Global enterprise applications firm IFS and Kenya-based systems integrator Computech have announced a partnership to enhance support for customers with enterprise resource planning (ERP), enterprise asset management (EAM) and enterprise service management (ESM) solutions in East Africa.

Computech focuses on providing technology and services that enable high-performance workplaces and organisations.

In a media statement the partners explain that Computech consultants will be certified through the IFS training and certification program in order to equip them with the relevant IFS Applications skills.

"IFS is enjoying excellent growth across Africa and offers powerful solutions for many of our focus industries, including manufacturing, utilities, telecoms and mining. This makes the company a perfect partner for us as we focus on our next wave of growth," said Hassan Popat, Group CEO at Computech. "We are passionate about enabling businesses to work better, faster and profitably – a goal that the IFS EAM, ERP and ESM applications support with world-class technology."

IFS South Africa MD, Gawie van der Merwe added, "It is a pleasure to welcome Computech to our growing network of African business partners. The company has a proven track record in helping companies in a wide range of industries to drive operational excellence and improve profitability. Our software capabilities, paired with Computech's pan-African presence and world-class skills base, can help clients drive rapid return on investment as they modernize their business systems."

Demand in Africa

Van der Merwe says many African companies have basic ERP platforms in place, but also experience bottlenecks in key functional areas of their businesses. The demand is for solutions that support advanced functionality, such as mobility, mobile work order management and on-site incident logging with attached photographs and records, he says.

Whereas EAM has not been effectively addressed in the past, today there are more companies playing closer attention to the maintenance and effective management of their assets, according to van der Merwe.

The demand for agile software is being fuelled by the need for strategic alignment of asset and project portfolios, as well as real time indicators for performance of assets within different portfolios in order to make quick and informed decisions he explains.

"We are in an era of immediate gratification, so adoption of new business solutions is being largely driven by trends such as mobility, touch screens, and so on. The decision-makers want apps at the office that are as responsive and agile as they ones they use at home. If I order my groceries today, I can have them tomorrow morning. Directors are living this trend and are starting to understand that their customers also want this level of service," says van der Merwe.

"Adoption is also being driven by the agility of today's technology. Companies can tailor applications through configuration rather than customisation. The result is more cost-efficient implementations and upgrades. Companies want applications architected so that they can see a quick return from newly added components, capabilities and working practices, without disrupting underlying business applications. They know the most successful enterprises are those that can readily adapt to change," he says.

Despite challenges such as the ability to adapt to fast change, the IFS executive believes the gap between functional expectation and delivery of enterprise applications is narrowing and helping to realise successful project implementation.