Member Article

Export Week special: Durham warehouse management software firm announces Hong Kong expansion

Warehouse management software (WMS) company Indigo Software has opened a subsidiary in Hong Kong, Indigo Software Asia Pacific, as it looks to flourish and implement its solutions to Asia’s ever-growing manufacturing marketplace.

Established over 36 years ago, the Durham-based independent firm works with clients in the food and drink, chemicals, apparel and industrial manufacturing sectors to better manage their operations through the application of digital tools.

Indigo APac will look to sell and apply its offering across the region by providing a cost-saving technological alternative to paying for increased labour and using outdated process methodologies.

Chinese market conditions

With inflation a rising problem for Chinese operators, manufacturing market forces are spending an increased amount of money in outsourcing their operations to less developed Asian economies - something Indigo MD Peter McLane hopes to plug.

Peter explained: “A proven software solution such Indigo’s represents an ideal option for Asian manufacturers in established markets such as China, plus new emerging trade zones like the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia.

“The large installed base of leading UK manufacturers gives potential customers the reassurance of a high quality solution and with the local support infrastructure of a new Asia Pacific office, we can implement quickly and efficiently, with minimal business disruption.

“China is no longer a low wage economy and manufacturers need to identify ways to improve cost efficiency, which is creating a large demand for proven technology solutions.”

Improving analogue processes through digital means

To head up the expansion, the firm has recruited Mike Hill, who has over 35 years experience in the software development industry - with over 25 years spent in the Asia Pacific region - as MD.

Mike believes the expansion will benefit local manufacturers, who are responsible for producing European and US brands, by giving them access to a higher standard of warehouse management already available - with many still relying on paper based processes to run their businesses.

With large volumes of apparel and footwear items in particular now produced by an ever-expanding number of mid sized Asian firms, Mike added that he is consequently “very optimistic about future growth prospects”.