Coda
Coda has focused its recent efforts on bringing out new applications for collaboration and procurement, alongside its flagship Coda Financials product (for up to 300 users) and its Coda Dream accounting package (up to 12 users).

Epicor
The 2004 acquisition of Scala Business Solutions has given Epicor renewed impetus in Europe – both had strong partnerships with Microsoft but very different geographic footprints. Scala was frequently used by departments linking up to head-office SAP implementations.

Exact Software
The resignation of its CEO rocked Exact but it is recognised as a leader in software for mid-size manufacturers and has enhanced its financials and supply chain modules.

Exchequer Software
The company provides accounting software for mid-sized businesses in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, retail, construction, and transportation.

GEAC
GEAC offers mid-size customers two product lines: GEAC SmartStream, a general suite of business application software; and System21 Aurora, an ERP suite for manufacturers, particularly in the food and beverage and apparel sectors.

IFS
Following a restructuring, IFS has restricted its vertical market focus to automotive; high-tech and medical devices; industrial manufacturing; process manufacturing; service and facilities management; utility and telecom; and aviation, rail and defence.

Intentia
The company has been selling its Movex system, primarily to mid-size companies in the manufacturing, maintenance and distribution industries, for over 20 years, migrating the product from the IBM AS/400 to a Java-based architecture in 1999.

Lawson Software
Lawson's acquisition of ClosedLoop Solutions allowed it to launch a suite of business intelligence tools for forecasting, planning and budgeting that will appeal to its client base of retail, healthcare and professional services companies.

Mapics
Once a stalwart of the IBM iSeries (formerly AS/400) platform, Mapics is now also deployed by mid-size manufacturing companies with relatively complex needs.

Microsoft Business Solutions
Microsoft built its business applications strength through its acquisition of Great Plains and Navision. It has pledged to support these products until at least 2013, but is also working on a unified product set, known as Project Green, that will create a new generation of component-based applications from its various product lines.

NetSuite
NetSuite has expanded from its roots in accounting (under the name NetLedger) to become a providor of integrated hosted solutions.

Oracle
Its E-Business Suite Special Edition is aimed at firms with 100 to 500 employees and revenue of £13 million to £160 million. The suite, which includes financials, order management, purchasing, and inventory modules, is sold pre-installed and pre-configured on a Linux server by Oracle's reseller network.

PeopleSoft
The acquisition of JD Edwards has extended PeopleSoft's reach into the mid-market significantly. The company now has three distinct product lines: its Enterprise suite, sold to mid-sized services companies; PeopleSoft Enterprise One (formerly JD Edwards 5 and OneWorld), aimed primarily at mid-market manufacturers; and PeopleSoft World (formerly JD Edwards WorldSoftware), for manufacturers committed to the IBM iSeries architecture.

QAD
A veteran of applications for mid-size manufacturing companies. The company focuses heavily on ‘lean' manufacturing processes, and has recently launched business intelligence tools and integrated Oxford Consulting, an electronic data interchange (EDI) specialist.

Ross Systems
Ross Systems, which became a division of chinadotcom in August this year, targets process manufacturers and has 1,200 customers in food and beverage, life sciences, chemicals and metals sectors.

Sage
The global market leader for mid-size and low-end financial accounting packages, Sage expanded its business applications portfolio with the contact management package Act! and customer relationship management suite SalesLogix. During 2004, the company also acquired the ACCPAC product from Computer Associates.

SAP
SAP's response to the mid-market comprises two key product lines. SAP BusinessOne can integrate with the core mySAP Business Suite through SAP's NetWeaver integration platform. It has also developed a packaged, fixed-scope/fixed-price version of the mySAP Business Suite, called mySAP All-in-One.

SSA Global Technologies
Acquisitions over the past few years include : Baan; Ironside; EXE; Arzoon and Marcam. None of these products will be discontinued as long as customers continue to pay annual maintenance fees, the company says, while a strategic alliance with IBM enables SSA technology to be standardised on IBM WebSphere technology to provide a portal interface to all the products.

Systems Union
Systems Union sells the SunSystems and Pegasus financial accounting packages and expanded its business intelligence capabilities with the acquisition of Lasata. SunSystems is used by 75% of FTSE100 companies.

Unit 4 Agresso
Unit 4 Agresso's financial accounting package Business World has a strong following among Benelux and Scandinavian companies. In the UK, many of its customers are in the public sectors, and in particular, higher education.