Pastel Software, the Sandton-based accounting and payroll software developer and supplier in the JSE-listed Softline Group, continues to expand into the central European market with the signing of a new distribution agreement with a Polish company.
The distribution agreement with Spektrum Accounting Systems, a Warsaw-based company affiliated with international accounting firm Grant Thornton's Polish operation, follows Pastel's initial thrust into Poland as a participant in an exhibition in late 1998.
"The central European market presents many opportunities. It is relatively open when compared to many of the other overseas markets we have gone into. The Polish market is particularly attractive because its economy has been enjoying annual growth rates of 7%," said Pastel International CEO Ivan Ferrer.
"Leading accounting and payroll software products in Poland are still DOS-based so that we have a technological advantage with our tried and tested Windows-based product range. The benefits of Windows and of the Internet connectivity in Pastel for online banking and e-commerce are significant. Our products are superior to any of those presently available in Poland."
Following research into the market, the Pastel Partner V5 for Windows accounting software package was translated into Polish and modified to meet the specific financial requirements of Poland. The product was successfully launched at the Komputer Expo 2000 in Warsaw at the end of January.
"The product drew a lot of interest from both dealers and end-users at the exhibition because it is fully localised and caters for the unique VAT and other tax systems applied in Poland," Ferrer said.
Pastel Software has been exporting accounting and payroll software programs since 1992. Its products are used by more than 150 000 companies in 37 countries worldwide. Polish is the eighth language into which the program has been translated. Other languages are English, Afrikaans, French, German, Portuguese, Danish and Dutch.
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