Baan, leading enterprise application provider for industrial enterprises and part of Invests plc, marched into 2003 with first quarter sales results that reflect strength in its enterprise solutions. Now in its 25th year, Baan signed 52 new customers during the quarter, demonstrating confidence among customers in Baan`s long-standing reputation for quality products, service and end-to-end industrial solutions.
For the quarter ending 31 March, Baan signed agreements with 28 new customers in the European region, 17 in the Americas and seven in the Asia-Pacific region.
"Despite continued softness in the IT market, results for the quarter demonstrate a belief and loyalty among customers in Baan`s hard-won reputation for leading-edge products and solutions that solve their business problems," said Baan President, Laurens van der Tang.
Commenting on the performance, Meta Group, vice-president, Ruediger Spies highlighted that under the current weak economy ERP sales have slowed down significantly. "Winning new customers and expanding licence sales proves to be very hard for ERP vendors currently. Therefore, every new customer, every new licence agreement counts twice as it shows that those selected survived the hard selection process," said Spies.
Managing Director of Softworx (the local Baan distributor), Jane Thomson said: "The general economy in Sub-Saharan Africa is standing up well compared to other territories, however, the enterprise solutions space (including ERP and its extensions) has a similar pattern to that reported for the other regions.
"The interest in and support for the Baan solutions is strong given this pattern and the uncertainty of the times," reports Thomson.
Among the new North American customers who signed agreements with Baan during the quarter are Joy Mining Machinery, Target Pro, Staples, and A&P in the US, in addition to Bonetera Monterrey, S.A. de C.V. and Paniplus, S.A. de C.V. in Mexico. In the European region, the major new customers during the quarter were: Ungricht and Afflerbach in Germany, PA Krasnoyarsk Combine Harvester Production in Russia, Boytas in Turkey, HUBER+SUHNER Group in Poland, and Si & Si Company in Serbia.
Asia-Pacific companies purchasing Baan for the first time in the quarter included the following Indian companies: Indofil Chemicals Company, Lakshmi Ring Travellers Ltd, Lloyd Electric & Engineering Ltd, Polygenta Technologies Ltd.
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For more than 25 years, industrial enterprises with complex make, move and service requirements have relied on Baan to help them improve their business performance. Baan is focused on delivering industry-defining enterprise application solutions and services to discrete manufacturers in the industrial machinery and equipment, electronics, automotive, and aerospace and defense sectors. With its unrivalled domain expertise in targeted vertical industries, Baan makes it possible for customers to achieve lowest total cost of ownership and fastest time-to-value from their enterprise solutions. Baan has 6 500 customers worldwide and installations at more than 21 000 customer sites and is part of the Development Division of Invensys plc. For more information, please visit www.baan.com.
Invensys plc
Invensys is a global leader in production technology. The group helps customers improve productivity, performance and profitability using innovative services and technologies and a deep understanding of their industries and applications.
Invensys Production Management works closely with customers to increase performance of production assets, maximise return on investment in production and data management technologies and remove cost and cash from the supply chain. The division includes APV, Avantis, Eurotherm, Foxboro, IMServ, SimSci-Esscor, Triconex and Wonderware. These businesses address process and batch industries - including oil and gas, chemicals, power and utilities, food and beverage, and personal health care - and the discrete and hybrid manufacturing sectors.
Invensys Rail Systems is a global leader in the design, manufacture, supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance of safety related rail signalling and control systems as well as a complete range of rail signaling and communications products. The business includes Westinghouse Rail Systems Limited (WRSL), Dimetronic Signals, Safetran Systems, Burco Services, Westinghouse Signals Australia and Foxboro Transportation. WRSL was recently awarded two contracts valued at more than lb850m (US$1.3 billion) for the renewal of signalling on the London Underground.
Invensys also currently serves other market sectors through its Development Division. The businesses in this division are: Appliance Controls, APV Baker, Baan, Climate Controls, Hansen Transmissions, Lambda, Metering Systems, Powerware and Teccor. Invensys is actively seeking to develop these businesses through equity partners or new owners.
Invensys operates in more than 60 countries, with its headquarters in London. For more information, visit www.invensys.com
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