Informix Phils. posts 40% growth in '99

Notwithstanding the Y2K rollover and the modest economic growth experienced by the country last year, Informix Phils. reported a revenue growth of 40 percent as of end-1999.

"This is a favorable development parallel to Informix US corporate office's reorganization of our structure in 1999. This restructuring effort led to the establishment of four focused groups designed to deliver end-to-end enterprise solutions, specifically in e-commerce, content management, business intelligence and online transaction processing," said Sonny Halili, country manager of Informix Phils.

Revenues from licenses accounted for 45 percent of total revenue derived both from existing as well as new customers. Consulting and training, on the other hand, contributed 10 percent compared to five percent in the previous year, achieving a double-digit growth.

Halili said while majority of last year's revenue was contributed by online transaction servers and database licenses, business intelligence solutions still made a significant contribution of 10 percent to the business primarily due to the aggressive sales and marketing campaign mounted last year.

Data warehousing deals sealed by Informix last year include those with the Bureau of Customs, Caltex Phils., DHL Asia Pacific, Express Telecom and Insular Life.

Interestingly, Informix Phils. moved its offices to The Enterprise building in Makati last year, signifying the sustained growth of its business in the country.

Halili said the local office is looking at a 30 percent revenue growth for 2000, and efforts will continue to be geared towards the promotion of data warehousing and strengthening of its position in the market.

With the Y2K bug over and done with, organizations are more focused on using technology as a key to achieving organizational efficiency and competitive advantage, one way of which is through business intelligence, according to Halili.

"Web solutions are another area the local office intends to create a strong presence. Initial efforts were done in the last quarter of 1999 with the launch of Informix Internet Foundation 2000, the software company's industrial strength web engine. In the same event, Informix customer E-Greetings Network chief technology officer from the US, Asya Kamsky, provided some valuable information on how to build a successful dot.com. company to major companies who attended the launch," Halili recalled.

Informix Phils. will focus on the banking, insurance, manufacturing, telecommunications, retail and public sectors this year, having achieved significant stronghold in these industries.