Electronics For Imaging, Inc., (EFI) a provider of customer-focused digital printing products, has announced it has acquired privately held Metrics Sistemas de Informação. Metrics is a leader in MIS/ERP systems for the printing and packaging industries in Latin America. While financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, the acquisition is not expected to be material to EFI’s 2012 results.
 
“The addition of Metrics’s high-caliber team and the extensive customer base they have built in South and Central America combined with EFI’s software portfolio will allow us to provide a higher value proposition to customers, along with creating a platform for EFI to introduce our unique digital eco-system to the region,” says Guy Gecht, CEO of EFI. “Latin America is a vibrant market with exciting growth opportunities for the entire EFI portfolio ranging from Fiery workflow, to our cloud and customer-hosted web-to-print and ERP software, all the way to our industrial inkjet production printers. With this acquisition we believe we are now the largest MIS/ERP provider to the printing and packaging industries in North and South America, Europe, Australia/New Zealand and South Africa with over 20,000 installations worldwide.”
 
Metrics is based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Over the past 14 years, the company has built a base of more than 250 customers in Brazil and Latin America. Metrics will become part of EFI’s Business Software portfolio under the leadership of Osmar Barbosa, co-founder and CEO of Metrics. Customers of Metrics will be able to take advantage of EFI’s complete product portfolio. The Metrics product will be integrated with EFI’s Fiery digital front ends, as well as VUTEk and Jetrion inkjet printers, so Metrics customers can enjoy the same advantages of integration that EFI’s other MIS/ERP clients have.
 
EFI intends to integrate support and operation of Metrics into the existing Business Software organization, while continuing to enhance product offerings. The Metrics organization will assist with the localization of EFI’s existing product portfolio for the Brazilian and other Latin American markets and will be cross-trained so they may deploy and support EFI PrintSmith, Pace, Monarch, Radius and Digital StoreFront throughout Latin America.
 
“Metrics is excited to join the world-class team of EFI employees and become the centerpiece of EFI’s strategic focus and investment in Latin America,” said Barbosa, who is now general manager of EFI Business Software, Latin America. “In addition to our current solution, our customers will now have access to an extensive portfolio of industry-leading technology, with more options to grow their business, while continuing to receive the same high-level of support and attention they are accustomed to. We are especially gratified that we were able to keep our entire team intact as part of the transition to EFI, and that EFI is looking to grow our staff in the coming years.”
 
“Metrics has been extremely successful in Latin America, and as with our other acquisitions, we examined all of the competitors in the region and determined that Metrics was by far the best company,” said Marc Olin, senior VP of EFI Business Software and general manager. “They offer the strongest customer base in South and Central America, and have enabled EFI to establish a software group in the region. EFI is very committed to this business and to being the market leader in all regions of the world. With this investment we will continue to build upon the strength of our Americas organization and now offer Spanish and Portuguese implementation and support services for the EFI software portfolio.”
 
With the addition of Metrics, EFI is now a MIS/ERP provider in both South and Central America, specifically in Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico and Peru.