In the past, collections were manually archived on paper, but today collections are stored digitally. Digital data is easily searchable, which is very useful when organizing exhibitions and when conducting research.
In addition, you can view at any time which objects are in storage and which can be lent or used for exhibitions. Despite the fact that there are already several providers of such collection registration systems, KLEKSI has entered the market. KLEKSI was developed by Sofco, a company located in Heibloem, Limburg, in the municipality of Leudal. For more than 20 years, Sofco has developed websites, webshops, online applications and custom software for more than 200 companies and organizations in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. In 2020, Sofco was approached by Museum Thorn, who were by now familiar with Sofco's services, to develop a new collection registration system for their museum. It soon became clear that developing such a system is fairly complicated and therefore requires a high investment. From conversations with the museum it became clear that more museums and heritage institutions might be interested in a new user-friendly system. This persuaded Sofco to develop such a system in collaboration with the museum and market it as a product.
Shortly afterwards the name KLEKSI came into being. This name is a corruption of the Limburse word 'collection'. The name is nice and short, immediately says what it is and also not unimportant, the domain names were still free. In addition, the name is also easy to understand/reduce internationally (collection, kollektion, kolleksiya, koleksi, collezione, etc...). In January 2021, Sofco started developing the system. The foundation of the system was laid together with Museum Thorn. Main thing was; it had to be user-friendly and easily transferable to volunteers who assist the curator in entering data.
Six months later, in June 2021, the system with the functions desired for Museum Thorn was delivered. The data that had previously been collected in another system were transferred free of charge by Sofco to the KLEKSI environment. After a short explanation of less than 30 minutes, the curator of Museum Thorn, mr. Mat Rongen, continuing to work on his collection. Only now faster, more efficient and more flexible. Two weeks later, he happily told that he had successfully explained to a second person who is working on the (digital) collection. This was the best proof for Sofco that it had succeeded in developing a user-friendly system.
