IT Factory snaps up ECMS

Ebusiness software vendor says buy could boost reseller margins

Ebusiness software vendor IT Factory has claimed that its acquisition of US Microsoft Exchange software developer ECMS will give UK resellers the chance to make extra margins.

IT Factory, which produces collaborative ebusiness software, said the acquisition will give "a significant boost to its position as a market leader in cross-platform knowledge technology software".

Formerly specialising in software for the Lotus Notes platform, the acquisition will allow IT Factory to expand into the Microsoft Exchange platform, claimed Ian White, vice president of strategy and development at the company.

"This in turn will allow our channel partners to expand their product portfolios to cater for Microsoft Exchange, although we are unclear exactly when the technology will be available in the UK," he said. "IT Factory has a history of building solutions around our own and Lotus technology, but technology used around Microsoft works with our own architecture."

It will be looking to integrate its existing products into the Microsoft space, White added. He also claimed that the acquisition would help customers "ensure a seamless upgrade to future Microsoft .Net technologies".

Chief executive Lars Johansen said there was a "massive need" for Exchange 2000 applications. "While Lotus and Microsoft continue to lead in the collaborative platform space with Notes/Domino, IT Factory is delivering applications that leverage the full collaborative functionality of both," he claimed.

Andy Sakalian, president of ECMS, said the company was "pleased to be joining forces with IT Factory".