UNIT4 launches Open and Linked Data Initiative for Local Government to encourage complete financial transparency

Bristol, UK., July 29, 2010: UNIT4 Business Software Ltd, the UK division of UNIT4, the world’s leading provider of ERP for fast changing organisations, has today announced that it will provide its 90+ local government clients with the capability to meet or even exceed the requirements of the Government Transparency Programme, five months before the deadline and at no extra cost to either the councils or their taxpayers.

UNIT4’s Agresso ERP software is used by more local government organisations in the UK than any other, and its Open and Linked Data Initiative is unique in the marketplace. Agresso customers have always had access to their data in an open format, including the ability to extract, without external assistance, all spending and tender information above £500. The new Agresso utility means that they will also have access to Agresso data in a linked format, exceeding the Government’s requirements. This will provide an advantage by allowing UNIT4’s customers to provide more meaningful transparency; it will also accelerate the Government’s aims of holding public bodies to account, delivering better value for money in public spending and helping cut the record deficit.

As linked data can be cross-referenced and available to search by anyone, in any combination, it is hoped that this freedom will create efficient markets and more relevant information that can be used to greater social and economic benefit. For example, a council or supplier could compare the cost of photocopiers, or the cost of back-office services, or the cost of frontline services between local governments, at cost per head or department level. This also aids collaboration between councils (or any public sector bodies) to ensure that, for example, the best possible consolidated purchasing contracts are agreed.

"Resource planning and combining diverse information across the gamut of internal and external organisational operations is easier and more effective when utilising and contributing to rich seams of linked data.  The conclusions that are drawn also attract greater confidence when they are supported by transparent access to the underlying data " said Graham Klyne who is the Computing Officer at Oxford University responsible for leading projects to apply linked data technologies to research outputs.

“UNIT4 is the number one supplier of ERP systems to UK local government and we wanted to provide a service to our clients to help them meet new government transparency requirements early,” said Anwen Robinson the Managing Director of UNIT4 Business Software Ltd. “We want to help them to not just comply but to provide information that could play a significant part in improving public sector image by better demonstrating transparency, accountability and value to the taxpayer above and beyond what is required of them by Government.”
 
UNIT4 is best placed to lead the software vendor charge on transparency across public sector as a result of its unique product architecture. Its flagship product for the public sector is Agresso Business World, which is widely acknowledged for allowing user organisations to make ongoing, post-implementation changes without external IT costs and services typical of most ERP systems that can cost users huge sums of money each year.

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Notes to editors

About UNIT4
UNIT4 is a global business software and services company aimed at helping dynamic organizations to embrace change simply, quickly and cost effectively in a market sector it calls 'Businesses Living IN Change' (BLINC)™. The Group incorporates a number of the world’s leading change embracing software brands including Agresso Business World and CODA financial management software.

Agresso Business World is our flagship ERP suite for mid-sized services intensive organizations. It is widely acknowledged for delivering ongoing, post-implementation changes without the typical external IT costs and services that cost firms huge sums of money each year. This is achieved thanks to its powerful VITA™ architecture which is unmatched in the ERP world.

CODA Financials is our award-winning suite of best-of-class financial management software designed to integrate with your industry- and company-specific applications. CODA’s LINK™ architecture sets it apart from ordinary accounting systems by providing a financial information backbone for companies with fast-changing and mixed application environments. It is a global accounting solution for mid-to large sized organizations, offering a "no compromise" approach to financial modelling, process control and application choice.

In the UK we focus strongly on the public sector where we are a leading provider to local government, Further and Higher Education, Emergency Services and Health organisations.  In the commercial sectors Financial Services, Retail and Media and Publishing are key markets.  Overall we aim to be the UK’s foremost business software company, providing solutions that transform the delivery of public services and comprehensively support commercial organisation in their ability to adapt and prosper in rapidly changing environments.

UNIT4 is a top six mid-market ERP software player globally and the 2nd largest European ERP supplier. With offices in 13 European countries, as well 6 countries across North America, Asia Pacific and Africa and sales activities in several other countries, a revenue of €379.4 million was realized in 2009. UNIT4 is headquartered in Sliedrecht, the Netherlands. The company has 3,456 employees (31 December 2009).

For more information, please visit: www.unit4software.co.uk