Sales Technologies picks up Selectica

By ADAM GIFFORD

Auckland company Sales Technologies has picked up distribution rights for Selectica configurator software, to enhance its business selling Vantive customer relationship management software.

The company is packing both products into its kit bag for a full-on assault on the Australian market.

"For a small number of New Zealand firms, Selectica is a fantastic fit, but there are more companies in Australia which are the right scale," said Sales Technologies managing director John Devine.

Selectica, which costs $500,000 and up, is used by companies such as Dell and Cisco to allow people using their websites to choose from hundreds of options for a complex product or system.

Mr Devine said Sales Technologies chose Selectica after being asked by a customer to replace a system built in-house.

The main purpose of setting up a permanent Australian office is to build on the partnership Sales Technologies has established with PeopleSoft, which bought Vantive last year.

"We are working with them on a couple of levels in Australia - as a distributor ... targeting particular market segments, and on PeopleSoft accounts, which PeopleSoft manage but we are part of the sales team.

Since picking up the Vantive agency five years ago, Sales Technologies has carried out projects in Australia, without establishing an office there.

"I've seen a lot of companies go across the Tasman and come back two years later, having poured in a lot of money but not really getting established."

Sales Technologies has built up a team of 50 people in New Zealand.

It expects its Sydney office will have about 20 staff.

An office in Melbourne will open later in the year.

Mr Devine said Sales Technologies had worked on CRM projects in India and Singapore, and was looking at opportunities in the United States.