The newly launched company has secured the country`s first Enterprise Outsourcing (EO) business partnership from JD Edwards locally.
The JD Edwards EO business model is a unique service whereby clients of the IQ Business Group can lease JD Edwards ERP solutions on a managed outsourcing basis. The applications are delivered over secure network connections to the dedicated IQ Enterprise Outsourcing Solution Centre. This means that the client organisation gets the benefit of JDE enterprise software for a fixed monthly per user fee, while avoiding capital cost and infrastructure associated with ERP system implementation and management.
The IQ Business Group delivers a single contact, single contract solution that provides clients with twenty four hour a day, seven days a week access to JDE applications and a suite of value-added services including process oriented application training, and dedicated system and application support.
As well as launching the EO concept into the South African market, the IQ Business Group is becoming an accredited implementer of the JDE One World application suite. This will ensure that the JDE applications will be configured to achieve true process optimisation and value-added.
"It`s an exciting new concept which we believe is going to open up ERP to medium sized enterprises wanting ERP functionality, but which can`t otherwise afford to bring the necessary skills set on board," says IQ Business Group Managing Director Johan Roets.
Few ERP packages or implementation specialists are geared up to provide such a service.
According to Managing Director of JD Edwards in South Africa, the IQ Business Group has both the skills and the infrastructure to exploit the inherent flexibility of the JD Edwards software to address multiple business models across a broad spectrum of industries.
"The company has the same business professionalism and integrity we encourage, and a dynamic ability to see past problems and produce innovative solutions," he said.
"They also have an excellent project management and business analysis capability, an established outsourcing infrastructure, and a shared commitment to establishing ERP as a core service to clients."
"The advantage of this approach for the client is that it avoids the huge costs normally associated with ERP i.e. purchase and implementation (consulting). Because of the structure of the EO model and the inherent risks and rewards associated with it, it is in IQ`s best interests to provide a workable solution for the client in the quickest possible time," he added.
The JDE software will provide 70 percent standard best practice applications, and IQ will provide the extra 30 percent client-specific customisation, he explains.
Which is exactly the kind of added value JD Edwards looks for in its business partners, and which has helped establish the company as the world`s third largest ERP solutions provider with a 20 percent global market share.
"Now we`re going for the other 80 percent," says South African Managing Director, Mike Evans.
"The small to medium sized business enterprise is possibly the fastest growing business sector right now, with the potential to really pull the economy of South Africa right up.
"That`s the market we`re targeting through our partnership with the IQ Business Group.
Launched in 1998, the IQ Business Group specialises in designing, implementing and managing technology-enabled business processes for corporate markets. Already a leader in its field, its competency was recognised earlier this year with its appointment by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants as an Approved Training Organisation within its new Training Outside Public Practice scheme.
"Its role in this regard is likely to gain added impetus following the launch of EO," says Roets.
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