Software developer targets Ireland

A Christchurch software development company is capitalising on the growth in Ireland's retirement village industry in a bid to boost its exports.

Concept Engineering Ltd announced yesterday its Village Care System (VCare) was being used by a nursing home in County Kerry, the first offshore client to use the software.

VCare manages care plans for residents, occupancy details, billing and funding, and financial and marketing information.

Concept Engineering managing director Chris Graham said: "The retirement village industry is very young (in Ireland). It is like New Zealand was 15 years ago."

The company had been exporting software to Ireland since 2002 and would be building on those contacts to boost VCare sales there, Graham said.

It already has several other retirement village pilot sites under development.

Exports made up 30 per cent to 40% of Concept's turnover, and Graham hoped to increase that to 50% within two years, boosted by sales into Ireland along with the UK and Australia.

"We're on target for that and will achieve that."

- © Fairfax NZ News