A tighter grip on the progress of projects and the management of funding, as well as continuity in the access to accurate, real-time information, are just some of the benefits the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation (DTHF) expects from its new SAP Business One Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
Bluekey Software Solutions (Bluekey), a local technology company specialising in the implementation of SAP Business One, is in the process of rolling out the system for the DTHF. The implementation is due for completion in March 2012.
The DTHF, which is run in association with the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre at the University of Cape Town's Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, is involved in numerous initiatives, including providing antiretroviral therapies, operating free mobile HIV testing units, HIV and tuberculosis research, preparing communities for HIV vaccine clinical trials, and education programmes around HIV prevention.
A diverse and complex organisation, the DTHF wanted a system that would integrate the different areas of its operations, not just provide for accounting.
“With numerous programmes and projects running, some spanning years, we needed a versatile and robust business management system that could essentially bring everything together and provide a central, enterprise-wide platform for managing finances, monitoring the progress of projects, reporting and delivering access to information.
“Also, because our projects are funded through sponsorships and donations, and run through partnerships with public health departments, we need to be able to track and report on where and how each rand is spent. So, the system had to have the capability to support our high standards of corporate governance and compliance requirements. A welcome side-effect of more streamlined financial management would be faster, less complicated and less costly audits.
“A straightforward accounting solution would not be capable of delivering on these requirements or give us the insight into the organisation that we need,” says Jill Thorne, General Manager at the DTHF.
According to Thorne, the DTHF's largest affiliate, the University of Cape Town already runs SAP. Choosing SAP Business One means the foundation's ERP system can be integrated with the systems of its affiliates to automate, speed up and streamline transactions. With transactions and communication happening automatically, the need for manual input is greatly reduced, and there are fewer errors and delays.
“We also like the fact that the system is tried and tested, and that we have access to qualified support,” says Thorne.
Andre Adendorff, Director from Bluekey, says the degree of customisability of SAP Business One is proving highly beneficial in the DTHF implementation.
“The nature and needs of this organisation are quite different from a typical business. SAP Business One's flexibility and customisability allows us to shape the system to fit their specific requirements so that it delivers real value. The user-friendliness of the system also makes it a great fit for the DTHF,” concludes Adendorff.
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Bluekey Holdings
The Bluekey Group specialises in the implementation of accounting and ERP solutions for small to medium-sized companies. It offers SMEs an end-to-end one-stop solution, from network and infrastructure to ERP to management reporting and workforce mobilisation.
The group has won numerous vendor awards, including SAP EMEA Pinnacle Award Winner in 2008; and SAP Business One Partner-of-the-Year South Africa in 2005, 06, 07, 08 and 2010.
For more information about Bluekey Software Solutions, visit www.sapone.co.za.
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