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SCMP Reporter

Beefed-up technical support for its Java-based business-automation projects is set to accelerate Swedish firm Intentia's expansion for its enterprise resource planning (ERP) projects in Asia.

Intentia, a specialist in adopting Java for enterprise applications, last week announced the expansion of its Java competency centre in Kuala Lumpur to serve Hong Kong, the mainland, Taiwan, Japan and select markets in Southeast Asia.

That would increase Intentia's regional team of Java experts from 25 to more than 40. Its first Java centre was set up in Singapore two years ago.

This development is expected to widen the gap between Intentia and larger rivals SAP and Oracle in deploying new Internet-ready ERP projects in Asia.

'We have more than 20 Java customers across the region and more than 120 worldwide,' Intentia Asia-Pacific managing director David Hope said.

'Because we made our commitment to Java in 1996, we have had a five-year head-start on competitors. Our expanded support infrastructure helps us guarantee the success of our regional Java projects.'

Java is a key component of Intentia's Movex collaboration system, which is used by the manufacturing, maintenance and distribution industries.

Using the hardware and software platform portability of ERP applications created on the Java programming language, Intentia has pushed to integrate all departments and functions across an enterprise on to one computer system.

It does away with stand-alone systems used to run manufacturing, human resources, warehousing and finance, and replaces them with a unified, Internet-enabled program.

Not even a recession has dampened Intentia's optimism over its ERP prospects in Asia.

Mr Hope said: 'The economic downturn has had a positive impact for Intentia. Our customers are investing in our collaboration system as a way to lower costs.'

Intentia has more than 700 staff in the Asia-Pacific looking after a total of 300 enterprise customers, including non-Java projects.

Research firm Gartner has forecast Asia-Pacific ERP sales to grow an average 2.3 per cent a year until 2006, when ERP software revenues hit US$345.2 million. This year is predicted to see sluggish sales, followed by a steady pick-up next year.

In Hong Kong, Intentia aims to increase staff to 30 by the end of this year to better serve a growing portfolio of customers. After forming its Hong Kong operations in October 2001, the company quickly secured a string of ERP contracts that included projects with garment manufacturer TAL Apparel Group, Diadora, Gucci, Roche Diagnostics, Hirsch Armbander and Global Sourcing Asia.

Intentia entered the mainland in 1995 through a partnership with IBM. In 1998, the company formed an independent firm in Shanghai to directly serve the market. Customers include Tianjin Pipe, Wonderful Garments, JECO, Sapa, China Southwest Airlines and the mainland operations of Ikea, Sandvik and Maersk.



Strengthened team to boost Intentia's ERP profile in Asia