Lawson expands Unihold partnership to include ASP market

Lawson Software, the Enterprise behind the Internet, today expanded its partnership with Unihold Business Solutions, the sixth largest global IT company in Africa, to add Unihold as an Application Service Provider (ASP) in the LawsonTone remote computing program. The two companies will focus on the retail, professional services and healthcare markets. The announcement was made at the South African Computer Faire 2000 in Johannesburg.

According to Cliff van Tonder, country manager, Lawson Software Africa, the partnership with Unihold offers customers a world-class e-business infrastructure model without the risk and costs associated with owning an enterprise class system. "The synergy allows Lawson and Unihold to grow in market position while offering a premier solution," he comments. "Unihold`s extensive knowledge base and professional service, coupled with its impressive strategic consulting approach, forms the basis of the value-add Unihold can bring to the Lawson product range."

Johannesburg-based Unihold is the holding company of a primarily South African based group whose activities are concerned predominantly in the information technology industry. It operates in four divisions: consulting; infrastructure; business solutions and outsource.

"Unihold`s new ASP service will utilise Lawson`s software solutions to provide clients with a total hosted solution," van Tonder said. "Organisations are focusing on business practice and bottom line, instead of IT systems management. Investing in buying versus renting a total solution can be costly from both a maintenance and installation perspective, not to mention the additional costs for release upgrades." Van Tonder advises that companies can see a significant return on their investment by tasking an application service provider to take-on task of IT management.

Unihold, which already has an entrenched Virtual Private Network (VPN) system in place, can provide clients with the hosting of their IT systems, either through a VPN, the Internet or through dedicated leased lines.

Kobus Prinsloo, general manager, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Unihold, points out that ASP technology has long been associated with Lawson`s Internet solutions. "Lawson is positioned well to offer proven value to customers who find the cost of stand-alone ERP applications prohibitive."

Unihold was impressed with the architecture of Lawson software as well as the company`s focus on vertical markets. "Globally, Lawson is strong in retail, healthcare, professional services, banking, insurance and the public sector. The software was built from the ground up to be Internet-enabled and, as such, lends itself well to bringing companies quickly and economically into the electronic business age," adds Prinsloo.

For Prinsloo, it was purely a business decision to seek a partnership with Lawson Software. "As a consulting-lead, business solutions-driven organisation, Unihold must always be in a position to provide its customers with visionary solutions to fit their specific needs."

"Lawson`s suite of financial, logistic, human resources and e-Business application modules is acknowledged among the best mid-market ERP solutions. It complements our existing portfolio and is consistent with the overall Unihold strategy," Prinsloo says.

Unihold`s success as a Lawson STAR (Strategic Territory Alliance Relationship) business partner in providing consulting, implementation and support services to African organisations lead to the expanded ASP relationship.

Van Tonder has high expectations for the partnership. "Companies that want world-class enterprise software are the ultimate winners though this partnership. This relationship will only continue to grow and show results."