The Softline group has made a strategic acquisition which will significantly enhance the electronic commerce capabilities of its key financial software applications.
Softline has acquired Opensoft, a specialist in the development of e-commerce and internet applications.
"This deal holds great potential for our group, enabling us to fast track our e-commerce initiatives." says Softline CEO Ivan Epstein.
"Softline has over 260 000 users of its mission-critical applications around the globe and we have to ensure our users are equipped to take advantage of the opportunities of doing business electronically as well as maintaining their competitive advantage".
"Over the past few years, we have established ourselves as leading developers and suppliers of proprietary financial software and Opensoft will enhance our position by providing the group with significant experience and expertise in developing database applications for Internet commerce."
"The respected US-based Forrester Research Inc. has forecast that Internet commerce revenues will escalate from around US$10 billion in 1997 to over US$180 billion by 2001 which puts a perspective on the growth potential" Epstein points out.
Opensoft focuses on the design and development of Web-based database applications which it supplies to leading South African businesses.
"In addition, the company will now refine and enhance the Softline group`s electronic commerce strategy and applications" says Epstein.
Among Opensoft`s recent developments is Edge-1 Online Business, a database e-commerce application catering for business to consumer and business to business transactions.
It is particularly suited to providing cost-effective online business solutions for the SME market - a market in which Softline is South Africa`s leading accounting software supplier.
"We can integrate the software giving Softline`s users a seamless two-way flow between their desktop accounting applications and their own online business" comments Ivan Epstein.
"Opensoft will provide Softline`s local and international operations with generic as well as custom-tailored web-based business applications" he says.
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