Lawson ERP rebound is running very well, post-merger, says CEO
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Lawson, which was last month billed as providing best business performance improvement per pound spent on ERP software for mid-sized manufacturers, by analyst Aberdeen, says it has transformed itself.
Harry Debes, Lawson CEO, claims that the year of transitioning and integrating two equal size, relatively poor performers post-merger, is now over. The business, he asserts, has now found fruitful industrial niche sectors and is getting serious attention.
“This time last year, the sales pipeline for M3 [the former Intentia Movex ERP] was $10m. Now it’s $97m. We have a viable competitive solution that’s already seen us take sales people in the US, for example, from five to 26 – and that will be 50 this time next year.”
Commenting on the struggle against opponents such as SAP and Oracle, he adds: “People want options – they want a choice. I love the position we’re in. I love the David and Goliath fight – taking on someone bigger and, based on you wits, outsmarting them, out-marketing them. When we do win, and we do, we do a great job.”
Lawson’s current turnover is $800m with a 10% operating profit and $500m cash in the bank. The company has seen profit grow from 3% to 11% over the last four quarters.
“As the business integrated, performance improved and that will now continue to improve,” insists Debes. “Each quarter has been better than the last and our guidance for this year is already much stronger than the results from last year. We’re on the road to strength and long term viability.”
Speaking as Lawson’s global PR tour arrived in the UK, he said: “Last year, customers were saying: ‘It sounds like a good story, but till you can prove it, I’m not going to spend much money with you. Now it’s completely different. Now we feel a lot more confident.”
