PeopleSoft has claimed it is ready to re-focus efforts on its channel in the UK and Ireland, a year after acquiring fellow enterprise software vendor JD Edwards and reducing the numbers of its JD Edwards' partners by almost two-thirds.

However, one consultant told CRN that the volume of work it receives has reduced since the integration with JD Edwards.

Mark Hirst, director at Crocus Consulting, an affiliate PeopleSoft partner that brokers work out to the consultants, said: "In 2001 about 75 per cent of our business was with PeopleSoft. Last year that was down to 10 per cent.

"I think that's been skewed by the large number of JD Edwards consultants. It has helped us to re-focus on other areas, though."

Of the 20 former UK JD Edwards partners, just five have continued their relationship, leaving the consultant network feeling a little neglected. But Hirst said he hoped the ERP vendor will soon turn its attention to its consultants now that its channel strategy has been finalised.

Hirst added: "We would be interested in JD Edwards's products because we want to move down the food chain to offer mid-range solutions. I'd be interested to see what PeopleSoft does with the remaining consultants."

Crosbie Burns, UK and Ireland managing director of PeopleSoft, who headed JD Edwards UK before the acquisition, admitted there is still work to be done.

"We face some challenges in terms of integrating the channel," Burns said. "It was a learning curve for PeopleSoft, but we're actually in a position to move forward much more quickly now."

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