Gatehouse Media just released its early performance results from the 2017 roll-out of self-serve platforms, developed by iPublish, in just some of its 300 plus markets.

The results, presented in a webinar by LocalMediaAssociation and a case study by LocalMediaInsider, show both savings of multiple FTE’s,  in addition to roughly $1.25 million in new revenues, including $500,000 from reverse publication of obituary special sections.

In addition to obituaries, the first three verticals deployed include  private party and recruitment classifieds.

The private party platform, iPublish  Marketplace, was primarily a cost-savings as customers placed orders online instead of through the call center.

The recruitment desk  used the platform as an easier “back end” to place orders for a variety of products – with an easier placement of upset – as customers called in. Now the platform also has a DIY option customers can use.

Obituaries had the fasted revenue growth.