Ashley Ellington, managing director of Softline Enterprise, discusses the ever-increasing need for vertical IT solutions as the company launches Sage PayPoint, its retail-specific solution.
Increasing industry regulations, the need for a competitive advantage as well as improved business efficiencies have all driven an increased demand for tailored technology solutions to meet the unique needs of vertical industry sectors.
Ellington says that providing tailored solutions around a specific industry's core products has become essential: "IT purchasing is no longer about technology. It's about benefits and adding real value in the business to the people who need it. Vendors can no longer offer the same product to everyone across all verticals; they have to provide a genuine solution for the specific needs of an organisation."
In response to this industry demand, Sage PLC, Softline's parent company, has launched Sage Paypoint, its retail-specific solution for businesses operating within a trade or retail environment handling customer present transactions.
"It's about providing solutions not products. People don't buy products - they buy the benefit the product brings. Softline Enterprise is now able to provide local retailers with the ability to transact quickly and securely as well as manage stock control and pricing efficiently across the business," says Ellington. Sage PayPoint provides retailers with a user-friendly point of sale environment, enabling users to conduct customer sale and payment transactions quickly, accurately and securely. The program can be customised to reflect the unique processes of a business, adopting the terminology and the look and feel required. "This makes the system easier to use and reduces staff training overheads," says Ellington. It supports a business whether it operates a single till or many tills across multiple locations and is fully compatible with industry-leading hardware, transacting from a simple PC or via a network of retail terminals.
"Sage PayPoint is fully scalable to meet the specific needs of the retail business," comments Ellington.
"Our aim at Softline Enterprise is to develop ever-improving software solutions and Sage PayPoint is yet another example of how we are meeting the unique needs of our customers," concludes Ellington.
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Softline Enterprise is a leading supplier of enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions, delivering performance and Web capability that is essential for success in today's competitive business environment.
Addressing finance, distribution, manufacturing, services and eBusiness requirements, the product offering also supports and consolidates activity across expanding business needs.
Available on a wide range of operating systems and compatible with a host of industry-leading databases, it gives mid-range and larger organisations the reliability and scalability required to keep ahead of competitors. Softline Enterprise products are supported through a network of accredited partners which bring together the individual product and service components to deliver a complete and tailored solution. Softline Enterprise products include:
Line 500 - offering all the advantages of a traditional ERP solution, Line 500 provides tight financial control with full visibility of costs and powerful reporting tools. In addition, it includes an evaluation of market trends to assist customers to make informed strategic decisions. The product also manages cash flow through close budget control and efficient purchase requisitioning and supports international business with multi-language, multi-currency, multi-company features. It includes vertical solutions such as manufacturing and retail. SalesLogix - an affordable, fully scaleable and powerful CRM solution that is easily customised for medium-sized and divisions of large corporate businesses. SalesLogix is designed to integrate seamlessly with other business software and back office applications, providing customers with a holistic view of each customer. Softline
Softline is a leading provider of accounting, payroll and CRM software solutions to small, medium and large companies. Founded in 1988 by Ivan Epstein, Alan Osrin and Steven Cohen, Softline was established during the formative years of the software industry and listed on the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa in February 1997.
Softline expanded to establish a strong position within its area of focus in SA and Australia. Focused on the development of accounting, payroll and CRM software solutions, Softline has been a market-leader for 16 years. The group has a broad range of products offering users a variety of software solutions to run their businesses efficiently. Softline's leading brands include Softline Accpac, Softline Enterprise, Softline Pastel (Accounting and Payroll) and Softline VIP. The combination of the group's product offerings, provide Softline customers with comprehensive, well-branded accounting, payroll and CRM software solutions. In November 2003, Softline was acquired by Sage Group plc, an established FTSE 100 company. The group includes market-leading businesses throughout the UK, Europe, North America, SA and Australia, supplying business software to the small, medium and large business community. Softline has a solid track record of profitability and cash generation. The group delivers quality accounting, payroll and CRM software solutions that improve the efficiencies of businesses around the world. Sage
The Sage Group plc is a leading supplier of accounting and business management software solutions and related services for small, medium and large enterprises. It comprises market-leading businesses throughout Europe, UK, North America, SA and Australia. The Sage group plc has over 4.5 million small and mid-sized customers in 55 countries and 8 000 staff.
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