Modernizing Horticulture Software

To accelerate the next phase in the modernization of its software portfolio, SDF Horti Software, the market leader in ERP software for the floriculture industry, decided to strategically scale its development capacity. Its existing legacy solutions provided a solid foundation, but no longer met the requirements of modern, mobile and user-friendly applications. Hiring freelancers did not provide a sustainable solution. SDF therefore entered into a long-term partnership with NetRom Software. The result? A scalable development team that allows SDF to remain in control while working with an integrated team to develop modern applications for the international horticulture sector.

Founded in 1982 and part of KUBO Group, SDF Horti Software is the market leader in ERP software for floriculture companies. With more than forty years of experience and over 300 customers worldwide, the company supports growers with solutions for inventory management, order processing, logistics management and labor registration.

Within modern horticultural businesses, millions of plants move through the supply chain every year. Changing purchasing behavior is resulting in smaller, more frequent orders, while the shift of activities towards growers is adding further complexity. Users expect fast, intuitive and mobile applications that integrate seamlessly into their day-to-day work.

Internal focus and core competencies

SDF has a strong internal team with extensive domain expertise. The challenge was not a lack of vision or expertise, but accelerating the transition from legacy applications to modern software. Freelancers did not provide sufficient scalability or continuity.

SDF deliberately chose to structurally expand its development capacity with an external partner capable of adapting to the dynamics of the organization. Through its management network, SDF was introduced to NetRom Software. Choosing NetRom was a deliberate step to add scale, continuity and quality to the development organization without giving up control.

The first project involved rebuilding a statistical application for sales revenue, carefully translating complex business logic into scalable software. Today, six NetRom professionals work across two teams for SDF, including developers and QA specialists.

Integrated teams with clearly defined roles

The collaboration feels like working as one team. NetRom developers are regarded as direct colleagues by SDF. Weekly meetings and dedicated QA sessions contribute to continuous improvement and knowledge sharing. NetRom provides scalable development capacity and strong QA support, while SDF remains responsible for the strategic and functional direction.

Pragmatism as a differentiating factor

SDF works closely with its customers and takes a pragmatic approach when necessary. If a go-live is unsuccessful, an improved release follows immediately rather than waiting for the next sprint cycle. The collaboration has contributed to further professionalization, particularly in QA and testing capacity.

The partnership has significantly accelerated the modernization of SDF’s software landscape. SDF can now offer customers modern desktop and Android applications with user-friendly interfaces that meet the expectations of both experienced growers and a new generation of users.

From modernization to continuous innovation

The focus has shifted from rebuilding legacy applications to developing entirely new software products and integrations. Current developments include applications for logistics processes in the greenhouse, cultivation information and planning. The combination of NetRom’s expertise with SDF’s domain knowledge and product vision makes this continued innovation possible.