The Epicor-Kodak partnership was announced earlier this week at Ipex. It was formed to enable Epicor, which supplies ERP tools to the retail, manufacturing, distribution, hospitality and services industries, to better target the printing and packaging industry.

St Ives has adopted Epicor's software following a review of its financial and ERP systems, coinciding with the creation of a centralised IT facilities group.

Initially, the group will deploy the software system to 300 users across its finance management and services graphics divisions, but plans are in place to roll the system out to 1,000 users across the rest of the business.

The print group also plans to use Epicor's ERP software for project management and printing functions within its service graphics division.

Simon Young, St Ives' group IT director, said that, by standardising its financial systems, the company could boost efficiency.

"For our management team, it is important to improve the visibility we have of projects and financial information so that we can be as agile as possible in the marketplace," he added.

Epicor has embedded Kodak's workflow technology and EMS Business Software into its Epicor 9 package, which it has rebranded Epicor For Print and Packaging.