Three decades of growth at IBS

To celebrate its Pearl Anniversary, IBS provides a brief history of where it came from and how it has grown into one of the worlds leading global suppliers of supply chain software solutions.

International Business Systems was founded in 1978 when Staffan Ahlberg and Gunnar Rylander decided to make the IT division of Ekonomisk Fretagsledning into an independent company. These men had a mission to help customers achieve unheard-of levels of efficiency and service, and their drive and commitment gave the fledgling company a massive early boost.

Publicly traded

Their first major success was a global assignment to develop an order processing system for all the international subsidiaries of Alfa Laval. This type of close, long-term partnership set a precedent for IBS of working closely with customers to develop and deliver world-class global solutions. By 1986, the company was already well established and respected and was ready to be listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange.

While the product we know today as IBS Enterprise continued to grow and expand through extensive research and development and partnership projects with customers, the company itself was growing through key global acquisitions. The company had also developed a close relationship with IBM, with IBS becoming one of the worlds leading providers of software for the IBM AS/400 (now System i).

Indeed, in IBMs own capacity testing procedures in Rochester, New York, IBS set a record in achieving the highest transaction volumes ever recorded. It is this level of solid, reliable and powerful performance that has always set IBS apart in the industry.

International expansion

More recently, IBS has continued to make strategic acquisitions to grow its global business into key vertical markets and territories. IBS also continues to sign new contracts with major global customers, confirming its position as a truly international supplier.

Besides the core IBS Enterprise ERP and supply chain solution, IBS has focused development on delivering additional products, applications and services that maintain that original philosophy of boosting customers business. Now, under a new board and the presidency of Erik Heilborn, the company has restructured into a new and more internationally focused organization that will further boost its global presence.

IBS Milestones

1978

           Formed by Staffan Ahlberg and Gunnar Rylander

           Awarded first major development project by Alfa Laval

1986

          Listed on Stockholm Stock Exchange

          Subsidiaries formed through acquisitions in Britain, France and the US

2005

          IBS acquires TMS, IDS and Quatro

2006

          IBS receives Development Award from Supply Chain Council for SCOR

2007

         Deployment of the first test installation of the IBS Enterprise financial system in a Windows version

2008

        New organizational structure and strategy announced