Lawson, AQEURO partner for new e-business solution in South Africa, Africa and Europe

Lawson Software, the Enterprise behind the Internet, today announced a strategic partnership with AQEURO Africa, a leading professional services firm in South Africa, to provide Lawson`s integrated human resources, financial, distribution and procurement solutions via the Web. The partnership advances Lawson`s lead in delivering its world-class enterprise business management solutions via an outsourcing model in the Application Service Provider (ASP) market. AQEURO will launch the hosted solution in July 2000 to companies throughout South Africa and Europe. The companies made the announcement today at the South African Computer Faire 2000 in Johannesburg.

Lawson`s "LawsonTone" remote computing program, announced at a Boston press conference in February 2000, integrates network, hosting and business process expertise with Lawson`s enterprise e-business solutions delivered via the Web. The event featured testimonials from seven of the 75 Lawson customers already gaining savings and return on investment running Lawson solutions in an outsourced Web model.

"Small-to-medium (SME) sized businesses must utilise software to help run their companies more efficiently, improve customer service and compete in the global marketplace," said Jan Smit, CEO, AQEURO Africa.

"But companies seek alternatives to the `ownership` model which forced businesses to live with the high costs and complexity associated with software technology. Many businesses would rather be making investments to strengthen their own firms` core competencies, instead of purchasing increasingly complicated, and rapidly changing IT systems."

LawsonTone Application Hosting is designed for businesses that wish to maintain full control over the use of their Lawson solutions, but don`t want to manage the software and supporting infrastructure themselves. In this model, Lawson applications reside on the infrastructure of an ASP. Customers contract directly with the ASP for use of the software, paying a fixed fee per month or term basis.

LawsonTone Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is engineered for companies that depend on a consulting partner to perform some or all of their business processes. The BPO hosts the Lawson solutions on their computing infrastructure and offers Lawson solutions as a value-add to their existing services. The business process outsourcer can also provide the staff to manage the business process such as payroll, invoicing or order entry.

"Hosting your IT infrastructure enables businesses to focus on vital business practices such as customer relationship management, human resource management and target achievement," Smit said. "After an organisation has made the decision to `rent` versus buy solutions, the choice of ASP depends upon adaptability, handling capability and affordability. The software is crucial to supplying these demands."

Founded in March 1998 AQEURO Africa is a subsidiary of Netherlands-based AQEURO Holdings BV. In response to growing unemployment among overqualified graduates and unskilled labour in Holland, Aquero developed a process to train disadvantaged citizens and empower them with the ability to take on a suitable, permanent job. This model of training was brought to South Africa and adapted to suit the population`s varied cultural, educational and ethnic background. AQEURO shifted its focus on the ASP market when it foresaw the adherent benefits of ASP as a tool in effective business management.

Cliff van Tonder, country manager, Lawson Software Africa explains the benefits to consumers flowing out of this relationship. "Through this partnership, companies will be empowered with fast and flexible e-business solutions that abate most of the high maintenance costs that come along with many enterprise class applications."

"We chose to partner with Lawson, because they not only boasted the best features in architecture and manageability, but contributed relevant knowledge and experience, granting AQEURO `go-to-market` confidence," Smit added. "Our partnership with Lawson has made this initiative a viable, competitive business offering," According to van Tonder, the relationship with AQEURO is already bearing fruits in the European market. "We are excited about the plans to give AQEURO`s client base in Europe access to the ASP centre here in South Africa - a further example of a global village without boundaries."

Smit compares Lawson to other software vendors, "Unlike competitive solution providers, Lawson`s software was initially designed for the Internet, instead of being adapted, making it more suited and efficient." He adds that as many of the clients considering ASP have existing systems and software in place, however, Web-enabled technology, integration and adaptability is a fundamental expectation. "Lawson`s advanced software integrates with legacy systems and existing software, keeping it affordable," he states.

AQEURO was impressed by Lawson`s scaleability, multi-tier architecture and easy to use applications. "With industry requirements ever-changing it is imperative to offer clients the option of scaling up or down, whilst still being compatible with the existing hardware and software. Additionally the solutions are robust, reliable and available 24 hours a day, everyday," Smit said.

AQEURO will offer three levels of information access depending on the company`s budget, security needs and server space. The levels include: via the Internet, where users will receive a domain password, through dedicated leased lines that are installed at the company, or via a virtual private network (VPN).

In Smit`s opinion, "Partnerships such as with Lawson, ensures that the services offered are of stringent industry standards. Using an ASP takes the risk out of investing in a system that shows no return and only renders excessive costs."

Van Tonder concludes by saying that the partnership is part of Lawson`s targeted approach at entering the ASP market in South Africa and the bigger EMEA region. "When big companies with extensive know-how and superb track records, put their heads together, the application of that power is phenomenal, particularly for the customer."