Fujifilm becomes shareholder in Australian software developer, Whitech
July, 2007
When Steve Delnawaz started his own software company 12 years ago in Sydney, he never imagined that in the future he would be capturing the attention of a multi-national company. That's exactly what happened this month when Fujifilm Holdings Australasia purchased a 35% holding in his company Whitech.
Whitech, a software development company is the creator of the Photo.Teller™ CREATIVE kiosk software, which is highly sought after in the photographic industry. The innovative technology allows customers to not only order digital prints but also personalised photo merchandise through kiosks.
The prediction of expansion in the marketplace through the popularity of consumers being able to create and personalise items such as photo books, canvas prints, greeting cards, stationery, gifts, collages and DVD movie presentations has prompted Fujifilm to become a shareholder in Whitech.
Delnawaz said, "This is a major highlight as a small business owner. Our staff has worked so hard to develop competitive and cutting-edge software. Photo.Teller™ software has been recognised in the industry as a market leader by winning nine International awards, distributed by some of the industry's biggest players and in many different countries." Whitech were also recognised as the 2005 Telstra and Australian Governments Business of the Year.
"Our first kiosk software was released in 2001 when it was an entirely new concept in the photo industry. Kiosks turned out to be instrumental in the transformation of the industry, which we got to play a large role in with our software. Fujifilm becoming a shareholder adds to our success and will assist us to keep producing more innovative quality products."
Whitech's Photo.Teller™ kiosk software is marketed with Fujifilm's Digital Photo Centre (DPC) kiosks which are now the most popular method consumers use to order photographs in Australian retail stores.
FUJIFILM Holdings Australasia CEO, Mike Machida, said the acquisition announcement was part of the organisation's ongoing global business development and expansion strategy.
"FUJIFILM has maintained a strong business relationship with Whitech throughout the development of the Fujifilm Digital Printing Model, so the organisation's acquisition of an equity interest in Whitech was a natural progression," Mr Machida said.
FUJIFILM Holdings Australasia Director, Dave Marshall, said the organisation's investment in Whitech Pty Ltd indicates its commitment to providing a sophisticated fulfilment solution for retailers as well as a convenient and user-friendly selection of print ordering and photo-gifting solutions for consumers.
"The popularity of photo gifting in Australia will create the next growth phase for the Imaging Industry where ordering from Retail Digital Photo Centres, as well as New Home Ordering Modules, are expected to more than double sales in the next two years," Mr Marshall said.
Whitech also specialises in additional software products that includes Business Professional Point of Sale software, a photographic home ordering service called CREATIVE@HOME (part of the Photo.Teller™ kiosk family) and food and beverage kiosks, which allows consumers to place orders through kiosks.
Today Whitech has offices in Australia, the UK, USA and New Zealand with distributors in Canada, Europe, South America and Asia. Thousands of customers worldwide utilise Whitech's products in their retail operations.
Whitech has won several awards in the past few years for its business achievements and also for the quality of its software products, including the 2005 Telstra and Australian Governments' Business of the Year.
www.fujifilm.com.au
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