ACDI/VOCA Selects Agresso for Worldwide Agility in Assisting Developing Democracies

VICTORIA, Canada and DALLAS, March 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- UNIT4 Business Software (http://www.unit4software.com),the world's leading provider of business software for fast changing organizations, has continued building momentum in the not-for-profit sector with its newest customer, ACDI/VOCA.

ACDI/VOCA (http://www.acdivoca.org), a world leader in the field of economic development and poverty reduction in emerging market countries, has signed a significant agreement with UNIT4 Business Software that includesthe majority ofthe Agresso Business World suite, including Financials, Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting, Project Costing and Billing, Procurement Management, Business Process Automation and Reporting and Analytics.The evaluation process involved a number of leading ERP solutions, however,UNIT4 Business Software was awarded the business based on Agresso'sinherentpost-implementation agility. The product's unique architecture allows business users to swiftly and cost-effectively respond to change pressures in their organization because of compliance issues, reorganizations, etc., without having to rely on external consultants.

"With nearly 100 programs in more than 40 countries worldwide, we required an agile solution thatwould be able to meet the needs of our operations overseas as well as at home," says ACDI/VOCA Chief Financial Officer Matt Renaud. "We sought functionally rich software that could grow with us to meet the evolving and dynamic needs of our organization into the future."

ACDI/VOCA fosters broad-based economic growth in emerging market countries, helping to raise living standards and create vibrant communities for some of the world's poorest people. With more than 45 years' experience, the organization's internal business systems progressed over time as a mix of formal and home-grown solutions managed both in Washington, D.C., and overseas. Today with more than $124 million in revenues, ACDI/VOCA transitions to a comprehensive, integrated system that will further enhance its operations and business practices.

"We expect Agresso Business World, with its integrated approach to information management, process management and reporting and analytics,to further our efforts to build ever greater transparency and accountability while improving operational efficiency," Renaud says.

UNIT4 Business Software attracts organizations from the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors that have a requirement to respond to business change quickly and easily. "We're seeing an ongoing trend of innovative not-for-profit organizations identifyingwith a group we call Businesses Living IN Change or BLINC," says Shelley Zapp, president of UNIT4 Business Software in North America. "We welcome ACDI/VOCA into this group and are humbled that Agresso will help contribute to their success in helping improve the lives of people around the world. Agresso's low total cost of ownership means more resources available toward what really counts - allowing ACDI/VOCA to fulfill their mission."

About UNIT4 Business Software

UNIT4 Business Software in North America (http://www.unit4software.com) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UNIT4, a $576 million enterprise resource planning (ERP) company and a top six mid-market ERP software player globally. UNIT4 Business Software's leading ERP product for Businesses Living INChange (BLINCTM) , Agresso Business World, is widely acknowledged as the business software solution that delivers the lowest Total Cost of Change. The software's unique VITA(TM) architecture allows for ongoing, post-implementation changes by business users, without the external IT costs typical of disparate systems.

Over 3,000 companies and organizations in 100 countries deploy Agresso Business World for both operational support and strategic management. The company's role-based, Web Services and Services-Oriented Architecture (SOA) enabled solutions include Financial Management, Human Resources and Payroll, Procurement Management, Project Costing and Billing, Reporting and Analytics, Business Process Automation, and Field Services and Asset Maintenance.

About ACDI/VOCA

ACDI/VOCA (http://www.acdivoca.org) strives to promote positive economic and social change worldwide by promoting economic opportunities for cooperatives, enterprises and communities through the innovative application of sound business practices. Its 45 years of service are distinguished by its commitment to overseas beneficiaries, wise stewardship of development resources and a knowledgeable, experienced, diverse and effective team.

The names of actual companies or products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Agresso, Agresso Business World, BLINC and VITA are registered trademarks of UNIT4 Business Software.

    Media contact:

    Sarah Milner
    Marketing & Communications Manager, UNIT4 Business Software
    P: +1-250-704-4484
    C: +1-250-516-2137
    E: [email protected]
    Twitter: @UNIT4SoftwareNA

SOURCE UNIT4 Business Software