Johannesburg, 05 Feb 2002
The world`s largest enterprise software company, Oracle Corporation, has taken occupation of new premises in Abidjan today.
The new facility meets Oracle`s need for a network infrastructure that is compatible with Oracle`s global information technology strategy. The opening coincides with the West Africa launch of Oracle`s latest version of its core database product, Oracle 9i.
The new premises will accommodate Oracle`s increased staff complement, and also has a training facility with secure access to the building.
Oracle includes Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Cote d`Ivoire, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo in its West African operations.
According to Oracle West Africa regional manager Antonio Sophie, Oracle has established itself as a dominant presence in the public sector, where it claims to be operational in 80% of public administration projects; and in the banking sector, where all banks use Oracle software. Oracle also claims a significant presence among telecommunications companies and in the private sector.
Oracle`s database products and development tools, as well as its e-business applications and consulting services are in demand in the region.
"Businesses are looking to technology to help them drive business efficiencies," says Sophie. "They are demanding secure data, and at the same time they want to harness the Internet to be able to collaborate with partners.
"Oracle products are robust, they have an extended lifecycle, which means that companies can keep up with new technologies without having to reinvest, and they deliver a low total cost of ownership. One of the positive spin-offs of these attributes is the ever-growing numbers of people in the region with good Oracle skills and experience."
Desi Lopez Fafie, managing director, Oracle African Operations says that the company will look to match Oracle solutions to the need of African companies in the region. "We are exploring the opportunities for the Oracle E-Business Suite, but in particular for Oracle Financials and E-business Intelligence, both of which are of strategic value to organisations in Africa.
"The key to [business] development is knowledge transfer and Oracle`s entire focus for the African market is geared towards this effort using low cost deployment of information technology to accelerate the development and close the gap with Europe and other developed markets," he says.
"E-Business Suite is a next-generation business software set which focuses on delivering information solutions across local networks."
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