UNIT4's Change-Embracing ERP Software Edges Out Competition for Victoria's Extensive Irrigation Renewal Initiative

SYDNEY AND SLIEDRECHT, The Netherlands, May 15, 2012 /CNW/ - UNIT4, the global business software group, and local partner, Agresso Australia, today announced the signing of a landmark deal with NVIRP (Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project).

Agresso Business World, UNIT4's flagship ERP software suite, has been selected in a significant contract to provide the IT backbone for this project, a joint initiative between the Victorian and Federal Government, which will oversee a major program of change within the water infrastructure sector in Victoria. Agresso Australia will provide vital professional and project management services.

Spanning the size of Tasmania and dubbed the 'food bowl' of Victoria, the region covers 68,000 square kilometres and is Australia's most extensive irrigation network. NVIRP is responsible for the most significant upgrade to the region's irrigation infrastructure in its 100-year history with automated technology and repairs to out-dated channels enhancing water delivery and efficiency. The project aims to recover water lost through leakage, seepage, evaporation and system inefficiencies through channel automation and remediation, metering upgrades and realigning the historical layout of the irrigation channels.

Following an exacting tender process and robust evaluation of leading ERP vendors, NVIRP selected Agresso for its flexibility, transparency and ability to respond rapidly to changing requirements, Agresso's easy-change VITA architecture will enable transparent and centralised management of the project's resources, complete with precise process and costing analysis.

NVIRP's selection of Agresso was the result of a highly contested procurement process involving the market's top tier ERP vendors.

In selecting Agresso, NVIRP demonstrated recognition that choosing the right ERP system was key to securing the regions viability and that in-line with the high importance of the state's food bowl was the high importance of its management. After implementing a comprehensive and transparent Agresso solution NVIRP will now be able to analyse the costs of every aspect of the project and report its findings with minimal effort.

"Agresso Australia is honoured to be working with NVIRP as part of an iconic program of change for Victoria's food bowl, where irrigation infrastructure and water management practices will be revitalized in a manner which is unprecedented elsewhere in the world.

In choosing Agresso, NVIRP will be able to continue to deliver innovative and high value investment decisions for Victorians by leveraging Agresso's infinitely flexible VITA architecture," said John Catarinich, CEO of Agresso Australia.

Agresso's financial and operational management solution, which can be reconfigured with astounding efficiency, centralizes and standardizes key data from the various modules, such as Payroll, Asset Management and Project Costing & Billing.

For dynamic government enterprises such as NVIRP, which must prudently manage taxpayer dollars and provide transparency in project reporting, Agresso delivers a 'single source of the truth' for the management of investment imperatives.

A growing number of Australian Government departments and agencies including the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) and Queensland's Department of Education are benefiting from the advantages Agresso's future-proof technology can deliver over traditional tier one ERP vendors.

About UNIT4

UNIT4 is a global business software and services company aimed at helping dynamic public sector, and commercial services organizations to embrace change simply, quickly and cost effectively in a market sector it calls 'Businesses Living IN Change' (BLINC)™.

The Group incorporates a number of the world's leading change embracing software brands including Agresso Business World, our flagship ERP suite for mid-sized services intensive organizations and Coda, our best-of-class financial management software.

With operations in 17 European countries, as well as 7 countries across North America, Asia Pacific and Africa and sales activities in several other countries, revenue of €454.7 million was realized in 2011. UNIT4 is headquartered in Sliedrecht, the Netherlands and has over 4,000 employees. It is listed on Euronext Amsterdam by NYSE Euronext and is included in the Amsterdam Midcap Index (AMX). For more information on UNIT4 or any of its operating companies, please follow us on Twitter @UNIT4_Group, visit our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/UNIT4BusinessSoftwareNV, visit the website at http://www.unit4.com

About Agresso Australia

As a major distributor of UNIT4's flagship product suite we implement and support the Agresso Business World ERP solution, helping dynamic People and Project Centric organisations manage their evolving needs effectively.

We strive to set the standard for business solutions that help dynamic organisations to embrace change - simply, quickly and cost effectively.

Commencing operations more than a decade ago, Agresso Australia has become a significant contributor to the global success of the UNIT4 business in the Asia Pacific region, delivering change-leveraging solutions to Australia's leading organisations.

At Agresso we bring a unique Australian flair to our advice, combining the best technology strategy and management approaches from Europe, the Americas and Asia whilst adding a commercial and innovative touch.

Our passionate team has experience in business and technology consulting, implementation, training and project and program management. We deliver results for our clients through creativity, collaboration, fresh thinking and by challenging the status quo.

Emma Keates, Group PR Manager, UNIT4, Tel: [phone]
Email: [email protected]