Ballerup, 2011-03-17 11:34 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 
	In close cooperation with Microsoft, Columbus IT just secured a major order from one of Latvia’s biggest retail chains. The agreement comprises the delivery of Columbus IT’s retail solution based on Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail, strategic planning and implementation, consultancy and standard software. The new business solution will be delivered and implemented in all the chain’s stores in Latvia’s capital city, Riga. 

	“The agreement with the Latvian chain is particularly important for Columbus IT because it makes us the leading supplier of business solutions for the retail sector in Latvia and cements our close cooperation with Microsoft. I see great growth opportunities in the industry and throughout the Baltic Region, where we are represented. This excellent reference will help us achieve our goal of becoming the global market leader in the retail sector,” says CEO Claus E. Hansen, Columbus IT.

	 

	Thorough research

	The chain consists of seven very large stores in strategically important locations in Latvia's capital city, Riga. The Latvian retail chain has grown immensely in recent years and has developed into what are seen as “hypermarkets”. With a wide range of goods from white goods and electronics to fashion and sporting goods the company is based on a complex business model in which management, efficiency and overview are vital parameters.

	“The Latvian company found itself in the exact same situation as thousands of other large and smaller retail chains, which in recent years have experienced new demands and expectations from owners, suppliers and customers. This requires business systems that not only manage economy and the register systems across store structures and locations, but also can manage account and customer systems, storage systems and the chain’s internal logistics. At the same time, the solutions must be delivered quickly so that the company achieves fast ROI. We can meet all of these demands with our retail solution and our global consultancy business,” says CEO Claus E. Hansen, Columbus IT.

	The Latvian retail chain recently added two significant new areas of business. The stores were equipped with food departments and the chain established an extensive internet business.

	“We know that the chain was very thorough in its considerations when choosing a solution and a supplier. But in the comparison with other systems such as those from SAP, they chose Columbus IT. We demonstrated proven experience in solving this type of task many times before and we could deliver significantly faster ROI to the company than our competitors. Lastly, the fact that we are the biggest player in the area and have a very close-knit cooperation with Microsoft was a major factor in the company’s decision,” says CEO Claus E. Hansen, Columbus IT.

	The solution for the Latvian retail chain gathers ten smaller business systems into a single system based on the retail solution and Microsoft’s platform. This business solution was developed specifically to facilitate cooperative processes across companies and subdivisions, thereby creating competitive advantages. The system will be implemented over the coming months.

	 
About Columbus IT

	Columbus IT operates as a software and service company in the market for integrated business solutions based on Microsoft Dynamics primarily to the retail, food and industrial equipment manufacturing (IEM) industries. Columbus IT is one of the leading Microsoft Dynamics consulting companies, employing more than 1,000 staff operating in more than 25 countries and with a total customer base of more than 5,000 companies. Read more at www.columbusit.com.

	 
         For more information, please contact:
         CEO Claus E. Hansen, Columbus IT
         E-mail:        ceh@dk.columbusit.com
         Mobile:        +45 29 69 06 66