KarenSoft strengthens strategy, New Straits Times, Thursday, November 23, 2000

KarenSoft strengthens strategy

New Straits Times, Thursday, November 23, 2000


KARENSOFT Solutions Sdn Bhd will assume an application service provider (ASP) role to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with their enterprise resource planning/customer relationship management (ERP/CRM) implementation.

Its chief executive officer Chee Chong Hwa said the move is part of its strategy to enhance the level of penetration of such business solutions among the SMEs.

As a start, KarenSoft has set up a RM1 million data centre in Penang for rent, which can accommodate the needs of 1,000 customers at any one time. Chee said the data centre, powered by Intel Internet Architecture, is expected to go live in January next year.

He added that based on the latest statistics, there are at least 11,000 SMEs registered with the International. Trade and Industry Ministry, and another 97,000 which are unregistered.

"The numbers show how big our potential customers is because these SMEs will require some form of ERP solutions to be more productive and competitive in the new knowledge economy (k-economy)," he said.

The company is considering relocationg its data centre to Cyberjaya if its Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) ventures take off.

"We are opening the ASP service not only to local SMEs, but also other international players," Chee said, adding that the rental charges for its ERP2000 application will be about RM500 to RM3,000 depending on the modules used.

"Currently, we see the most demanding applications among SMEs are supply chain and payroll."

As part of its strategy, KarenSoft also plans to set up offices in major towns in order to respond faster to the needs of the SMEs.

Chee said by the end of next year the company will open an office in Johor Baru, add to the two outfits which are already operational in Penang and Petaling Jaya.

KarenSoft is also embarking on a certified KarenSoft Provider (CKSP) programme. According to Chee, the company plans to have at least 15 certified providers by next year.

KarenSoft ERP2000 is an n-tier Web-enabled enterprise resource planning solution for SMEs.

"ERP2000 is a scaled down version of large ERP applications to meet the requirements of companies with tight budgets," said Chee during the product launch in Kuala Lumpur last week.

The modular KarenSoft ERP2000 is designed to encourage ISO certification. It comprises an integrated set of modules to facilitate business processes such as distribution, material planning, inventory, purchasing, production planning, financial management and human resource management.

It is available in three versions - Lite, Standard and Advanced. The Lite version, which costs RM38,000, offers the sales distribution system, logistic management system, financial accounting system and human resources information system modules.

The Standard version offers extra modules such as materials requirement planning module and is priced at RM78,800.

The Advanced version is priced at RM128,800 for full capabilities with extra production and planning system module.


By Fauziah Muhtar