Dec 11, 2025

Philippe van Mastrigt

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Highlights from Presse & Media au Futur 2025

On December 3, 2025, Philippe van Mastrigt, our Managing Director for Europe, attended Presse & Media au Futur in Paris. This dynamic gathering is recognized as the main forum for the French publishing and media industry.

This year’s event attracted around 60 partners for insightful conferences and networking opportunities showcasing the latest trends in digital publishing, subscription management, and monetization strategies. Topics ranged from AI-driven personalization to sustainable business models for media companies. The organizers also presented a specific show for book publishers, who are increasingly perceived as complementary to press publishing as they converge on editorial and audio trends.

Among the sessions attended, the panel entitled “How do engagement proposals and payment methods for subscription offers optimize the acquisition and retention of subscribers?” provided particularly valuable insights (and attracted a very large audience). Moderated by Jean-François Hattier, the discussion featured Valentin Jubert, Digital Subscription Manager at Le Figaro, and Jean-Marie Lavigne, Subscription and Data Director at Groupe NGPA - La France Agricole, who shared their experiences with subscription payment strategies.

Lavigne discussed the successful transition of their B2B subscribers from a renewal-based model to SEPA direct debit auto-charge, resulting in a 20% increase in subscriber loyalty. The primary incentive for this change was offering premiums rather than price discounts, as the latter can erode margins and create long-term challenges when attempting to return to standard pricing.

Jubert explained that Le Figaro’s approach to auto-charge has mainly faced difficulties with opportunistic subscribers—individuals who subscribe for specific content and promptly cancel. To address this, Le Figaro implemented binding subscription periods linked to pricing. Speakers also noted the increasing adoption of digital wallet payment methods, which improve the management of credit card expiration dates. Further, digital wallets allow for segmentation of subscriber profiles; for example, Apple Pay users tend to be more desirable subscribers, whereas PayPal users present greater challenges, leading to the discontinuation of PayPal as a payment option. Interestingly, digital subscriptions primarily utilize credit cards and digital wallets, while print subscribers prefer SEPA direct debit—a method especially prevalent among core, loyal subscribers.

Following these case studies, Catherine Rogeau from French payment solution provider Lyra delivered an astute overview of current and emerging trends, along with strategic recommendations for publishers:

Payments via URL links are often used for transactions conducted over the phone or for requesting updates following payment failures or changes in expiration dates. However, such methods must be carefully managed to mitigate phishing risks through secure relationship management practices.
Credit card tokenization is increasingly supplanting traditional PCI DSS approaches, providing notable advantages in credit card management and reducing transaction rejections.
The rising adoption of digital wallets facilitates up-to-date credit card information and supports a wide range of purchases. QR code usage for payment processing is also expanding.
The entrance of new digital wallet providers beyond major players like Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and PayPal, highlighting the French CB wallet’s availability on the Apple Store, following regulatory actions requiring broader system access.
The potential growth of Wero, an instant credit transfer method between European banks. This method is being promoted across several European countries to counterbalance the dominance of MasterCard and Visa, offering merchants reduced transaction fees and simple implementation.

Presse & Media au Futur was a wonderful opportunity to meet with industry players in France, and to share the latest news around Advantage. Thanks to our large presence in both Europe and North America, we have a unique perspective on what is happening in France as compared with other parts of the world. We believe that this dialogue is essential for fostering collaboration and innovation.

“I have known and partnered with the staff of AdvantageCS since 2015, when we began laying the groundwork that led to the 2017 launch of a new business operating software system and deployment of their Cider web platform for eCommerce. They are people of integrity and deliver what they say they will deliver, and do it at--and at times, under—budget. They invested significantly in an ONIX integration project that has enabled us to have gold star data feeds to major accounts, and the strong subscription management capabilities of Advantage have enabled us to significantly grow our direct-to-consumer sales.”

Jeff Crosby

President & CEO

ECPA

(To the team upon going live on the final wave of their multi-phase migration to Advantage) “It was a wonderful launch. I would like to express our gratitude to you for the fantastic (double) launch of Advantage and the data warehouse at Mediahuis Nederland. Projects of this size and complexity are rare. But it was a great ride. Your commitment serves as an example to others. People often worked late into the night. There were teams in Portugal, America, Belgium and the Netherlands. Many bumps, and sometimes mountains, had to be overcome, and all this at a distance due to COVID-19 measures. But you all succeeded. From now on it all really starts with Advantage!”

Xavier van Leeuwe

CEO of Digital Marketplaces

Mediahuis Nederland

I have worked with other vendors implementing systems who didn't seem to care about the job or the quality of their work. I have learned that the most important thing about any vendor is their people. In my 17+ years of using Advantage and working with AdvantageCS, I am still impressed with the dedication and integrity of the people there. The quality of their work is important to them and I can trust them to work with me until I am fully satisfied.

Mark Fung-a-fat

Former Director of Business Systems

Massachusetts Medical Society

"Your staff are people who act with integrity. From veteran employees to the more recent hires, I’m very pleased with AdvantageCS as an organization.”

Tricia Koning

Former Director of Information Technology

“We are extremely pleased to now have Advantage running in three countries---Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Having Advantage as the single subscription system provides the efficiencies, cost reductions, and superior capabilities we need to move forward. The people at AdvantageCS are real professionals.”

Svend Erik Hansen

Former IT Director, Business Solutions

Aller Media

My favorite thing is AdvantageCS as a company; there are so many dedicated people.

Klas Persson

Former Head of Marketing Systems, Business Technology

Egmont

I like how information stays if I have to move from subscriptions, for example, to something else---it's great not to have to look up the customer information again. And I like the flow of the tables; they flow from one to the next very well.

Denise Spickler

Senior Customer Service Rep

Wolters Kluwer Health

“With Advantage, ACS offers a customer relationship management solution that excels in managing subscriptions, mail order, and digital access. From my perspective, it has no equivalent in France and Europe. Another plus is the active user group of 50+ global clients who add enhancements to the software and with whom we can network.”

Emmanuel Chevalier

Director, Customer Relationship Information Systems

Bayard

My favorite thing is the support of BPA audit requirements. I don't have to worry about it; it's always there and it works.

Randy Yi

Business Manager

American Association for the Advancement of Science

"The system works smoothly and in accordance with our expectations."

Carsten Weber

CEO

"We have a fabulous relationship with ACS. They give us a chance to contribute and shape the product, which is unique in the vendor world."

Suzanne Earley

Managing Director, Back Office Solutions

The Agora Companies

I love all the different ways I can do promotions. Advantage offers so many possibilities!

Kirsten Wandall Ohlsen

Marketing Automation Manager

Aller Leisure A/S

"Bayard has found with AdvantageCS a reliable long-term partner---something that was considered risky by many other French publishers when it was selected 15+ years ago, being the first in the French and continental market."

Hubert Chicou

Chairman of the Supervisory Board

Bayard

I have so many favorite things but I guess the top one would have to be the AdvantageCS staff. I've been working with them for quite a few years and everyone has always been friendly and helpful.

Joe Wixted

Director | Fulfillment Systems

American Medical Association

My favorite thing is the reporting. I like the flexibility and the fact that I can modify my own stuff.

Paul Aviles

Operations Director

My favorite thing is the help section---it's great! And also, the tremendous flexibility of the system.

Terri Cannon

Client Services Manager

Informa

Advantage supports large parts of our business and we can almost always find a way to use it to do what we want to do. Through our user experience, and in talking to other Advantage clients, I am amazed by the multitude of ways that different people use different system modules and components.

Dominic Toasland

Subscription Management Platform Architect

CDS Global

“Our business is built on Advantage---it is the heart of all our transactions. I have always had great experiences with ACS staff, and Advantage continues to get better and better.” (Comment explaining his reasons for giving ACS staff and services an “Excellent" rating.)

Getty Sarno

Chief Enterprise Architect

The Agora Companies

We are working together as an organization to better the product of Advantage so we can effectively be better together in the marketplace. A stronger Advantage is a stronger us as we go forward.

Terry Rowinski

President

CDS Global (US)

Highlights from Presse & Media au Futur 2025

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