ERP Insights >> Magazine >> September - October -2015 issue
Focus Softnet: An IT Solutions Provider to Depend On
Author : Pankaj Kundwani
Thursday, October 8, 2015
The three primary objectives for any business are profit, growth and survival, and organizations achieving these goals are fortunate to see their efforts paying off. However, as the graph escalates and numbers proliferate, growth brings bigger challenges. When organizations expand their horizons, they find it intricate to establish proper flow of information, integrate various business functions, streamline business operations, optimize resources, and above all increase the Return on Investments (RoI). Having a disintegrated system can adversely affect the overall business growth, and thus, going for an ERP solution is not just an option but a necessity. Considering the wide ranging challenges businesses encounter, enterprise solutions like ERP, SCM or CRM are high on demand. On the other hand, due to lack of able consultants and expertise in this space, the number of failed implementations outnumbers the successful ones. Coming as an exception, the 1992 founded Focus Softnet is surely one of those who serve customers beyond selling engagements, to truly enable their businesses amidst growing business complexities and competitive pressures. The company not only aims to fanatically meet customers' demands, but also outperforms their expectations through its robust ERP frameworks.
With International headquarters in Dubai and Corporate Head Office in Hyderabad, Focus Softnet has evolved and grown into an established multinational company with 27 offices, 800+ employees and more than 200 business partners spread across 17 countries. The company has been constantly innovating and developing solutions like ERP, CRM and Mobile applications, also offering industry specific solutions for Education, Warehousing, Retail, Manufacturing, Restaurants, Healthcare, Facilities Management, Hospitality and Real Estate amongst others.
A One-Stop-Shop for End-to-End ERP Services
Initially known for its accounting software, Focus Softnet introduced its first ERP in 2002, which included MIS and other modules. Since then, the company has significantly invested in R&D and building a competent team to ensure that the products they develop are feature-rich and are based on state-of-the-art technologies.
Over the past 24 years, Focus Softnet has emerged as a one-stop-shop for end-to-end ERP services. It vests its forte in tailoring and customizing solutions thereby eliminating the risk of failure of ERP implementations. Its flagship ERP solution – 'Focus i' has made its name as a cost effective solution that combines highly customizable ERP with Business Intelligence tools. The solution is not only scalable, flexible and easily customizable but also easy to use. It enables users to run statistical models, analyze data, extract and generate business intelligence reports. The software also features a customizable dashboard interface and complete data dictionary benefitting the user to execute hassle-free transactions.
Syed Irfan Quadri, the Regional CEO for Indian Subcontinent, elaborates, "Our ERP solution - 'Focus', is perfect fit for companies looking for quick deployment of entire suite without adding recurring cost of highly skilled IT resources, yet would not like to compromise on the functionality and features."
Offering Solutions That Grow Along with Your Organization
The hallmark of Focus' growth story is its zeal and ability to keep itself ahead in the race of technology so as to provide its customers the best. The organization has always been on the innovative side of technology by adopting the latest technologies. Right from its inception where it came up with GUI in DOS platform to the first ERP in the region to bring dashboard on Blackberry device 5 years ago, Focus has been the first mover in embracing newest technologies and enabling clients' businesses.
Over the years, Focus Softnet has successfully helped over 1 Million users globally to streamline their business operations and increase their return on investments.
It has traversed with many organizations throughout their journeys by being an effective technology enabler and a growth partner. For instance, about a decade ago, when Gulf Craft Inc, a leading UAE based manufacturing company designing and building super yachts, was graduating from building small boats to designing and manufacturing bigger and more sophisticated luxury vessels, it was in the need for business applications and systems that could help in accommodating these growth plans.
Hence, Gulf Craft evaluated solutions from different vendors and decided to go with Focus, as the team at Focus understood their requirements and created customized modules to address those requirements. Soon, Gulf craft started using Focus 5.1 and eventually upgraded to Focus RT in 2007, and later to Focus i. Focus softnet was also able to integrate third party software such as the biometric software and the bar coding software with Focus i, which helped Gulf Craft get data on its inventories and production in real time. With this integration, the company was able to bring man hours into the costing module as well as bring real time store management where even the smallest inventory item used in production could be tracked in real time.
Gulf Craft credits Focus for enabling them to automate their financial and operational processes and helping them make better decisions by organizing, analyzing and generating reports out of the ERP data. Today, this company has grown to one of the leading boat builders worldwide, building more than 400 vessels annually.
Similarly, Focus Softnet has served many esteemed clienteles that include names like Hercules Sport International, Sri Chaitanya Techno School, ITC Ltd. (Agri Business Division), Bahrain Air, Gulf University, Pai International, Gulf Craft and National Bonds.
Understanding the Pulse of Clients' Businesses
Focus Softnet takes great pride in being adaptive to the varying needs of customers operating at differing levels and industries. Underlined with agility, flexibility and scalability, Focus' solutions are divided into three main categories- Entry Level, Mid-Line and Top-Line. As Irfan explains, "Our entry level solution is ideally suited for companies that need stand-alone vanilla Accounting solutions, to companies that would like to graduate into the ERP world where having only an accounting system is no longer enough. Our Mid-line product is ideally suited to SME companies with more evolved processes, and multiple locations wherein the corporate culture provides for business governance through technology. Our current top of the line system meets the expectations of larger SMEs and corporate clients alike, wherein the dependence of governance for the organization to function is close to 100 percent. Our agile and scalable systems cater to the entire spectrum of customers and our track record has demonstrated the incredible agility of our skilled team of professionals as well."
Delivering Global Solutions with a Local Flavor
Focus Softnet uses the latest technologies to develop its products and customizes them by offering region specific features that significantly reduces the implementation time. The company's latest versions of products boasts of state-of-art features such as Focus 8 Next Generation ERP, integrated Mobile Apps, integrated cloud CRM, multi-server synchronization, highly customizable MRP to Retail POS and many more modules.
Pointing out how Focus outperforms other competitors, Irfan states, "Our global spread across 17 countries uniquely equips us with 'Local' expertise, thereby providing customers with solutions relevant to them locally and globally. We ensure that their needs are understood and delivered each time without much of the requirements getting 'lost-in-translation'."
Stumbling Blocks Made Stepping Stones
Focus Softnet credits its success to its motivated team that has the capability of turning all the odds in their clients' favor. Irfan proudly reveals how the management has been able to keep the attrition rate far below the industry average, as more than 60 percent of the company's employees have been with the organization for over 10 years. He says, "We, as an organization believe in being lean without many hierarchical structures. Everybody across the company is just a phone call or an email away. We believe in attracting and retaining the best talents in development,tech support and marketing and offer them the right atmosphere where they learn from everyday challenges. Also, we never fail to recognize and appreciate productive efforts by our employees and reward them time to time."
Evoking a sense of ownership in the employees, Focus is one of the few companies that have offered equity ownership to deserving employees, who in turn feel motivated to better their own achievements. At the same time, the team at Focus Softnet does not believe in working akin to money making machines and takes out time to engage in activities pertaining to corporate social responsibility. The founders of Focus Softnet have also been supporting several charitable organizations in India and abroad. They continue to inspire and lead the team at Focus to achieve new milestones every single day.
The Road Ahead
Focus has grown at a rate of 15 percent annually for the last 10 years. Out of the total revenue recorded in the last financial year, the company claims to have generated close to 15 percent from manufacturing industry segment and around 20 percent from its services.
Having the required financial strength and a competent team on board, Focus Softnet aspires to be the Number 1 ERP solutions company in the geographies it operates in. It wishes to be known for providing high quality solutions that are scalable and robust to help clients overcome any business challenge. Irfan, being the leading man to handle company's operations in Indian subcontinent, summarizes company's focal point as "Delivering Strong Value Propositions & Providing Excellent Service Experiences." He further explicates, "Delivering highly comprehensive and user-level customizable solutions to a basic user with so much ease of use that they don't need to depend on highly qualified techies for performing their day to day job, is one of our greatest endeavors. Also, we strive to provide technological advanced solutions to our customers that can auto-upgrade, so that our customers are never outdated in terms of the technology they use."
Additionally, Focus Softnet would be moving from perpetual to 100 percent cloud based licensing model in next 3-5 years. This would ensure company's expansion across the globe is less challenging and that it is able to reach out to customers in the remotest corners of the world.
Focus Softnet: An IT Solutions Provider to Depend On
Author : Pankaj Kundwani
Thursday, October 8, 2015
The three primary objectives for any business are profit, growth and survival, and organizations achieving these goals are fortunate to see their efforts paying off. However, as the graph escalates and numbers proliferate, growth brings bigger challenges. When organizations expand their horizons, they find it intricate to establish proper flow of information, integrate various business functions, streamline business operations, optimize resources, and above all increase the Return on Investments (RoI). Having a disintegrated system can adversely affect the overall business growth, and thus, going for an ERP solution is not just an option but a necessity. Considering the wide ranging challenges businesses encounter, enterprise solutions like ERP, SCM or CRM are high on demand. On the other hand, due to lack of able consultants and expertise in this space, the number of failed implementations outnumbers the successful ones. Coming as an exception, the 1992 founded Focus Softnet is surely one of those who serve customers beyond selling engagements, to truly enable their businesses amidst growing business complexities and competitive pressures. The company not only aims to fanatically meet customers' demands, but also outperforms their expectations through its robust ERP frameworks.
With International headquarters in Dubai and Corporate Head Office in Hyderabad, Focus Softnet has evolved and grown into an established multinational company with 27 offices, 800+ employees and more than 200 business partners spread across 17 countries. The company has been constantly innovating and developing solutions like ERP, CRM and Mobile applications, also offering industry specific solutions for Education, Warehousing, Retail, Manufacturing, Restaurants, Healthcare, Facilities Management, Hospitality and Real Estate amongst others.
A One-Stop-Shop for End-to-End ERP Services
Initially known for its accounting software, Focus Softnet introduced its first ERP in 2002, which included MIS and other modules. Since then, the company has significantly invested in R&D and building a competent team to ensure that the products they develop are feature-rich and are based on state-of-the-art technologies.
Over the past 24 years, Focus Softnet has emerged as a one-stop-shop for end-to-end ERP services. It vests its forte in tailoring and customizing solutions thereby eliminating the risk of failure of ERP implementations. Its flagship ERP solution – 'Focus i' has made its name as a cost effective solution that combines highly customizable ERP with Business Intelligence tools. The solution is not only scalable, flexible and easily customizable but also easy to use. It enables users to run statistical models, analyze data, extract and generate business intelligence reports. The software also features a customizable dashboard interface and complete data dictionary benefitting the user to execute hassle-free transactions.
Syed Irfan Quadri, the Regional CEO for Indian Subcontinent, elaborates, "Our ERP solution - 'Focus', is perfect fit for companies looking for quick deployment of entire suite without adding recurring cost of highly skilled IT resources, yet would not like to compromise on the functionality and features."
Offering Solutions That Grow Along with Your Organization
The hallmark of Focus' growth story is its zeal and ability to keep itself ahead in the race of technology so as to provide its customers the best. The organization has always been on the innovative side of technology by adopting the latest technologies. Right from its inception where it came up with GUI in DOS platform to the first ERP in the region to bring dashboard on Blackberry device 5 years ago, Focus has been the first mover in embracing newest technologies and enabling clients' businesses.
Over the years, Focus Softnet has successfully helped over 1 Million users globally to streamline their business operations and increase their return on investments.
It has traversed with many organizations throughout their journeys by being an effective technology enabler and a growth partner. For instance, about a decade ago, when Gulf Craft Inc, a leading UAE based manufacturing company designing and building super yachts, was graduating from building small boats to designing and manufacturing bigger and more sophisticated luxury vessels, it was in the need for business applications and systems that could help in accommodating these growth plans.
Hence, Gulf Craft evaluated solutions from different vendors and decided to go with Focus, as the team at Focus understood their requirements and created customized modules to address those requirements. Soon, Gulf craft started using Focus 5.1 and eventually upgraded to Focus RT in 2007, and later to Focus i. Focus softnet was also able to integrate third party software such as the biometric software and the bar coding software with Focus i, which helped Gulf Craft get data on its inventories and production in real time. With this integration, the company was able to bring man hours into the costing module as well as bring real time store management where even the smallest inventory item used in production could be tracked in real time.
Gulf Craft credits Focus for enabling them to automate their financial and operational processes and helping them make better decisions by organizing, analyzing and generating reports out of the ERP data. Today, this company has grown to one of the leading boat builders worldwide, building more than 400 vessels annually.
Similarly, Focus Softnet has served many esteemed clienteles that include names like Hercules Sport International, Sri Chaitanya Techno School, ITC Ltd. (Agri Business Division), Bahrain Air, Gulf University, Pai International, Gulf Craft and National Bonds.
Understanding the Pulse of Clients' Businesses
Focus Softnet takes great pride in being adaptive to the varying needs of customers operating at differing levels and industries. Underlined with agility, flexibility and scalability, Focus' solutions are divided into three main categories- Entry Level, Mid-Line and Top-Line. As Irfan explains, "Our entry level solution is ideally suited for companies that need stand-alone vanilla Accounting solutions, to companies that would like to graduate into the ERP world where having only an accounting system is no longer enough. Our Mid-line product is ideally suited to SME companies with more evolved processes, and multiple locations wherein the corporate culture provides for business governance through technology. Our current top of the line system meets the expectations of larger SMEs and corporate clients alike, wherein the dependence of governance for the organization to function is close to 100 percent. Our agile and scalable systems cater to the entire spectrum of customers and our track record has demonstrated the incredible agility of our skilled team of professionals as well."
Delivering Global Solutions with a Local Flavor
Focus Softnet uses the latest technologies to develop its products and customizes them by offering region specific features that significantly reduces the implementation time. The company's latest versions of products boasts of state-of-art features such as Focus 8 Next Generation ERP, integrated Mobile Apps, integrated cloud CRM, multi-server synchronization, highly customizable MRP to Retail POS and many more modules.
Pointing out how Focus outperforms other competitors, Irfan states, "Our global spread across 17 countries uniquely equips us with 'Local' expertise, thereby providing customers with solutions relevant to them locally and globally. We ensure that their needs are understood and delivered each time without much of the requirements getting 'lost-in-translation'."
Stumbling Blocks Made Stepping Stones
Focus Softnet credits its success to its motivated team that has the capability of turning all the odds in their clients' favor. Irfan proudly reveals how the management has been able to keep the attrition rate far below the industry average, as more than 60 percent of the company's employees have been with the organization for over 10 years. He says, "We, as an organization believe in being lean without many hierarchical structures. Everybody across the company is just a phone call or an email away. We believe in attracting and retaining the best talents in development,tech support and marketing and offer them the right atmosphere where they learn from everyday challenges. Also, we never fail to recognize and appreciate productive efforts by our employees and reward them time to time."
Evoking a sense of ownership in the employees, Focus is one of the few companies that have offered equity ownership to deserving employees, who in turn feel motivated to better their own achievements. At the same time, the team at Focus Softnet does not believe in working akin to money making machines and takes out time to engage in activities pertaining to corporate social responsibility. The founders of Focus Softnet have also been supporting several charitable organizations in India and abroad. They continue to inspire and lead the team at Focus to achieve new milestones every single day.
The Road Ahead
Focus has grown at a rate of 15 percent annually for the last 10 years. Out of the total revenue recorded in the last financial year, the company claims to have generated close to 15 percent from manufacturing industry segment and around 20 percent from its services.
Having the required financial strength and a competent team on board, Focus Softnet aspires to be the Number 1 ERP solutions company in the geographies it operates in. It wishes to be known for providing high quality solutions that are scalable and robust to help clients overcome any business challenge. Irfan, being the leading man to handle company's operations in Indian subcontinent, summarizes company's focal point as "Delivering Strong Value Propositions & Providing Excellent Service Experiences." He further explicates, "Delivering highly comprehensive and user-level customizable solutions to a basic user with so much ease of use that they don't need to depend on highly qualified techies for performing their day to day job, is one of our greatest endeavors. Also, we strive to provide technological advanced solutions to our customers that can auto-upgrade, so that our customers are never outdated in terms of the technology they use."
Additionally, Focus Softnet would be moving from perpetual to 100 percent cloud based licensing model in next 3-5 years. This would ensure company's expansion across the globe is less challenging and that it is able to reach out to customers in the remotest corners of the world.
With International headquarters in Dubai and Corporate Head Office in Hyderabad, Focus Softnet has evolved and grown into an established multinational company with 27 offices, 800+ employees and more than 200 business partners spread across 17 countries. The company has been constantly innovating and developing solutions like ERP, CRM and Mobile applications, also offering industry specific solutions for Education, Warehousing, Retail, Manufacturing, Restaurants, Healthcare, Facilities Management, Hospitality and Real Estate amongst others.
A One-Stop-Shop for End-to-End ERP Services
Initially known for its accounting software, Focus Softnet introduced its first ERP in 2002, which included MIS and other modules. Since then, the company has significantly invested in R&D and building a competent team to ensure that the products they develop are feature-rich and are based on state-of-the-art technologies.
Over the past 24 years, Focus Softnet has emerged as a one-stop-shop for end-to-end ERP services. It vests its forte in tailoring and customizing solutions thereby eliminating the risk of failure of ERP implementations. Its flagship ERP solution – 'Focus i' has made its name as a cost effective solution that combines highly customizable ERP with Business Intelligence tools. The solution is not only scalable, flexible and easily customizable but also easy to use. It enables users to run statistical models, analyze data, extract and generate business intelligence reports. The software also features a customizable dashboard interface and complete data dictionary benefitting the user to execute hassle-free transactions.
Syed Irfan Quadri, the Regional CEO for Indian Subcontinent, elaborates, "Our ERP solution - 'Focus', is perfect fit for companies looking for quick deployment of entire suite without adding recurring cost of highly skilled IT resources, yet would not like to compromise on the functionality and features."
Offering Solutions That Grow Along with Your Organization
The hallmark of Focus' growth story is its zeal and ability to keep itself ahead in the race of technology so as to provide its customers the best. The organization has always been on the innovative side of technology by adopting the latest technologies. Right from its inception where it came up with GUI in DOS platform to the first ERP in the region to bring dashboard on Blackberry device 5 years ago, Focus has been the first mover in embracing newest technologies and enabling clients' businesses.
Over the years, Focus Softnet has successfully helped over 1 Million users globally to streamline their business operations and increase their return on investments.
It has traversed with many organizations throughout their journeys by being an effective technology enabler and a growth partner. For instance, about a decade ago, when Gulf Craft Inc, a leading UAE based manufacturing company designing and building super yachts, was graduating from building small boats to designing and manufacturing bigger and more sophisticated luxury vessels, it was in the need for business applications and systems that could help in accommodating these growth plans.
Hence, Gulf Craft evaluated solutions from different vendors and decided to go with Focus, as the team at Focus understood their requirements and created customized modules to address those requirements. Soon, Gulf craft started using Focus 5.1 and eventually upgraded to Focus RT in 2007, and later to Focus i. Focus softnet was also able to integrate third party software such as the biometric software and the bar coding software with Focus i, which helped Gulf Craft get data on its inventories and production in real time. With this integration, the company was able to bring man hours into the costing module as well as bring real time store management where even the smallest inventory item used in production could be tracked in real time.
Gulf Craft credits Focus for enabling them to automate their financial and operational processes and helping them make better decisions by organizing, analyzing and generating reports out of the ERP data. Today, this company has grown to one of the leading boat builders worldwide, building more than 400 vessels annually.
Similarly, Focus Softnet has served many esteemed clienteles that include names like Hercules Sport International, Sri Chaitanya Techno School, ITC Ltd. (Agri Business Division), Bahrain Air, Gulf University, Pai International, Gulf Craft and National Bonds.
Understanding the Pulse of Clients' Businesses
Focus Softnet takes great pride in being adaptive to the varying needs of customers operating at differing levels and industries. Underlined with agility, flexibility and scalability, Focus' solutions are divided into three main categories- Entry Level, Mid-Line and Top-Line. As Irfan explains, "Our entry level solution is ideally suited for companies that need stand-alone vanilla Accounting solutions, to companies that would like to graduate into the ERP world where having only an accounting system is no longer enough. Our Mid-line product is ideally suited to SME companies with more evolved processes, and multiple locations wherein the corporate culture provides for business governance through technology. Our current top of the line system meets the expectations of larger SMEs and corporate clients alike, wherein the dependence of governance for the organization to function is close to 100 percent. Our agile and scalable systems cater to the entire spectrum of customers and our track record has demonstrated the incredible agility of our skilled team of professionals as well."
Delivering Global Solutions with a Local Flavor
Focus Softnet uses the latest technologies to develop its products and customizes them by offering region specific features that significantly reduces the implementation time. The company's latest versions of products boasts of state-of-art features such as Focus 8 Next Generation ERP, integrated Mobile Apps, integrated cloud CRM, multi-server synchronization, highly customizable MRP to Retail POS and many more modules.
Pointing out how Focus outperforms other competitors, Irfan states, "Our global spread across 17 countries uniquely equips us with 'Local' expertise, thereby providing customers with solutions relevant to them locally and globally. We ensure that their needs are understood and delivered each time without much of the requirements getting 'lost-in-translation'."
Stumbling Blocks Made Stepping Stones
Focus Softnet credits its success to its motivated team that has the capability of turning all the odds in their clients' favor. Irfan proudly reveals how the management has been able to keep the attrition rate far below the industry average, as more than 60 percent of the company's employees have been with the organization for over 10 years. He says, "We, as an organization believe in being lean without many hierarchical structures. Everybody across the company is just a phone call or an email away. We believe in attracting and retaining the best talents in development,tech support and marketing and offer them the right atmosphere where they learn from everyday challenges. Also, we never fail to recognize and appreciate productive efforts by our employees and reward them time to time."
Evoking a sense of ownership in the employees, Focus is one of the few companies that have offered equity ownership to deserving employees, who in turn feel motivated to better their own achievements. At the same time, the team at Focus Softnet does not believe in working akin to money making machines and takes out time to engage in activities pertaining to corporate social responsibility. The founders of Focus Softnet have also been supporting several charitable organizations in India and abroad. They continue to inspire and lead the team at Focus to achieve new milestones every single day.
The Road Ahead
Focus has grown at a rate of 15 percent annually for the last 10 years. Out of the total revenue recorded in the last financial year, the company claims to have generated close to 15 percent from manufacturing industry segment and around 20 percent from its services.
Having the required financial strength and a competent team on board, Focus Softnet aspires to be the Number 1 ERP solutions company in the geographies it operates in. It wishes to be known for providing high quality solutions that are scalable and robust to help clients overcome any business challenge. Irfan, being the leading man to handle company's operations in Indian subcontinent, summarizes company's focal point as "Delivering Strong Value Propositions & Providing Excellent Service Experiences." He further explicates, "Delivering highly comprehensive and user-level customizable solutions to a basic user with so much ease of use that they don't need to depend on highly qualified techies for performing their day to day job, is one of our greatest endeavors. Also, we strive to provide technological advanced solutions to our customers that can auto-upgrade, so that our customers are never outdated in terms of the technology they use."
Additionally, Focus Softnet would be moving from perpetual to 100 percent cloud based licensing model in next 3-5 years. This would ensure company's expansion across the globe is less challenging and that it is able to reach out to customers in the remotest corners of the world.
