbH develops individual applications for websites and performs customer-specific adaptations based on Friese Software products. Collaboration includes responsive design, SEO, marketing actions, and employee training. Solutions integrate directly with the emm@ email marketing tool.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Friese competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- HubSpot: HubSpot offers marketing automation and CRM that overlap with Friese's VERL. Marketing and email marketing (emm@) capabilities. Relevant as a global substitute for publishers that prefer general-purpose marketing tooling.
- Salesforce (Industry CRM): Salesforce operates broad CRM and industry clouds that can substitute for components of VERL. CRM and marketing automation. As a global incumbent, it could pressure niche players like Friese on configurability and integration depth.
- Microsoft Dynamics 365: Microsoft Dynamics provides ERP and CRM suites that publishers may use as substitutes for specialized publishing software. Comparable to Friese as a broad enterprise platform that competes for the same workflow budget.
Emerging players
- vjoon GmbH: vjoon provides cross-media publishing and content management platforms (vjoon K4, vjoon Live) used by magazine and brand publishers. Adjacent to Friese's editorial/publishing workflow scope, with a stronger focus on Adobe-based cross-media production.
- WoodWing Software: WoodWing provides multi-channel publishing and content management software for magazine and brand publishers globally. Overlaps with Friese on the editorial and publishing workflow side, though it serves larger international customers.
Direct peers
- Klopotek: Klopotek provides publishing software solutions for trade and specialty publishers, including subscription, rights, and product management modules. It is the most direct competitor to Friese in the German-speaking publishing software market, serving similar Fachverlage and book publishers.
- Anteil Verlag Software: Anteil offers a publishing ERP (Verlagssoftware) covering addresses, subscriptions, advertising, and book trade for German publishers. It overlaps with Friese's VERL. on nearly every module category and serves the same Fachverlag and mail-order bookshop segment.
- PSIPOVA Software: PSIPOVA provides ERP and business software for publishers and bookshops in Germany, including order management, subscription, and accounting workflows. It is a direct competitor to Friese in the German Fachverlag and Versandbuchhandel market.
- DATA TEAM Verlag: DATA Team delivers industry-specific software for publishers and booksellers, including production planning, ad management, and CRM. Comparable to Friese as a vertical-specific German publishing software vendor with similar customer types.
Regional players
- BookFactory: BookFactory offers publishing and book trade software for the German-speaking market, with modules for inventory, order processing, and CRM. Comparable to Friese's Buchhandel module and the mail-order bookshop customer segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Friese social profiles
Digital presenceFriese financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Friese leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Friese funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Friese M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Friese
What does Friese do?
Friese Software GmbH develops, installs, and distributes the VERL. integrated publishing software platform for specialized publishers (Fachverlage) and mail-order book retailers. The platform is modular, with interchangeable modules for address management, subscriber management, advertisement management, book trade, CRM, and marketing, built on IBM iSeries and Microsoft .NET architectures with cloud/SaaS deployment. The company also offers the emm@ email marketing tool and custom WordPress-based internet/eCommerce solutions, backed by branch-specific consulting and migration services.
Is Friese a public or private company?
Friese is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Friese founded?
Friese was founded in 1994. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Friese based?
Friese is headquartered in Köln, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Friese make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Software Licensing (VERL.) is the primary driver. The others are implementation & Consulting Services, internet Solutions and email Marketing Tool (emm@).
Who are Friese's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are HubSpot, Salesforce (Industry CRM) and Microsoft Dynamics 365. Emerging players are vjoon GmbH and WoodWing Software. Direct peers are Klopotek, Anteil Verlag Software, PSIPOVA Software and DATA TEAM Verlag. BookFactory is listed as a regional player.
Does Friese have an API?
No public API is recorded for Friese.
What industry is Friese in?
Friese's product category is Publishing Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAJAE, Digital Publishing Platforms (News/Magazines), with a secondary code of MPACAIAE, Email Marketing + Newsletter Publishing Suites. Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 7372.