In June 2004,
VCSTIMELESS, leading software solutions provider
to the speciality retail sector, signed
a partnership agreement for the commercialisation
and support of its leading retail software
solutions with Bedford Technologies
Ltd, a specialist management solutions
provider who sell and deploy software solutions both
locally in China and abroad. Bedford
Technologies, based in Hong-Kong,
Guangzhou (Canton) and Shanghai now sell and support
the VCSTIMELESS solutions to local Chinese
retailers and to Western retail chains expanding
into China.
Under the terms of the agreement, Bedford Technologies has
translated the retail management solution, Colombus,
into Chinese and support existing European VCSTIMELESS clients expanding
into China.
The distribution agreement with Bedford Technologies marked
the first step in VCSTIMELESS’ international partner programme
and is a major development in its strategy to have a presence across China.
In order to break into this rapidly expanding new market, currently growing
at a rate of 15%, VCSTIMELESS chose a partner who can offer recognised
expertise and experience in the speciality retail IT sector, has a 100-strong
team and an established name in South East China.
In addition to its retail software activity, Bedford
Technologies also designs management solutions for textile companies
(manufacturers and exporters) and is a distributor of HR management solutions.
Some of its most prestigious clients include Ice-Fire, Itokin, Onwards
Kashiyama (textiles), FANCL (cosmetics), Links of London, New Time Jewellery
(jewellery), Jing Mei Industrial Group & United Pacific Industrial
Group (production).
Michel Ramis, CEO for VCSTIMELESS,
comments, “Numerous clients such
as childrenswear retailer, Orchestra, and
ladieswear retailer, Anne Fontaine, have
expanded into China. We therefore needed
a partner who shared the same fundamental
values of quality service and client satisfaction.
Bedford Technologies’ corporate positioning,
client base and development strategy made
it a perfect fit as a partner with whom
we could build a successful business relationship.”
Bedford Technologies selected VCSTIMELESS as
a business partner for a number of reasons:
the suitability of the multi-channel Colombus solution
for the Chinese retail market (a
solution already selected by more than
450 European clients), technological leadership
as an early adopter of the Microsoft .Net
platform and an ambitious strategy of international
development. Bedford Technologies saw
an alliance with VCSTIMELESS as an opportunity
to expand and enhance their product offering
and to grow the business by extending their
target market.
Eddy Yiu, Director
of Bedford Technologies,
comments, “One of the key elements
in our partnership with VCSTIMELESS is
our shared vision. We believe the time
is right to capitalise on the enormous
potential in the Chinese market by offering
best in class retail management
solutions adapted to the business
requirements of retailers operating in China.”
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Michel
Ramis, concludes, “In 2002 we began a strategy
of international development. We opened offices
across Europe and the US with the objective that
25% of our turnover in 2004 would be generated
by international operations. Today, the partnership
with Bedford Technologies offers
us the possibility to become the leading software
solutions provider in China and
to initiate business in the Far East. According
to provisional calculations, the Chinese market
could generate between 20-30% of our global turnover
within the next four years.”
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