AROBS changes lives!

From May 4 to 15, a team of employees from AROBS took part in a blitz-build voluntary action organized by Habitat for Humanity Cluj. The action was intended to build a house for one poor family in 10 days.

The house was rebuilt from the ground through the efforts of 10 voluntary teams enlisted in the project. Thus, the beneficiary family was given the chance to decent living.

AROBS ranks 49 in The Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA

The rapid growth over the past 5 years placed AROBS on the 49th position in the top of the first 500 technology companies in Europe, Middle East and Africa - Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA 2008, a top of companies with the fastest rates of annual revenue growth.

Voicu Oprean, General Manager and Major Shareholder of AROBS, who participated at the Deloitte Award Ceremony in London, said: “The 2.722,34% rate of growth over the past 5 years represents a great accomplishment due mostly to AROBS’ team as well as to the extremely dynamic industry where AROBS activates: development of own software solutions and their distribution at national level – fleet tracking and management, sales force automation for FMCG and CRM sectors and distribution of GPS navigation systems.”

 “AROBS is an example of entrepreneurial excellence in an extremely competitive industry and deserves all our consideration for this success, especially since the company has self-financed during all this period”, declared Karel Bakkes, responsible for The Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA program.

The launch of this top took place in November 25th during a ceremony in London, event which was attended by representatives of most winning companies.

AROBS opens new headquarters in Cluj-Napoca

AROBS Transilvania Software has officially opened the new headquarters in Cluj Napoca, an investment estimated to 1 million euros.

The inauguration of this new headquarters represents a very important stage in the development strategy of the company for the following years, strategy which aims at the consolidation of AROBS’ position on the national software development market, and its expansion on the international market.

The new headquarters is situated in a residential area of Cluj- Napoca, near the city center, having 1000 square meters.”The work conditions are high level, the large offices and the friendly environment offering the employees the possibility to be more creative and productive, essential qualities for the development of an IT solutions company, on a market dominated by technology distributors”, has stated Mr. Voicu Oprean, the General Manager of AROBS Transilvania Software.

The company has at the moment over 150 employees, being in a continuous growth, and aiming at 180 by the end of the year, thus building a competitive team, inclinated towards innovation, team made of  IT, sales, marketing, financial- accounting and human resources specialists.

The exceptional development from the last years has placed AROBS Transilvania Software in the top 5 companies in the Deloitte Central Europe FAST 50 for 2008, a top of the technology companies with the most rapid growth in Central and Eastern Europe, registering as such a premiere in the history of FAST 50, now at its 9th edition. 

At the inauguration of the new headquarters have participated the Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Mr. Karoly Borbely, László Tandel, the manager of the Deloitte bureau in Cluj and local officials, Mr. Mihai Leu, the rally pilot and box world champion, AROBS business partners and clients, and journalists of the written and audio-visual press.

AROBS Ranks 5 th in the Deloitte Central Europe Technology FAST 50 2008

Bucharest, October 14 – Romanian software developers AROBS Transilvania Software (Cluj-Napoca), TeamNet International (Bucharest) and LASTING Software (Timisoara) ranked 5, 7 and 38 respectively in the Deloitte Central Europe Technology FAST 50 2008, a top of the first 50 fastest growing technology companies in the region, now in its ninth edition.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                     
“This is the first time Romania joins the program and the debute was more than promising, since we have three companies qualified, two of them directly in Top 10, with solid growth rates in turnover over the past five years,” said George Mucibabici, Chairman with Deloitte Romania.

Cluj-Napoca-based AROBS Transilvania, on the fifth place, reported a 2.722% turnover growth rate from 2003 to 2007. TeamNet International, part of Asesoft Group, ranked 7 with 2.028%. LASTING Software, part of Timisoara-based LASTING System, occupied the 38th position with 407%.

The result places Romania on the fifth place among countries in the region (alongside Bulgaria) with 6% of total companies represented in the Top.

“The Romanian companies’ performance in a ranking for Intellectual Property producers is remarkable,” underlined George Mucibabici. “Until now, the market had only a few reputable producers, on a market dominated by technology distributors. Now new players consolidate their position on the market, producing, selling and implementing their own solutions on the local market or abroad.”

The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 program started in Silicon Valley, California, in 1995, and later on expanded into a Technology Fast 500 in North America, Asia-Pacific and Europe. This program operates independently in 17 countries outside the United States and also in the Central European region, in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria and this year also in Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Lithuania.

This year Deloitte Central Europe invited more than 3,000 candidate firms throughout
the region to participate in the survey. Each year the number of participating countries and invited firms increases.

Firms are selected based on eligibility criteria. First of all, companies have to own proprietary intellectual property or proprietary technology that contributes significantly to its operating revenues, manufacture a technology product or devote a significant part of revenues to research and development of technology. Candidates must report yearly revenues of at least 50,000 Euro in each of the last five years (2003–2007). Also, companies must be headquartered in Central Europe, be in business for at least five years and have an ownership structure that excludes majority-owned subsidiaries of strategic entities.

The 2008 edition in Central Europe is dominated by Hungary, with 14 companies (28% of the total). The neighboring country thus increased its total count for the fourth year in a row (from only one company qualified in 2004).  The Czech Republic comes next, with 13 companies (26%). Poland has nine companies (20%) and Slovakia – 4 (8%). The leader of the 2008 ranking – Blue Media, comes from Poland, with an impressive growth rate of 10.027%.

Software and Internet remain the most dominant business sectors in the ranking. An increase in share of Internet companies is expected over the next year, due to higher Internet penetration in the Central European region.

The first GPS monitored marathon organized in Romania

The 12th of October, 9 o’clock, has started the International Marathon Bucharest, a brand new event in Romania. Five of our colleagues were there to represent our company, AROBS Transilvania Software. During the marathon, the AROBS team members have been monitored with GPS devices, which support TrackGPS localization software solutions, developed by our company. Therefore, the public was able to track their route live, with start timing, speed, etc, on the screen of a laptop located in the immediate area.

The marathon was divided into 5 courses as it follows: The Marathon (42 KM), The Semi-Marathon (21 Km), The Popular Course (4Km), Children’s Course (1km) and Corporate Course –relay race of 4 people- teams (42Km).

AROBS team participated in 2 of the 5 races, the Corporate Course and Popular Course. The route of the marathon was Parliament Palace- Alba Iulia Square- University – Romana Square – Victory Square – Victory Avenue – Dambovitei Avenue- Romanian Opera – Cotroceni Bridge – Romana Square – back to the Parliament Palace, and the organizers have estimated a number of over 600 .

AROBS Transilvania Software also participated as a sponsor of this event, offering a Smailo GPS navigation system to the winner of the Popular Course.

We thank AROBS team members for participating!!!

AROBS launches Smailo, the first Romanian trademark GPS navigation system

In mathematics, a+b+c+d= X…

For AROBS, 4.3” screen navigation system+ touch screen for data easy entry+ step by step vocal guidance+ best price on the market=Smailo, the new trademark launched by AROBS Transilvania Software.

The new product is a navigation system that allows the fast automatic calculation of the routes and has an excellent precision in determining the GPS position of the user. The product is meant for all traffic participants, due to its easy-to-use intuitive menu. Having an elegant and compact design, Smailo makes itself noticed with a friendly interface, vocal guidance and pocket size.


It allows navigation throughout 43 countries in Europe, using detailed maps of these countries and plenty of POI’s. Reliable, precise and accessible, Smailo offers fast calculation of the routes due to the newest SiFR III technology, and facilitates navigation at the ‘highest’ dimensions on the 4.3” wide touch screen.

The device’s technical features emphasize its value and the excellent quality-price balance: operating system- Microsoft Windows CE .net 4.2, navigation software- iGo East Eorupe/ Full Europe, display type -TFT LCD with Touch screen, Resolution – 480x272 pixels, display diagonal (inch) 4.3”, Processor - Freescale MX21 266 MHz 32 bit microprocessor, GPS receiver- SiRF Star III (20 channels), internal memory- SDRAM 64MB, NOR Flash 8MB, NOR Flash 64MB (optional), Slot: SD/MMC Connector: Mini USB.

January 24th 2008

AROBS Transilvania Software registered a 130% rise in 2007

AROBS Transilvania Software (www.arobs.com) has registered a 130% rise as compared to 2006, with a total turnover of over 5 million euros, which means a 130% percentage rise as compared to the economical level in 2006, mainly due to the market growth, as well as due to the rised interest showed for the solutions offered by AROBS.

AROBS is on the Romanian market since 1998 and is one of the most important providers of software for mobile applications and distributors of GPS equipments and GPS smartphones. AROBS offers the following software solutions for the Romanian market: :
Optimall by AROBS – SFA solution for sales force automation developed on PALM
                                  terminals or Windows Mobile;
ABOS si ATOS – software solutions for the tourism industry;
TrackGPS Business – a GPS/GPRS fleet tracking system.

The most significant growth comes from the software solutions development and from the distribution of GPS equipments and GPS smartphones, a domain in which is a continuous expansion in Romania.  

In 2007, AROBS, as a distributor of E-TEN, Mio, Qtek, MyGuide, NavRoad, Adapt, has significantly extended the distribution network by aplying a “good prices” politics, adapted to the market’s request, as well as by offering certain facilities to the partner companies (the possibility to replace the devices in 48 hours, stocks, stock protection). At the moment, AROBS has an over 100 partners network within the country, and still growing.

As related to the software solutions, the 2007 HIT was TrackGPS – the GPS/GPRS fleet tracking system – due to the higher and higher need of improvement of the activities related to the auto fleet, expressed by the companies that own larger or smaller fleet and which are constrained by the need to improve their activity and results.

“Over 1000 vehicles are localized and monitored by TrackGPS and over 250 distribution companies within the country are using SFA Optimall by AROBS” declared Voicu Oprean, General Manager of the company and main shareholder.

Among the clients that are using our solutions are: RCS&RDS, Mobile Distribution (EURO GSM), Jidvei, Novartis Consumer Health Services, Medimfarm, Proton Auto, Elit, Agil, Tarell Group and many others.

The company’s efforts directed towards the promotion of outsourcing development projects have been materialized in a significant increase of the gross income, AROBS having been partner of some very important international companies like: Hotelzon, CCC Group – Finland, Navigon, Wachendorff  - Germany, Axedo  - Switzerland, NowDocs – USA, Alaris – Austria, and others.

In 2008, AROBS expects to make a significant first appearance intending to provide for the market two new ranges of software products: TrackGPS Junior –a system for tracking down individuals or equipments (children, students, elders, physically disabled people, cars etc.) and TrackGPS Standard - a solution that is meant for the people or small/medium-size companies that want to localize their auto fleet both in Romania and abroad. The two product ranges will have a prepaid GPRS subscription and they will not generate any additional costs. These devices will be put at the users’ disposal through AROBS channel of distribution, auto dealers and companies that install alarm systems, starting with January 2008, the solutions having successfully passed all technical proofs.

“For 2008 we wish to come up with new and competitive products and services, in order to continue the increasing trend that occurred so far, wanting to launch products addressed to the AUTO market and distribution companies as well as to the tourism agencies where we are in the final testing phase of a software solution which will ease their work, especially the selling and re-selling of charters” Voicu Oprean, the General manager of AROBS, also stated.

December 2007

AROBS signs partnership with SQS, the testing masters

SQS, the biggest testing provider in the world and AROBS Transilvania Software are now partners. AROBS will provide testing and quality assurance services in German, by the company’s QA specialists certified ISTQB.  ISTQB Certification is recognized as the essential measurement to prove knowledge of the fundamental principles of testing techniques. The team is made of 10 QA specialists for the moment, but it will be extended to 20 in the near future.

Over the last 25 years, SQS have built and expanded on a foundation of independent Testing and Quality Assurance; and pioneered the methods of Process Intelligence and Quality Governance.  Arobs Transilvania Software is experienced in quality assurance services, being known to have provided high quality testing services for its partners and clients: Hotelzon, Axedo, CCC, NowDocs, Coconet, Guestline as well as for internal projects like Atos and Abos.

October 10th 2007

AROBS co-sponsors IDC White Paper

Romania as an Offshore/Nearshore Outsourcing Location

A new white paper authored by leading IDC analysts gives a positive evaluation of Romania as an offshore destination and as a centre of software and services expertise. The study, based on a survey of executives who have engaged with Romanian software developers and IT services companies, finds that Romanian service providers often combine high levels of technical proficiency in leading-edge technologies with soft skills – communication, languages, flexibility – that can be superior to what is typically found in other outsourcing locations. The research also shows that customers value the ability of Romanian IT services companies to deliver business-critical, technically complex projects. In-depth vertical sector experience and the focus on customization of solutions to meet business objectives are seen as key strengths.

For custom application development, international clients highlighted a number of qualities of Romanian companies including: attractive price versus performance; a young, motivated and flexible workforce with strong language skills; a close cultural fit and similar mentality to the US and Western Europe; and a high level of commitment to projects and the overall relationship with the client.

"Romania is well-placed to attract a substantial portion of new offshoring business located to CEE," says Scott Moore, Senior Consultant, IDC CEMA. "The country is an ideal location for R&D and other high added-value work."

The IDC White Paper, entitled "Romania as an Offshore/Nearshore Outsourcing Location", was co-sponsored by AROBS Transilvania Software and other leading Romanian IT companies. For business and IT executives in the process of assessing different outsourcing locations, IDC's white paper offers a valuable examination of the benefits and challenges to anticipate when considering Romania.  To download this white paper please visit: http://www.idc.com/uk/prodserv/whitepaper_romaniaoutsourcing.jsp

Official Launch of Personal TrackGPS – Real-time GPS Monitoring Innovative System developed for locating and tracking children, aging relatives and disabled people

Bucharest, May 11th 2007



AROBS Transilvania Software hosted a special meeting for the official launch of Personal TrackGPS. The event took place on May 11th inside ROMEXPO Exhibitions Centre in Bucharest. Clients and partners, as well as prospects and resellers attended the event.

Personal TrackGPS is the only system on the Romanian market that provides extremely accurate information about the location of the person carrying the device.  
 
The system comes with a device that communicates through GSM cell phone technology using GPRS and SMS, a software application for data management, monitoring and report, as well as a detailed map of Romania. The map can be accessed online or on a PocketPC and it shows the exact visited location every 30 seconds or any other customed defined frame time.

Personal TrackGPS works with Google Earth maps and no monthly service charges are required. In an emergency situation, the person carrying the device can send a SOS alert with a simple push of a button directly on the cell phone. The toy-like device can be easily attached to backpacks or worn around the neck.

Parents can know if their children are safe and where they are supposed to be. Families with aging relatives can easily locate them in case of concern. Pet owners can rest assured that their beloved pets can be located in the event they wander off.

AROBS signs agreement with CCC Group Finland

                

AROBS Transilvania Software and CCC Group, the largest privately-owned software house in Finland have agreed to co-operate.

Through this agreement, AROBS and CCC Group start cooperation in developing software projects for the industry sector and mobile devices.
Mr. Ilkka Tahvanainen, CCC Group says: “We have chosen AROBS for its extended experience with developing embedded applications for mobile devices (PALM, PDA). We are confident that working with AROBS’ specialists will enhance the quality of our solutions and bring our partners considerable benefit and good reputation.”

Voicu Oprean, CEO Arobs, adds: “We are very pleased to be working with CCC Group. Signing this agreement with CCC Group demonstrates once more AROBS’ credibility on external markets.”

About CCC Group

CCC Group is an internationally operating software house. CCC develops customer-specific software for large-scale international companies and organizations operating in demanding markets as well as develops and markets software products. CCC employs 400 software professionals.

About AROBS

AROBS Transilvania Software is a privately held company founded in 1998 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Started as a software outsourcing center, AROBS later diversified its activities by developing and distributing its own software solutions: complete solutions for transport and distribution companies and applications for travel agencies. AROBS’ expertise spans a wide array of technologies and programming languages: Java, .Net, C, C#.

HotelZon Acquires Stake in AROBS Transilvania Software

Date: June 28th 2006

Hotelzon, the leading global hotel booking and technology group, is strengthening its development resources with the acquisition of a strategic stake in IT consultancy AROBS Transylvania Software, based in Romania.

This acquisition is in line with the group’s strategy to confirm its position as the frontline hotel reservation technology provider.

ARoBs already provides Hotelzon with support and call centre services, also system development and the companies have worked together for the past two years.

Jouni Peltonen, Hotelzon Chief Technical Officer says:/ “AROBS is a well-established, mid-sized IT consultancy company with a good reputation and skill base. This acquisition fits extremely well into our strategy of creating a top-of-the-class technology development team for the group. This strategic shareholding further strengthens the mutual commitment in our co-operation and provides a good basis for long-term planning.” /

AROBS was founded in 1998 by Voicu Oprean. It is a rapidly-growing IT consultancy company based in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, with a reputation as a reliable and high-quality service provider.

Mr Voicu Oprean says:/ “I am very pleased about Hotelzon’s role as a shareholder in the company since this event not only brings a more international aspect  to our business, but is also a significant proof of the mutual willingness to create a long-term partnership. Hotelzon's acquisition confirmas that we have provided excellent quality during the years of cooperation. It is also a step forward in our integration into the EU.”/

Hotelzon and AROBS are currently working on developing a market-leading technology called Hotelzon Online, a state-of-the-art online booking tool with extensive content and efficient location search features.

It will present users with a selection of available hotels and rates. For the corporate travel manager, it provides flexible policy compliance features that reduce costs and improve control over corporate hotel programmes - recent benchmarking by one of Hotelzon’s global clients showed a 20% saving in hotel costs. It also enables comprehensive online reporting tools.

_Note to Editors: _

Hotelzon International Ltd was founded in 1972. It is one of the oldest hotel booking companies in Europe, as well as a leading global hotel booking technology provider to corporations and hotels. The company has established a global network of operations, the largest entities being in the UK, Scandinavia and China. Nearly million hotel bookings will be processed with Hotelzon technology in 2006.
AROBS Transilvania Software is a privately held company founded in 1998 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Started as a software outsourcing center, AROBS later diversified its activities by developing and distributing its own software solutions: applications for travel agencies and solutions for transport and distribution companies.

The company has attracted some of the best graduates in computer science, business administration, foreign languages and human resources, doubling its number of employees between 2004 and 2006, when it reached 70. AROBS’s expertise spans a wide array of technologies and programming languages: Java, .Net, C#, C. <

AROBS at its eight anniversary

Date: June 19, 2006

- Mr. Oprean's comment on the event -

Dear colleagues,

I hope you had an excellent time at the picnic organized to celebrate the eight anniversary of AROBS. Those who didn't show up should know they lost something rather difficult to capture in words... Those present can let you know what that "something" means to each of them.

Back in time:
I believe I cannot tell you where I expected AROBS to be in 2006 when I founded it. What I know is that after working for 3 different employees I knew it for sure what I didn't want my company to become. A standing proof of the soundness of my judgment is that one of those 3 companies barely breathes today, while another one no longer exists...

I also want you to know that in the year I started AROBS I got an offer to become a shareholder in a well known software company from Cluj. I believe I made the right choice refusing that offer and I hope you all agree with me.

The fact that we reached our 9th year of existence is owed to you, all those who have worked hard and stuck together at good and bad and who believe that AROBS is the place where you want to grow professionally and build a family outside your home.

I would like the mention here my colleagues with the 3 longest histories in AROBS: Silvan, Violeta, Razvan....They spent time in all the 4 headquartes AROBS had over time.

I want to thank all those currently present in the company for believing that we can do something together and to those who have left AROBS but contributed to its present success...

To sum it up I will mention that those present had a lot of fun, the opportunity to know their colleagues better and to take part in a multitude of captivating activities. On Friday evening we had a bowling event, while Saturday, one of the few warm and sunny days of the summer, we went to Savadisla where we spent most of the day.

The Paintball was excellent despite the 8 bruises I got... At least they are not as bigh as those gathered by Florina. Soccer, chess and backgammon have also had lots of fans.

I believe we will organize other picnics like this one and look forward to the next paintball game, if others wish to join in. Furthermore, I hope most of you will take advantage every week of the swimming pool passes sponsored by the company and of the soocer field we rent for AROBS employees to practice their skills...

Thank you for attending and let's celebrate again at the next party organized by AROBS...

AROBS Transilvania Software offers support to communities hit by floods

- press release -

A weekend like many others, started under the sign of clear skies and unshackled delight, ended up triggering a real storm in the soul of AROBS's general manager, Mr. Voicu Oprean. While in the Valea Ierii region, he witnessed first hand the disasters and sufferings caused by nature's fury. The following Monday, Mr. Oprean shared this experience with his colleagues from AROBS, as well as his decision to help the communities that had been hit by the July 2005 floods.

His request for donations echoed in 75% of AROBS's employees, who donated over 8 million lei, an amount that was doubled by the company's owner. With the money collected, a decision was taken to invest it in the Iara-Baisoara area, one of the worst hit by floods.

The WorldVision foundation was chosen to administer the funds. The discussions conducted with the project coordinator revealed that the area chosen by AROBS's employees had already received aid and that other regions in Cluj would actually need support: Fundatura, Iclod, Iclozel, Orman.

Consequently, an agreement was reached to allocated the collected funds to repair works on a stretch of road from the Fundatura village, one of the regions that bore the brunt of the mid August floods.

The action described here is only one of a series of projects organized by AROBS Transilvania Software to provide support to those afflicted by poverty. It reflects the respect shown by AROBS's employees to all people and their desire to lend a hand to those in need.

 

Arrival of the first load of gravel		Locals in action

AROBS makes virtual classrooms for Norwegians

Excerpt: "The Cluj-based AROBS Transilvania Software introduced a new product on the Norwegian market to address the needs of multinational companies looking for a modern training system. E-School represents a virtual classroom with all the features and modules necessary for an effective distance education process."

Source: Ziarul Financiar, June 13, 2005, page 15

Online version

Jidvei chooses AROBS's solutions to automate its suppliers

Excerpt: "What made you choose Optimall versus other similar solutions?
Cristian Fuga: The short implementation time and the high benefit/price ratio. Implementing other solutions for Sales Force Automation (SFA) can take months, while Optimall becomes operational one week from the onset of the implementation process. Furthermore, its integration with many ERP systems  (Socrate, Wizrom, Practer, WinMentor, AS2000, hMarfa, Platphorma, DistribNet, AttoSoft, etc.) has lead to substantial reductions in implementation costs relative to the costs specific to similar solutions present on the Romanian market."

Source: MarketWatch No. 74, April 2005, pp 10

Online version

Jidvei goes with AROBS Transilvania Software

Excerpt: "Implementing the application will allow us to deliver accurate information on what the Jidvei products mean and will offer Jidvei's representatives a much better image of the markets targeted by our products"

Source: Ziarul Financiar. April 29, 2005

Online version

Other References

Jidvei chooses AROBS Transilvania Software for Sales Force Automation

Source: Smartnews.ro
Issue date: 27 April 2005

Jidvei chooses AROBS Transilvania Software for Sales Force Automation
Source: ANIS
Issue date: 25 April 2005

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