Business analytics vendor QlikTech registered a sharp increase in its loss for the second half ended June 30 as the company ramped up for a new product launch. The loss rose to $8.1 million for the most recently ended quarter, compared to just over $2 million a year earlier. That came as spending for hiring and R&D boosted operating expenses by 30.1 percent.

Epicor Software has named Noel Goggin as SVP and general manager of its retail solutions business. He takes over the spot held by Paul Salsgiver from September 2008 through July. Salsgiver's LinkedIn page shows he moved to IBM Gobal Business Services this month where his title is VP and partner in the Global Workday Practice.

Sage says its North American business was good during the third quarter. The information was made available recently in an interim management statement which covered April 1 through July 23. In some European countries, companies issue these statements, which provide meager information, for the first and third quarters.

Blackbaud turned in a strong performance for the second quarter ended June 30 as revenue grew by 13.9 percent and the company bounced back from a year-earlier loss. The Charleston, S.C.-based nonprofit software vendor had net income of $6.6 million, compared to a loss of $2.3 million in last year's corresponding period. The results exceeded the company's guidance. "We exceeded high end of our guidance in both the top and bottom lines," CEO Marc Chardon said in an earnings webcast. The company got more CRM customers in the enterprise space brought a record number live during the most recently ended period. He also pleased with the rapid growth of subscription revenue, with those deals outnumbering license sales five to one. Part of the improvement stemmed from digesting last year's purchase of Convio. However, Chardon noted he expects the trend of modest growth in charitable giving would continue. "We are not anticipating a material change one way or another in the near term," he said. Executives did not discuss specific future products, but said investment in the cloud will increase. "You won't see R&D going down," said Chardon, adding that there would be some SaaS investments "That might move it gently in the other direction." The company also plans to hire more aggressively in the second half.