A good sign - Economy, shift to Web-based product could lead to growth for Bellwether ... Page 1 of 2
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Business First of Louisville - April 6, 2009
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Friday, April 3, 2009
A good sign - Economy, shift to Web-based product could lead to
growth for Bellwether Software
Business First of Louisville - by Sarah Jeffords Pister Staff Writer
Companies are keeping a closer eye on spending these days, and officials with Bellwether Software believe they
have a time-tested product that will help businesses do just that.
Bellwether offers a Web-based application that automates the purchasing process, such as creating purchase orders
and obtaining necessary approvals.
Ron Bath|Business First
The software also maintains an online record of activity, so businesses can track the status of orders, spending and Sundeep Dronawat,
president and general
vendor performance.
manager, right, and Bill
Arnold, founder and
Sales exec saw an opportunity
senior executive vice
Louisville native Bill Arnold saw the need for such a product when selling accounting systems about three decades president of Bellwether
Software, are shown in
ago.
the company offices.
View Larger
At the time, he said, most accounting systems did not have a purchasing module, and those that did had limited
features and functionality.
So, in 1984, Arnold hired programmers to create a DOS-based procurement software. He officially formed Bellwether Software the next
year.
Keeping pace with new technologies
The company introduced a Windows-based software in the mid-1990s. Then, Arnold said, the Internet came along and changed how the
world conducts business.
About four years ago, Sundeep Dronawat, president and general manager, was brought on board to oversee the transition to a Web-based
program.
The online version of the software debuted in August.
Since then, Bellwether has attracted about 26 new clients, many of whom found Bellwether via the Internet, Dronawat said.
Company officials declined to disclose last year’s revenue figures, but they expect revenue to increase 35 percent this year from 2008.
Online model has drawn new customers
The Web version of the product is driving the growth, in part because it offers new capabilities that were not possible with the Windows
version.
For instance, a company can automatically send an e-mail to vendors to alert them to an open bid. Vendors then can log into the system
and offer a price quote online.
The ease of deployment and accessibility of the Web-based application also enables Bellwether to target large businesses with multiple
locations.
“It has facilitated our growth,” Dronawat said. “Now, we can compete with the big players like Oracle and SAP.”
Economy a boost?
Sales are always a challenge in a down economy.
And, like any other business, Bellwether Software is trying to convince potential customers to part with their hard-earned cash.
But the advantage for Bellwether Software is that its product enables companies to reduce their administrative costs. And the software
compiles purchasing data that could be used to make future purchasing decisions or to negotiate vendor discounts.
So Bill Arnold, company founder and senior executive vice president, is not concerned about the bleak economic outlook.
He has weathered past recessions while at Bellwether, and each time, he said, his company saw an uptick in business.
http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2009/04/06/smallb1.html?t=printable 4/3/2009

A good sign - Economy, shift to Web-based product could lead to growth for Bellwether ... Page 2 of 2
“A recession can help our business rather than hurt because (the software) does save a company money,” Arnold said.
Bellwether Software
Description: Developed and markets a procurement software for businesses
Location: 9900 Shelbyville Road, Suite 6B
Majority owner: Kevin Neville, who is not involved in the day-to-day operations
Minority owners: Bill Arnold, founder and senior executive vice president; Sundeep Dronawat, president and general manager
Employees: 12, nine of whom are in Louisville
Customers: About 300 nationwide and in Australia, Trinidad and India
Financial position: Profitable, no debt and a projected 35 percent jump in revenue for 2009
Software cost: Ranges from a $250 monthly fee for a Web-based application to $5,000 for a Windows-based package
Web site: www.bellwethercorp.com
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http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2009/04/06/smallb1.html?t=printable 4/3/2009