Tech Firm Clientsoft Consolidates New York Operations In Miami

By Sherri C. Ranta
miami supports plan to narrow biscayne blvd. near port it group maintains its goals to strengthen regionalismt miami beach tourism effort moves full steam ahead perfoming arts center to have $690 million impact, study forecasts tech firm clientsoft consolidates new york operations in miami developer to offer office condos in northern gables project fisher island developer tries again to build 3 more condos calendar of events fyi miami filming in miami front page about miami today put your message in miami today contact miami today job opportunities research our files the online archive order reprints   tech firm clientsoft consolidates new york operations in miamiBy Sherri C. Ranta

Miami is now the corporate home of ClientSoft Inc., named a ‘Technology Fast 50’ company by Deloitte & Touche, after the firm consolidated its operations in Beacon Center near Miami International Airport.

The area’s comparatively less expensive business climate and base of bilingual English- and Spanish-speaking employees contributed to the decision to move from the New York City area to South Florida, said Hugh Raiford, vice president for product management.

"Like everyone, we make a lot of business decisions from a budgetary standpoint. The economy was impacting our business. We had to make an adjustments to our expense line," he said.

ClientSoft had been based in Hawthorne, NY, about an hour north of New York City.

The company bought Miami-based TOC Global Communications in 1998. Since then, ClientSoft has operated out of Hawthorne and Miami, Mr. Raiford said. He said this year’s move combines all the firm’s operations in the Miami base at Suite 216, 8323 NW 12th St.

Since consolidating to Miami, the corporate office here has built up a staff of about 45 people. ClientSoft maintains regional offices in Atlanta and Chicago.

A technology company founded in 1987, ClientSoft provides software to businesses and government agencies needing to update the capabilities of their IBM mainframe and AS 400 computer systems – known in the industry as legacy systems – to interact with wireless, Internet and desktop systems.

"Most systems out there have been in place many years. Our system allows them to reuse it," Mr. Raiford said.

Clients include universities and governments, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, Dow Jones, Lockheed Martin and Motorola, according to the company’s website.

Quick access to Miami International Airport and Miami’s proximity to the Latin American market also contributed to the company’s decision to move south, Mr. Raiford said. The Latin American market "remains an unpenetrated market for us, " he said.

"The concentration of legacy systems and the overwhelming requirement to reuse the system is very strong in Latin America. Bilingual employees will be more acceptable in that marketplace," he said.

ClientSoft, Mr. Raiford said, already has business partners in South America. However, he said, the company may consider the creation of a direct sales team for the market.

While in New York, ClientSoft was named to the list of top 50 fastest growing New York technology companies by the accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche. The list is based on revenue growth during a five year period, according to a Deloitte & Touche website at www. fast500.com. Those figures show the company experienced a 497% revenue growth during the past five years. Details: (305) 716-1007 or clientsoft.com.