Untitled - David Kronemyer

THORN SOFIVARE: This major computing services
business had an excellent year, reporting revenue
grolr'th o{ around 20 per cent and a record year
end order book.
Software Sciences' 40 per cent revenue grou,th
reflected a good all round performance,
highlighted by its Commercial and Financial
Division and its Retail activities in Electronic
Point-O{-Sale (EPOS) systems.
Key UK contracts included the SI5 million pilot
phase in tJre national plan to automate Post Office
counter operations, and two substantial further
orders for the Automobile Association's vehicle
breakdown seruice r:entres-
Retail sector development was demonstrated by
completion o{ signilicant conhacts for Marks and
Spencer and the Burton Group for a variety of
computer systems. Demand for the Continuous
On-Line Tiading system, COLI - by Salomon
Brothers in London and by overseas customers -
led to operations being established in Denmark
and Japan. In the fast expanding EFTPOS
Bob Bnnen hus taken another upheaaal in his
stride. Norlr bosed. in Tokyo - uhere he mwed Jrom
Copenha6en - Bob,42, is putsuing opportu;nities in
Japan and Hong Kongfor thc COLT (Continuous
On-Line Trad.in6) integratnd deal entry system. Bob
belieues it ideal for the mnrqt Japonese banks
planning to inuest in tedtrnlogt portiatlarly to
supporT their copitol markets operatiorc. Alreody in
Japan, ouer 500 ma nngers haae seen it
d.emomtrate d. A compuling systems pr ofessiona)
uith 25 years' erpeience, Bob says,'COIII operates
at the uery heart of a counny's banking and,
fnaneial infrostructure- lou (an't expect to u in
anstomnrs for this sort of product unless you ere on
the spot - especial\r in Japan . You haue to be
prepared. to go uhere the business is.'While Bob
seeks that flrst or.l,er that could, he belieues, start o;n
avalanche, his uife, Maureen, is learning lapanese.
Although, *^ith the internotional potential of COLT,
learnhg yet rnother langunge may be on the utrds
before no long.