Greentree Business Software

Greentree Business Software is an enterprise resource planning and business-management software brand serving primarily medium-sized organisations in Australia and New Zealand. The product is designed as a broad, industry-neutral platform rather than as software dedicated to a single vertical. Its capabilities support a range of business sectors through integrated financial, operational and administrative modules, with distribution and implementation handled through a partner model. The product lineage began in 1983, when Don Bowman and John Cowan founded CBA and developed accounting software for DOS-based computers. CBA became a major mid-range financial software product in Australia and New Zealand. Over a period of approximately 14 years, it was deployed at more than 12,000 sites in the two countries and established a strong position in the regional business-software market. In 1986, CBA was recognised as Australia's Business Software of the Year and was reported to have outsold other computer-software providers in an independent market survey. CBA was sold to United States-based Platinum Software in 1993. The original developers later bought the business back in July 1997 through Focus Software, which was subsequently associated with the Greentree International name. Focus Software and the Cardinal Group collaborated in 1998 on an application built for the JADE programming language. That project became Greentree Business Software, a ground-up replacement for CBA rather than a simple continuation of the earlier DOS product. The new platform was designed for Microsoft Windows NT and could also run on standalone computers using Windows 95. Greentree's technology model centres on a real-time, integrated architecture. Data can flow between modules through a single design rather than through a collection of loosely connected applications. The use of JADE also enabled implementation partners to create complex extensions and customisations while keeping the core product intact. Custom configurations could remain synchronised with the main application and support incremental upgrades. Customers could deploy Greentree in the cloud, on local servers or through a hybrid arrangement. The company expanded the platform's browser-based capabilities with Greentree4, launched in 2014 as a next-generation ERP platform. Greentree4 provided a browser-oriented user experience and made it easier to configure screens and forms at organisation, group or individual-user level. In April 2016, Greentree introduced Greentree as a Service, or GaaS, combining the software with cloud hosting, maintenance and related services. MYOB acquired Greentree on 1 August 2016. Following the acquisition, the product became known as MYOB Greentree and continued to be positioned for medium-sized organisations, particularly in its established Australia and New Zealand markets. The brand has also pursued opportunities in the United Kingdom, United States and Pacific Islands. Its commercial model combines the ERP product with partner-led implementation, configuration and custom development.

Greentree's history extends back to CBA, an accounting-software business founded in 1983 by Don Bowman and John Cowan. CBA initially developed DOS-based accounting software and quickly established itself in the Australian market. Within its first year it was reported to have become Australia's leading microcomputer accounting-software product. In 1986, it received the Australia Business Software of the Year recognition and was described as having outsold other computer-software providers in an independent survey. For roughly 14 years, CBA was a leading mid-range financial-software solution across Australia and New Zealand. Its installed base eventually exceeded 12,000 sites. In 1993, the business was sold to Platinum Software, a United States company. The original developers later regained ownership in July 1997 through Focus Software. The business subsequently used the Greentree International name. In 1998, Focus Software worked with the Cardinal Group on the first application developed for the JADE programming language. The resulting Greentree Business Software platform was a complete rewrite of CBA. It was developed for Microsoft Windows NT and was also capable of running on standalone Windows 95 computers. This transition moved the product from its DOS accounting origins toward an integrated Windows-based ERP and business-management system. Greentree was designed for medium-sized organisations and was not restricted to one industry vertical. Its modules were connected through an integrated, real-time architecture intended to allow data to flow throughout the application. JADE enabled implementation partners to build sophisticated add-ons and customer-specific configurations without directly disrupting the core product. This approach also supported synchronised customisations and incremental upgrades. The company continued to develop its international and technology position during the 2000s. Greentree International was named among the information-technology sector's 25 Rising Stars by MIS Magazine of Australia in 2006. The product was later recognised in industry awards activity: it was a finalist in the Client/Business category of the 2010 Accountancy Age Software Product of the Year awards and was shortlisted again for Software Product of the Year at the 2012 British Accountancy Awards. Greentree launched Greentree4 in 2014. The new platform added a browser-based user experience and improved the configuration of screens and forms, allowing settings to be tailored at organisation, group or individual level. The company also supported multiple deployment models, including local servers, cloud environments and combinations of the two. In April 2016, Greentree launched Greentree as a Service. The offering bundled software, cloud hosting, maintenance and other services into a software-as-a-service model. A few months later, on 1 August 2016, MYOB acquired Greentree. The product became known as MYOB Greentree and remained focused on the medium-sized-business segment, with its strongest markets in Australia and New Zealand and additional activity in the United Kingdom, United States and Pacific Islands. Greentree also used marketing initiatives to promote adoption. Its GAME ON competition, launched in 2011, offered selected Australian and New Zealand businesses a Greentree implementation and cloud hosting. Kimberley Group and Smail & Co won the inaugural programme, and the competition was extended to the United Kingdom in 2012, where Concern Universal won. The initiative connected the software brand with practical implementations and demonstrated its cloud-enabled deployment proposition.

• 2016

  GaaS and MYOB acquisition

  [1]Greentree Business Softwareen.wikipedia.org

  Greentree launched Greentree as a Service in April and was acquired by MYOB on 1 August.

• 2014

  Greentree4 launches

  [1]Greentree Business Softwareen.wikipedia.org

  Greentree introduced its next-generation, browser-based integrated ERP platform.

• 2011

  GAME ON launches

  [1]Greentree Business Softwareen.wikipedia.org

  Greentree launched a competition offering selected businesses a Greentree implementation and cloud-hosting package.

• 2006

  Greentree International is named a rising technology company

  [1]Greentree Business Softwareen.wikipedia.org

  Greentree International was included among MIS Magazine of Australia's information-technology 25 Rising Stars.

• 1998

  Greentree platform is developed in JADE

  [1]Greentree Business Softwareen.wikipedia.org

  Focus Software and the Cardinal Group collaborated on a JADE-based application that became Greentree Business Software.

• 1997

  The original developers buy back the business

  [1]Greentree Business Softwareen.wikipedia.org

  The original developers repurchased the business in July through Focus Software.

• 1993

  CBA is sold to Platinum Software

  [1]Greentree Business Softwareen.wikipedia.org

  The CBA business was acquired by United States-based Platinum Software.

• 1986

  CBA receives Australian software recognition

  [1]Greentree Business Softwareen.wikipedia.org

  CBA was named Australia Business Software of the Year and was reported to have led the local microcomputer accounting-software market.

• 1983

  CBA is founded

  [1]Greentree Business Softwareen.wikipedia.org

  Don Bowman and John Cowan founded CBA, the accounting-software business from which Greentree's product lineage developed.

A broad, integrated ERP and business-management platform for medium-sized organisations, differentiated by its real-time single-architecture design, JADE-based extensibility, partner implementation model and support for cloud, on-premises and hybrid deployment.

• Enterprise resource planning and business-management software

  MYOB Greentree

  MYOB Greentree is an integrated ERP platform for medium-sized organisations. It is designed for use across multiple sectors rather than one specialised industry and connects business functions through a real-time architecture. The system can be deployed on local infrastructure, in the cloud or through a hybrid model. Greentree is distributed through partners, which can provide implementation, configuration and custom development.

• ERP platform generation · 2014

  Greentree4

  Greentree4 is the next-generation Greentree platform launched in 2014. Its principal changes included a browser-based user experience and more flexible configuration of screens and forms. Settings could be tailored at the organisation, group or individual level, supporting different workflows and user requirements while retaining the integrated design of the ERP system.

• Software as a service · 2016

  Greentree as a Service

  Greentree as a Service, commonly abbreviated as GaaS, was introduced in April 2016. It packaged the Greentree business-management software with cloud hosting, maintenance and additional services. The offering extended Greentree's deployment options beyond locally hosted installations and supported a managed cloud-consumption model.

• 2012GAME ON United Kingdom

  United Kingdom

  Greentree extended the GAME ON competition to the United Kingdom, again offering a business-software implementation and associated hosting support.

  Outcome. Concern Universal won the United Kingdom edition.

  Source
• 2011GAME ON

  Australia · New Zealand

  Greentree invited businesses to submit a case for receiving a Greentree software implementation, including cloud hosting. Kimberley Group in Australia and Smail & Co in New Zealand won the inaugural competition.

  Outcome. The first competition produced two regional winners and was later expanded to the United Kingdom.

  Source

• 2016

  Introduce Greentree as a ServiceStrategy

  Background

  Customers could already operate Greentree on local servers, in the cloud or in hybrid environments, creating an opportunity for a managed subscription-style offering.

  Action taken

  Greentree launched GaaS in April 2016, combining the application with hosting, maintenance and related services.

  Aftermath

  The offering strengthened Greentree's cloud proposition shortly before the business was acquired by MYOB.

  Source

• 2016

  MYOB acquires GreentreeM&A

  Background

  Greentree had an established customer and partner base in Australia and New Zealand and was developing cloud-oriented services for medium-sized organisations.

  Action taken

  MYOB acquired Greentree on 1 August 2016.

  Aftermath

  The product continued under the MYOB Greentree name and became part of MYOB's business-software portfolio.

  Source

• 2014

  Launch Greentree4Product launch

  Background

  Greentree sought to modernise the user experience and improve the flexibility of its integrated ERP platform.

  Action taken

  The company launched Greentree4 with browser-based access and configurable screens and forms.

  Aftermath

  The platform expanded configuration options while maintaining Greentree's integrated architecture.

  Source

• 1998

  Replace CBA with a JADE-based Greentree platformGeneration change

  Background

  The earlier CBA accounting product had originated as DOS-based software. Focus Software and the Cardinal Group pursued a new application rather than a minor revision of the legacy product.

  Action taken

  They developed a ground-up rewrite called Greentree Business Software using the JADE programming language, with support for Microsoft Windows environments.

  Aftermath

  The resulting platform provided the foundation for Greentree's integrated ERP architecture and partner-led customisation model.

  Source

1. 1Greentree Business Softwareen.wikipedia.org