Softworx strides into e-business with Clarus

Local enterprise application solution provider Softworx has signed a deal with Clarus Corporation, the world's third largest provider of Internet-based business-to-business e-commerce solutions. The agreement serves to both extend Clarus's international presence in a strategically important market and enables Softworx to further extend their portfolio of business solutions.

Commenting on the deal, Softworx managing director Gary Lawrence says he believes that the partnership will be the first to deliver local trading portals.

"While there has been a great deal of talk about business-to-business e-commerce, in South Africa, it has not yet really taken off. A reason for this is that South African organisations are being pigeonholed into US-centric marketplaces. The difference with our offering is that we are able to build local e-business trading communities that will allow South African organisations to transact online with their local suppliers and customers, making the e-business experience more valid and ultimately offering a better return on investment."

Lawrence continues that a primary reason for the selection of Clarus as an e-business partner for Softworx, is due to the similarity in the focus on delivery by the two companies. "Since inception, we have offered customers a low risk business model by focusing on the on-time, on-budget delivery of results. Similarly, Clarus concentrates on delivery rather than hype, having deployed more seats than any of its competitors."

Clarus specialises in Internet solutions that enable organisations to gain control over the procurement of operating resources - everything from office supplies to entertainment expenses. Additionally, it offers companies the opportunity to provide further services to Internet communities through their own leveraged trading exchanges, known as digital marketplaces.

The Clarus eMarket product, is a digital marketplace framework comprising a bundled solution of all the software, technology and services needed to create a company's trading network. Built entirely on a Microsoft platform, the Clarus solutions also include content management, contract management, payment settlement, auctioning, and analytics.

"Our key differentiator is the ClarusDirect architecture and open trading network for e-commerce," says David Edwards Managing Director at Clarus EMEA. "Most online marketplaces use a middleman model in which the vendor controls the trading and the users pay a fee per transaction. This means the more they trade, the more they pay. In contrast, Clarus cuts out the middleman by offering a direct trading environment, based on network-leveraged products. As no transaction fees are paid, the more our customers trade, the more they save."

Lawrence believes that the Clarus 'free trade' model is a compelling benefit that will kickstart local companies into e-business action. "Competitor models insist on an IT vendor wedging themselves between established relationships with customers and suppliers by charging transaction fees. This approach means that the more successful a company's e-commerce strategy is, the more it costs them - the very opposite of what e-business aims to achieve. We believe local companies are unlikely to give away control of their customer/supplier relationships or release strategic information that gives them a competitive advantage."

Softworx also has the right to sell and implement the Clarus e-commerce suite that provides Web-based applications for functions like electronic procurement, expense and travel. The suite includes the flagship product Clarus eProcurement, Clarus SupplierUniverse, ClarusContent, Clarus eXpense, Clarus View and Clarus Fusion.

"Our alliance with Clarus moves us into the e-business world quickly and effectively. We foresee the bulk of our future business coming from the development of local online trading communities, as more local organisations realise the cost savings this evolution of business provides. As most of our existing customers already have the necessary back-end systems in place, we will now be focusing on bringing them into the emerging and exciting world of e-business," concludes Lawrence.

For further information on Clarus, go to www.claruscorp.com For further information on Softworx, go to www.esoftworx.co.za