Soft Systems bets on IT solution for agri industry

BANGALORE: Kochi-based Soft Systems Limited is bullish on the IT

solutions for the agriculture industry, in specific for the

plantation industry, as they are expecting a 90 per cent growth this

financial year.

As part of its expansion plan for this year, Soft Systems is

setting up a branch office in Bangalore and subsidiary units in

America, Malaysia and Brazil. It presently has two offices in Kochi

and branch office in Calcutta. As part of its overseas presence, the

company, has a fully owned subsidiary office in Kenya and has

significant presence in Europe and Indonesia by way of tie-ups with

strategic partners.

The firm, which focusses on IT products for the plantation

industry, is now hoping to upgrade its flagship product - Harvest it.

The second version of the product, Harvest it II, which is set to be

released shortly, is based on a Application Service Provider (ASP)

model.

Being an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) for Microsoft, Soft

Systems is building a product, plantationtrade.com, based on the .net

technology. The new product, which is to be realized soon, is a B2B

exchange for buyers and suppliers related to the plantation industry.

According to the firm's managing director, Achamma Joseph "The

plantation industry across the world is one of the fastest emerging

market for IT solutions. Although big enterprises develop their own

in-house solutions, in the recent times demand for ready-to-deploy

and user-friendly products have risen.'

"Our strategic alliance with Microsoft and IBM has enabled to

gain international acceptance and we have sketched out expansions

plan both domestically and globally." Soft Systems, with nearly

200 employees, has decided to go on a private placement to raise

about $3 to 4 million to execute the expansion plans.