Relaunch for web package

By MICHAEL FOREMAN

Auckland e-commerce company exo-net has beefed up its easyshop online storefront software and will launch the repackaged product as LavaStream this week.

The product is exo-net's first big release since it was acquired by Australian IT company Solution 6 last August for $38 million in cash and shares.

The LavaStream package includes web shop software that integrates with the exo-net 3000 accounts system, domain name registration, and three months' worth of hosting by business internet service providers (ISPs) Asia Online or Iprolink.

Exo-net says the $13,000 LavaStream package will put some of the capabilities of integrated ERP (enterprise resource planning) software from heavyweight manufacturers such as SAP, JD Edwards, Baan and Great Plains, within the reach of small businesses.

As well as offering online ordering from a catalogue, LavaStream users have the option of letting their customers review their account details, or even view inventory levels.

One of LavaStream's key new features is a data exchanger that allows users to maintain their websites offline. Any changes to prices or product information are handled by automatic upload to the hosting ISP, which also downloads customer orders.

Easyshop users were previously required to log on each time they wished to amend any details, or to maintain a permanent internet connection.

Exo-net general manager Steve Rieger said a typical 20-employee business migrating to LavaStream/exo-net 3000 from an existing offline accounting system would require perhaps five licences at $2000 a head.

Additional web design work and data translation might push the total cost of a small installation to the $23,000-$28000 range, but he considered that value for money.

"You cannot get anything like this for this amount of money elsewhere."

Mr Rieger said exo-net was expecting to install LavaStream at 100 sites in New Zealand and 400 in Australia within 18 months. This would represent about 10 per cent of the exo-net 3000 customer base, which he expected to double from the present 2500 users over that period.

Early LavaStream customers included Auckland sports equipment distributor Cameron Sports and Dunedin-based DVD, video and martial arts magazine importer Manga.

Mr Rieger said exo-net, which has 50 staff at its offices in Auckland, Sydney and Singapore, was hiring 10 more developers and would open offices in Malaysia and Britain before Christmas.


Links


Cameron Sports

Manga