Industrial software maker targets SME market

ERP vendor SSA is targeting the small to medium enterprise industrial markets, in a move it says is designed to allow SME's to "computerise and stay in business".

According to Brian Kite, the company's Europe, Middle East and Asia vice president, " SME's tend to be less flexible than large companies and our ERP suite Max is designed to offer the maximum flexibility."

SSA, which acquired Max from ICL Fujitsu in April 2002, says that Max is also designed to give SME's the benefits of full functionality at a "fraction of the cost."

The company says the software suite is particularly aimed at "made-to-order manufacturers, especially engineering, building supply, textiles, apparel, furniture, automotive, plastic and packaging suppliers and discrete manufacturing."

Kite, who says SSA's main global competitors are Navison (now Microsoft) and Great Plains, says that this is a deliberate strategy by the company as the top end of the ERP market has become "saturated" in recent times.