The enterprise software market had its challenges during last year’s downturn, but several privately held players rang in the New Year on a double-digit high note.
IQMS and Plex Systems Inc., both specialists in manufacturing ERP, experienced a spike in buyer activity despite the down economy, they said. And, while there may be a number of reasons why they flourished while others flatlined, industry observers said it is a combination of a commitment to a single-source model that reaches from the enterprise to the production floor and finding their niche.
Apriso, a developer of manufacturing operations management software, recorded a 17% revenue increase in 2009, with software license revenue alone jumping 26%. The company added eight new customers last year, spokesman Gordon Benzie said. Over the past three years, he added, Apriso has grown at a compound annual rate of 36%.
IQMS, which also claimed a double-digit profit in 2009, has tailored its EnterpriseIQ application to specific verticals, including automotive, CPG, medical, and plastics and rubber. And last year, IQMS released a new version of its flagship product that included more than 900 customer-driven enhancements, the company said. For example, one upgrade has a customized ERP system that combines inventory scanning, forklift-mounted monitors, and stocking location mapping for manufacturers.