Nasdaq-listed Epicor Software, which helps small and medium-size companies launch electronic businesses, is attempting to break into the mainland market with English-language software translated into Chinese.
The California-based firm has put in much effort and gone to great expense to translate its applications, said senior vice-president of worldwide sales Vincent Sheeran. China 'is a market that everyone wants to get into', he said.
Epicor already has translated its electronic back-office and front-office software into Chinese, and is doing the same with its electronic storefront and procurement software, which it expects to release next year.
Mr Sheeran, on his first visit to Epicor's Hong Kong office, said the company planned to focus on the mainland and surrounding areas, along with South America, next year. Epicor, founded in 1984, has expanded during the past few years, partly through acquisitions, into one of the largest firms in its field.
However, this rapid growth caused staff duplication, forcing the company to cut staff by 11 per cent at the end of last year, Mr Sheeran said. In the second quarter this year, the company was in the red after taking some acquisition-related write-offs.
Epicor had planned its Chinese product launch long before the announcement that China would enter the World Trade Organisation and benefit from improved trade relations with the United States, he said.