Mapics Inc, the AS/400 enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendor, has grabbed a foothold in the Windows NT ERP market by paying $48m for Pivotpoint Inc. In February, Mapics seemed intent on developing its own NT-based suite (CI No 3,601), but the acquisition of Woburn, Massachusetts-based Pivotpoint marks a new strategy. Mapics reckons it has saved nine months in getting its software to the market, even before it integrates Pivotpoint’s applications.
Pivotpoint’s Point.Man is an NT-based suite of enterprise applications, including a finance module, aimed at mid-range manufacturers. Mapics is also keen to get its hands on Pivotpoint’s Thru-Put software which enables manufacturing customers to schedule workload and capacity, a product which provides an NT counterpart to Mapics’ Wisdom advanced planning system (APS) for AS/400.
The acquisition should bring Mapics into competition with firms like JD Edwards and Baan, but it doesn’t seem worried. EMEA VP and general manager Mike Sutton says that whereas some of its competitors have delusions of high-end grandeur, Mapics wants nothing bigger than the mid-range. We’re obsessed with the mid-range, he says.
Atlanta, Georgia-based Mapics plans to integrate the English language version of Point.Man with its XA AS/400 offering by January, and roll out German, French, Spanish and Chinese editions midway through next year. Pivotpoint recorded revenue of around $25m last year and brings with it 700 customers to add to Mapics’ 3000.
