Systematic exports Denmark’s national library system to Germany

After almost 40 years with the same IT system, one of Germany’s biggest public libraries has implemented Danish software, and Systematic is now hoping for a wave of exports to several German states.

After winning big contracts in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, the software company Systematic won an important contract with a key player in the German library market: Bücherhallen Hamburg. In October, all of the library’s 32 branches were smoothly transferred to the software Cicero, and the successful implementation has encouraged Systematic to try its hand at winning a bigger chunk of the German market.

“We got off to a good start with the project in Hamburg, where delivery was on time and within the agreed framework. Bücherhallen’s libraries are some of the biggest and most progressive in the country, and many other German libraries look to Hamburg, so we expect this to mark the start of something big in Germany,” says Jakob Ilum Damsgaard, Director at Systematic.

He estimates the German market for library software is worth approx. EUR 40 million a year, and therefore holds considerable potential for Systematic.

“Many German libraries face having to replace their current systems within the next five years, with many based on technology that is several decades old that can no longer be supported and expanded,” he explains.

Tailor-made for German needs

There was a high level of excitement therefore when, on 7 October, the staff at Bücherhallen switched over to the new IT system, Cicero, which controls all the library’s daily processes – from lending and handling library materials to user management and payments.

If there was any nervousness, it was unfounded.

“We transferred all the data as planned and were up and running on time. All in all, it has been a very productive collaboration and a very smooth implementation,” says Philipp Leist, CFO at Bücherhallen Hamburg.

The implementation itself went according to plan, and it took less than 12 months from contract signing until the solution was being used.

“That said, it was by no means a simple task,” admits Jakob Ilum Damsgaard. After almost four decades of using the same system, Bücherhallen needed a solution that could support both current and future needs. This required extensive new integrations and customisations, which Systematic developed in close collaboration with the customer.

“It was a bit of a tall order, because German libraries differ significantly from those in the Nordics; patrons, for example, have to pay for membership in order to be able to access the library. But with Hamburg, we’ve now shown that we can adapt Cicero to German requirements, both in terms of functionality and legislation,” he says.

Doubling of revenue in three years

Systematic is too busy to rest on its laurels. The company’s library division has seen its revenue double in the space of only three years, driven by large contracts in Norway, Sweden and now Germany, and it doesn’t look as though the pace is going to slow any time soon.

“We now have a foothold in the German market, and soon expect to see calls for tenders from several large libraries. We’re already in close dialogue with a handful of them, and recruiting employees for our office in Cologne,” says Jakob Ilum Damsgaard.

In Denmark, Systematic regained the contract for the Danish joint library system (Fælles Bibliotekssystem (FBS)) in December 2024. Consequently, Denmark is one of the only countries in the world with a national library solution for all public and school libraries.