VantagePoint Systems Inc. is a division of Solarsoft Business Systems, a provider of modern enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solutions. VantagePoint develops and markets business software solutions that make packaging businesses more competitive worldwide by maximizing plant and worker efficiency, by improving productivity and profitability, and by increasing customer satisfaction. VantagePoint professionals have been developing business software for packaging companies for over 15 years. VantagePoint also operates HRMS Inc., a provider of software solutions to the corrugated industry.

Estimated at US $200 billion in global revenues, the packaging manufacturing industry includes corrugated packaging, folding carton, flexible packaging, labels and displays, with combined North American annual IT spending estimated at US $2 billion. VantagePoint markets its current software products and services to the corrugated, folding carton, and flexible and consumer packaging sectors. These sectors collectively generate US $100 billion in annual revenue in North America alone. The packaging industry is currently consolidating, to remain competitive, companies are looking for ways to increase efficiency and to connect with customers.

VantagePoint's software solutions operate in over 600 packaging facilities across North America, South America, and Europe. Key customers include Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Menasha Packaging Company, International Paper, and Smurfit-Stone. Many of VantagePoint's customers have annual revenue over US $1 billion.

VantagePoint entered the consumer packaging segment in 2002 through the acquisition of UK-based Avalon Software, gaining a new product suite and an established customer base, in addition to industry expertise in this high-margin, retail packaging segment of the market. The folding carton, flexible market and label opportunity is of equivalent size to the corrugated segment. In addition to expanding into new markets related to packaging, VantagePoint is continuing to introduce new software solutions for the packaging industry by strengthening strategic alliances with other solution providers, and by exploring acquisition opportunities.

VantagePoint has strategic alliances with some of the world's largest software and systems providers including recognized global technology companies HP, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Progress Software and Cognos. Competition primarily consists of privately-held small companies who have created software specifically for the packaging industry. Their solutions fit into the lower end of the market and do not meet the needs of large, multi-plant organizations with integrated business operations. These competitors are generally closed architecture, limiting their acceptance by large organizations, and their ability to extend into the future. Other competitors include JD Edwards (PeopleSoft), Oracle, and SAP. These large software companies concentrate on selling into tier-one companies. While they offer open, expansible software architecture, their solutions are not pre-customized for the packaging industry, requiring lengthy implementation cycles and costly software customization.

VantagePoint has both expansible and open software architecture as the foundation for its ready-to-go industry-specific solution for all types of packaging manufacturers. With the only enterprise-wide, industry-specific solution built upon the Oracle database, the software can be deployed in either a centralized server or distributed network architecture. Ease of integration and a fully-trained professional services staff experienced in working with packaging manufacturers make VantagePoint one of the top software solutions for the packaging world.

VantagePoint Systems develops business software for packaging manufacturing companies and provides complete implementation, product support, and technical services to its customers. VantagePoint’s software solutions address the entire spectrum of packaging manufacturing including corrugated packaging, folding cartons, retail displays, food and beverage packaging, labels, and multi-wall bags. VantagePoint software is run by some of the largest packaging companies in the world including Smurfit-Stone, Georgia-Pacific, International Paper, and Menasha Packaging. VantagePoint also operates HRMS, Inc. as a wholly-owned subsidiary that provides business software for entry to mid-size corrugated packaging manufacturers. Collectively, VantagePoint’s software has been selected by over 600 packaging plants throughout North America and internationally, which positions VantagePoint as one of the leading suppliers of business software and related services to the paper and packaging industry.

VantagePoint Systems with locations in Vancouver, BC, Canada, Lombard, IL and Leicester, UK, is a division of Solarsoft Business Systems, a provider of modern enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solutions. For more information, visit www.vpgroup.com.

Solarsoft is a new name in mid-range ERP systems but an established supplier of software tailored to the needs of manufacturers, wholesale suppliers and distributors. The company has grown organically and through acquisition since 1986. Over 1,700 firms across North America, EMEA and Asia rely on Solarsoft to bring clarity and efficiency to their operations. Solarsoft was formed from the merger of CMS Software Inc and XKO Software Ltd, and recently acquired VantagePoint Systems, Inc. in Canada, with transactions funded by Marlin Equity Partners of Los Angeles. For more information, please visit www.solarsoft.com.