Keeping a good reputation Intact

Article published in the ‘People in Business’ section of the Sunday Business Post. 18th January 2009

Entrepreneur Paul Marry has big plans for his company, Intact Software, in 2009.  His ‘to-do’ list for the next 12 months includes a move to new headquarters, hiring new staff and a rebranding campaign worth more than €100,000.  The company hopes to record a 10% rise in revenues this year to €3.3 million.

An accountant by trade, Mary founded Intact in 1993 with software developer Aidan Lawless.  Marry had worked in accountancy for seven years before moving to London where he worked for Orchard Software, which developed systems for accountants. “My seven years in accountancy gave me a very good insight into the dealings of business across a wide variety of industries,” he said. 

Two years after joining Orchard, Marry met Lawless, who had just graduated in software development.  They decided to pool their knowledge and have a go at providing software to small and medium sized business.  They were initially supporting Orchard’s software, but later decided to develop their own product.  Within four months of its foundation, Intact had a limited product and won its first client, who remains a customer today.

While growth was slow at first, customer recommendation around the time of the euro changeover helped push Intact’s reputation and business forward.  Marry said that the company’s main selling point was its ability to adapt its software to suit clients.
“There are the usual giants in the market, but they cannot offer the same model as we do,” he said.  “We differentiate ourselves by having the ability to tailor our software to suit specific business models,”  The firm’s customers include recycling body Repak.

Intact employs 30 people in Dundalk and Cork and plans to hire ten more staff over the coming 18 months.  Marry said the company’s rebranding and expansion – which includes a move to new €1.5 million headquarters in Dundalk - would increase its competitiveness, despite the economic slowdown.

“We want to expand the Intact name” he said.  “Some companies cut back on marketing in times like this, but we have increased our resources to help keep Intact at the forefront for our consumers, should they decide to change their software provider.”

The staff will concentrate on business development and support for the British market where Marry hopes to expand Intact’s network of partner companies.  “Partners know their market better than we ever will”, said Marry. “We have taken the line that we will provide the Intact solution, and they will carry out the implementation process and support.” 

He said that Intact could expand further afield, selling its product in other overseas markets. It already has a presence in Cyprus through a company called Dioratiki IT Solutions, which plans to sell Intact products in the Mediterranean region and the Middle East.  “We know the solution we provide is top class - our customers keep reminding us of this fact.  Businesses do not have to settle for an ‘off-the-shelve’ package rigid in its application and were any chance of getting amendments are zero.”

Intact Software provides tailored software for smart business and if you would like to find out more about what we can do for you please feel free to browse our website.  To truly evaluate if Intact will work for your company, we strongly recommend you arrange a meeting with one of our Software Sales Professionals to give you an in-dept commitment free demonstration.  Request a demo here.

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