Johannesburg, 21 Sep 2011
An international trend finds more and more big players setting their sights on the mid-market business sector that is experiencing phenomenal growth in the face of the global flavour of the economy.
“Sage ERP X3 serves as a very cost-effective enabler for Deloitte to deliver our Mining Shared Services Division's cost-saving efficiency model to our clients,” says Johan Botes, CEO of Deloitte Mining Shared Services.
As one of South Africa's leading professional services firms, Deloitte provides audit, tax, consulting and financial advisory services through nearly 3 600 people in all the major cities in South Africa and southern Africa.
Botes says Sage ERP X3 is the better alternative, having been designed to serve the needs of the mid-market specifically. “We launched a thorough investigation into all mid-market ERP solutions. The stability, scalability and cost-effectiveness of Sage ERP X3 sets it apart, especially in a market where clients are sensitive to costs. The ERP model will allow our clients to save substantial costs after two years, which makes the initial investment well worth it, considering the return on investment it delivers,” says Botes.
An ERP system helps to define best practices, optimise activities and gain control over processes, says Keith Fenner, Vice-President of Sales at Softline Accpac, part of the Sage Group. “The most significant benefit of ERP software is its ability to streamline operations. By automating business processes, which in turn improves accuracy of information and accelerates dataflow, an ERP solution helps companies streamline day-to-day tasks and free up staff to focus on other more complex issues that require more personalised attention. As a result, productivity is increased and operating and overhead costs can be dramatically reduced.”
The Sage ERP X3 implementation will require quite extensive internal up-skilling to familiarise the Deloitte team with the ERP solution. “The overriding advantage is that Deloitte's is familiar with ERP and its role in the business. They simply need an overview of the specific functionalities of Sage ERP X3 and guidance in terms of customisation and implementation until they are comfortable with the product. The project is set to be up and running by the end of January 2012, with Sage ERP X3 being rolled out into the African mining industry quite extensively,” says Fenner.
Deloitte's existing footprint in Africa provides a strong base in terms of focusing on the mid-market and the mining sector in particular, explains Botes. “We specialise in running the back-office of an enterprise utilising Business Process Solutions (BPS) by means of outsourcing or co-sourcing methods, which allows the client to focus on their core business. The new ERP system will also greatly alleviate our ability to stagger and structure costs to efficiently suit the pocket of the mid-market,” says Botes.
Deloitte is planning to roll out the Sage ERP X3 project into Africa first, with its sights also set on other geographies in the near future, utilising Softline Accpac as its Sage ERP X3 service provider. Sage ERP X3's existing global footprint will ultimately allow Deloitte to tap into the established infrastructure that the solution offers in terms of country-specific customisation.
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