Aarhus University Press chooses Nordic publishing solution from Schilling
The largest university press in the Nordic region has made a strategic decision to implement Schilling’s Nordic software solution – specially developed for the publishing industry.
Aarhus University Press is currently in the midst of an ambitious 2023-2026 strategy aimed at modernising the publishing house and strengthening the organisation. As part of this transformation, the publisher has reviewed its system landscape to map out priorities and needs.
Managing Director Anne Engedal explains:
“At Aarhus University Press, we are on an important journey towards becoming more automated and more lean and clean in our workflows. We want to move away from complexity and time-consuming manual processes – this is where Schilling will help us on our journey.”
From standing alone to standing stronger together
For Aarhus University Press, the journey and strategy are not merely about technology. It’s also about closeness, trust, knowledge sharing, and expertise – and about making the small organisation behind a large university press more resilient on several fronts.
“Measured by staff, we are a small organisation, and our accounting department consists of just two people. That makes it crucial that we don’t stand alone. We need close contact and good support from people who are hands-on with the system – people who understand what we mean when we say royalty,”
Anne explains and continues:
“We have truly experienced what it’s like to have a large international software provider and to stand alone. Apart from the challenges of contacting them or receiving help when we needed it, the system was simply not designed for publishing workflows. With Schilling, we now have a partner who is an expert in our field and who shares our Nordic context. Together, we can turn sudden changes and challenges into opportunities in our technical set-up, which will make us far more adaptable.”
Jan W. Juhl, Manager at Schilling, comments on the partnership with Aarhus University Press:
“I’m really pleased that Aarhus University Press felt it was natural to look our way — and that the set-up and implementation have got off to such a good start. The needs and priorities that shaped our initial dialogue, and now our partnership, are core elements of Schilling’s business so I’m looking forward to a strong and close collaboration.”
Systems and data on secure ground
In recent years, geopolitical changes have broadened Aarhus University Press’ original strategic focus and reshaped their view of what a modern and robust system solution should provide. It is no longer just about functionality and support but also about security, control, and the location of data. Anne Engedal says:
“When identifying our needs and selecting a new solution and partner, geopolitical changes, new trade barriers, and data rights have all played a major role in reinforcing our choice of Schilling – with their EU-based infrastructure and cloud services. When Microsoft suddenly started acting up, it became clear to us how exposed we were as a publisher when it comes to where our systems and data are located.”
For Jan W. Juhl, the question from Aarhus University Press about whether Schilling’s infrastructure, systems, and data are located within the EU came as no surprise:
“Security, resilience, and local anchoring of systems and data have become a true ‘need to have’. I see Nordic publishers increasingly focusing on their own security and infrastructure and on choosing publishing-specific system solutions that are hosted within the EU.”
With this collaboration, Aarhus University Press takes a significant step forward on its journey towards a more efficient and digitally resilient future.
Publishing solution:
- Royalty
- Subscription
- ERP
- Integration with DBK, Publizon, and other distributors
- Integration with webshop
Implementation: by 1 April 2026
About Aarhus University Press
Aarhus University Press publishes research-based works for both national and international academic communities and brings research to a broader Danish audience.
With roots at Aarhus University and a strong international outlook, the university press publishes both academic and popular titles – always with a focus on professionalism, communication, and social relevance. Its most well-known and widely read popular science series is Reflections, which has become the publisher’s signature publication.
Aarhus University Press is a member of The Association of University Presses and the largest university press in Denmark and the Nordic region, measured by both number of publications and turnover.