NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 2 – Leading software solutions developer, Systems Applications Products (SAP), has confirmed ongoing plans to beef up its operations in the East African region with Nairobi acting as its operations hub.
Renown as the enterprise resource planning and related applications software provider for the best run businesses in the world, SAP has now embarked on strategic market development initiatives in the region geared at providing a closer support for its regional customers.
Speaking during an SME road show at a Nairobi hotel, SAP’s Vice President for Emerging Markets, Brett Parker, confirmed that plans are underway to expand the firm’s local operations by enhancing its Nairobi office and sales partners capacity.
Accompanied by SAP Africa Managing Director Pfungwa Serima and SME Director Derek Kudsee, the expansion move, Mr Parker explained has been necessitated by the region’s rapid development on the ICT arena which has in turn raised a demand for business process management software systems.
The firm’s local operations enhancement will also be geared at quashing a perception that SAP systems are only meant for the world’s top companies.
“There is a perception that our solutions are aimed only at large enterprises yet more than 65000 SAP customers are small or medium sized companies which makes up more than 75 percent of SAP customers worldwide,”said Mr Parker.
“Having had a running office for the last 12 years, we are extremely excited about being able to further reach out to the East Africa region in an environment that also brings us closer to our customers and helps us get an even better understanding of their business environment and challenges.”
In the region, SAP systems are currently running major organizations such as Bamburi Cement, New KCC, KPLC, Mumias Sugar, Bidco Oil Refineries, Mukwano Industries, Kakira Sugar and Diamond Trust Bank among other leading companies.
During the SME road show, which marked its fifth stop in Africa this year, SAP officials showcased solutions for small and medium enterprises seeking to harness technology to run lean operations, capture greater market share and gain business openness and transparency.
In his address, SAP Africa Managing Director Pfungwa Serima outlined the firm’s vision for East African companies of all sizes to become best-run businesses.
“In today\’s challenging business environment, best-run companies have clarity across all aspects of their business, which allows them to act quickly with increased insight, efficiency and flexibility,” Serima said.
And added: “By using SAP solutions, companies of all sizes – including small businesses and midsize companies – can reduce costs, optimise performance and gain the insight and agility needed to close the gap between strategy and execution.”
With more than 37,500 small and midsize customers worldwide, SAP is a leading provider of business applications and an established player in the small and midsize enterprise (SME) market.
SAP solutions for small businesses and midsize companies include SAP® Business One, and SAP® Business All-in-One, a customizable and extensible solution for midsize companies with deep industry best practices built in.
