Sept/Oct 2003

Supply-chain software users choosing products from specialist LIS can now take advantage of the option to pay for the system on a monthly basis rather than outright. The scheme applies to both new and upgrading users of LIS products. The company says the result is that an advanced warehouse management system is now available from "just a few thousand pounds" a month.

LIS is describing the scheme as software rental. A similar approach is of course applied to products that are supplied on a hosted ASP (application service provider) basis; but it is comparatively rare in the world of licensed software that is installed and run by users.

LIS chief executive Martin Hiscox says the scheme "has turned the traditional pricing model for supply-chain applications on its head," adding that it removes a hurdle for would-be users hampered by budgetary or cash-flow constraints.

The single monthly payment covers software licences, implementation services, hardware and support.

• LIS has opened a software development facility in Bangalore, India, which it says will speed up the process of bringing applications to market.