Foradian CTRL+R's its opensource school management system Fedena, online university Uzity next on cards

Bangalore-based ERP solutions startup Foradian Technologies, has updated its flagship product Fedena, a cloud-based solution that manages all systems and processes related to students, teachers, employees and courses.

The new ERP version Fedena Pro can support CCE (CBSE), CWA and GPA grading standards. It also has features like enhanced report centre for examination, separate dashboard for parents and enhances timetable and attendance. Fedena Pro also supports Japanese, Portuguese, German and Marathi -- apart from the ones it already does (Spanish, Arabic, Hindi and English).

The company also offers the mobile version for Fedena Pro. Fedena Pro is also integrated with Google Apps and available in Google Apps marketplace.

"We saw around 350 downloads, mostly in Latin America and Africa, for Fedena when we launched the new version on the World Teachers Day (September 5). We expect to convert a few of these downloads into paid customers," said Unni Krishnan Koroth, co-founder and CEO, Foradian.

He claimed that on an average, there are 200 Fedena downloads daily.

For Foradian, which has around 100 channel partners around the globe, of which 20 in India, a major chunk of revenues comes from markets outside India that include Africa and Latin America. The company has more than 40,000 institutions around the world using Fedena. This includes implementation in 15,000 schools in the state of Kerala.

Founded in 2009, Foradian also provides Big Blue Button plugin, an opensource web conferencing system for distant education, for free download. "Our goal with this project is to enable universities and colleges to deliver a high-quality learning experience to remote students. Big Blue Button supports real-time sharing of slides (including whiteboard), audio, video, chat, and desktops. It also records lectures for later playback.

The company, which is targeting over $1 million in revenue this fiscal, is developing a learning management product that will be out in the market in three months. It is also launching what it claims is an online university, Uzity, in next two months. Foradian projects Uzity, which is in pre-launch stage, as a mobile web app to teach and learn.

(Edited by Prem Udayabhanu)