Case Study: Reducing the Royalty Workload from Months to Days

How MetaComet® Transformed Payment Processes for IPG

Megan Trank is the client manager for financial statements for IPG, the leading book distribution and sales company. She previously oversaw accounting and royalties, among other responsibilities, for a small independent book publisher. In both roles, she used MetaComet’s Royalty Tracker® to drastically reduce the time she spent calculating royalties, distributing statements, and providing guidance to royalty recipients. 

Key Highlights:

• Reduced royalty processing time for over 2000 statements to just two days per royalty period. 
• Enhanced statement clarity and accuracy to reduce client inquiries.
• Seamless onboarding process, even for complex setups. 
• Personalized, responsive customer service tailored to unique needs. 
• Long-term adaptability and customization to support evolving requirements. 
• Increased peace of mind with reduced chances of human error. 

Customer Overview: An Indie Book Distributor with Complex Needs

Independent Publishers Group (IPG) is a dynamic book distribution and sales company serving independent publishers nationwide. As a critical actor in the publishing ecosystem, IPG manages complex royalty reporting for thousands of publishers, requiring precision, speed, and reliability. 

Challenges: Too Much Data, Too Little Time

Before working with MetaComet®, Megan managed royalties using Excel spreadsheets—a labor-intensive process fraught with potential errors and inefficiencies. Key challenges included: 

• Time-Intensive Processes: Monthly and semi-annual royalty statements took weeks to produce. 
• High Error Risk: Manual calculations and spreadsheet dependencies increased the likelihood of mistakes. 
• Author Confusion: Statements lacked clarity, leading to repeated recipient inquiries and inefficiencies. 
• Dissipated Data: Contract information and sales data lacked a central repository. 
• Onboarding Concerns: Switching systems seemed daunting, especially for a smaller organization with limited resources. 

Choosing MetaComet: The Path to a Solution

Megan’s publishing company spent two years evaluating royalty management options and finally decided to invest in Royalty Tracker®. “It was something that we wanted to move to,” she says, “But there were a lot of barriers in moving to a royalty system. The onboarding time, the cost, just the idea of change can be tough for a small company.” 

• Streamlined Processes: The software’s automation promised faster, error-free royalty calculations. 
• Customization Options: MetaComet’s flexibility allowed tailored solutions for unique needs, such customized statement formats. 
• Affordable Excellence: MetaComet offered a cost-effective solution that delivered high ROI. 
• Exceptional Support: The MetaComet team’s responsiveness and expertise alleviated concerns about onboarding and system setup. 

Onboarding & Implementation

Despite the team’s concern about a disruptive transition, the onboarding with Royalty Tracker was remarkably smooth, due to MetaComet’s proprietary MetaGoLive® implementation process: 

• Personalized Service: MetaComet’s knowledgeable and organized support team guided the data migration. 
• Structured Process: Clear templates facilitated easy data uploads. 
• Quick Turnaround: First sample statements were generated within weeks, boosting confidence. 
• Client-Focused: Minimal disruption to existing workflows. 

“That was one of the things I was dreading a bit,” says Megan.  “Just all the work to get up and running, and it was so, so easy. When we did our first run of statements everything worked right away. The speed was just amazing.” 

Smarter Systems, Better Collaborations

After implementing MetaComet, both the small publisher and IPG experienced transformative benefits: 

• Significant Time Savings: Royalty processing time dropped from weeks to days, enabling staff to focus on other priorities. 
• Error Elimination: Automated calculations removed the risk of human error, ensuring accurate payouts. 
• Improved Recipient Relations: Clear, professional, and detailed statements reduced payee questions and boosted trust. 
• Accessible Insights: The Royalty Portal empowered IPG client publishers with instant access to current and historical data, reducing administrative burdens. 
• Unparalleled Support: Megan praised MetaComet’s “extraordinary” customer service, highlighting its responsiveness and proactive problem-solving. 
• Continuous System Improvements: Customer feedback continues to inspire new features and advances. 

“I do really love the Royalty Portal because it allows our publishers to have access to their statements,” says Megan. “And then the supporting documents of what is going into each statement. That is really handy because then they can look to see what all of those adjustments entail, and they can answer a lot of their questions themselves.” 

“Royalty Tracker Changed My Life”

MetaComet’s Royalty Tracker and Royalty Portal have become indispendable tools for Independent Publishers Group, transforming their royalty management from a labor-intensive process to a streamlined, efficient system. By prioritizing customer needs, providing exceptional support, and continuously evolving their platform, MetaComet has not just provided a software solution, but a strategic partnership that drives operational excellence. 

“Something that I have always loved about Royalty Tracker is that there are always changes, always progress. The system is always adapting to the way the customers are currently using it, but also how they will be using it in the future.” 

As Megan emphasizes, “Royalty Tracker changed my life.” 

If your organization is juggling complex royalty requirements, MetaComet’s solutions offer a proven path to success. Contact us today to learn how we can help you save time, reduce stress, and enhance accuracy in your royalty processing.