The African SAP User Group (AFSUG), the host of Saphila 2012, believes the content at this year's conference is the best yet.
"If you aren't at Saphila, you are basically two years behind, because there is no other place where you can learn this much about the latest SAP strategies from the horse's mouth," says Cuan Kloppers, executive chairman for the AFSUG board of directors.
Taking place next week, at Sun City, Kloppers describes Saphila as the highlight event for AFSUG. "Saphila is not just a conference, it's an event," he says, adding that the content and presentations are only a fraction of what Saphila is about. "It's about the SAP community in Africa getting together. It's almost like a reunion every two years."
"It is the most content-rich Saphila we have run. I really do think it is going to be a phenomenal event," says Tracey Greig, marketing and marcom manager at AFSUG. Kloppers adds that the amount of time and money that goes into an event like Saphila is an indication of AFSUG's dedication to its customers.
Oscar Pistorius is a guest speaker at this year's event, and delegates will also be treated to performances by Mango Groove and Elvis Blue.
About AFSUG
AFSUG had 80 company members last year; this figure rose to 130 in 2012. "We have increased the number of company members significantly, and in doing so, have added more value to the users over the last year," says Greig.
There is a stigma that a lot of user groups are used as a sales tool from the holding company they are aligned with, but according to Kloppers, AFSUG is a totally independent non-profit organisation. "It's a symbiotic relationship. If there was no SAP, you wouldn't have AFSUG, and without a user group, SAP doesn't have insight into the needs of its customers," says Kloppers. The AFSUG board is made up of 10 people - eight customer members and two partner members. AFSUG also has 12 special interest groups that bring users, customers and partners together.
"Through the user group, we get C-level executives and customers to share their experiences - sometimes they are negative and sometimes they are positive - and to collectively learn from these experiences. We aim to get customers to talk to customers. If you are not doing that, then you are not fitting into what a user group is all about," says Greig. She adds that one of the most important aspects of any user group is that it be customer-centric.
"As a user group, AFSUG is a trusted advisor to SAP and a barometer of what is working for the customer and what they are not so happy with," says Kloppers.
One of AFSUG's aims for 2013 is to run 48 special interest groups throughout Africa. "Following SAP's expansion into Africa, we, as a user group, need to be behind them as they spread their reach through Africa," says Greig. "Africa is no longer considered as being far behind; we are part and parcel of what is going on in the rest of the world and people are starting to take us more seriously," says Kloppers.
Time is running out to register for Saphila. For more information, click here.
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