More than 400 delegates from countries as diverse as Uganda, Australia and Ireland will descend on Johannesburg next week for the inaugural Pastel Software World Conference.
The conference, which runs from 13 to 15 May, will focus on the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, says Jeff Lewis, Pastel Software`s international sales director.
According to Lewis, the broad international representation at the conference is an indicator of the company`s growing presence on both the African continent and in Europe.
Pastel Software has been actively working on its African distribution channels in the past year, particularly in East, Central and West Africa. The company now has representation in 16 African countries including Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi and Rwanda. "There are enormous opportunities for us in Africa," notes Lewis.
Zimbabwe is already the biggest outside market for the company`s software, exceeding the growing UK and Australian markets. Lewis says the release of a Portuguese version of the software has also helped the company expand further into the continent.
He says that gaining a foothold in African countries often requires obtaining governmental approval, a feat the company has been successful at. Mozambique has officially endorsed the Portuguese version of the software, while other countries, such as Malawi, have deployed the application at the highest levels of government.
In contrast, says Lewis, the European market has been harder for the company to gain a foothold in because of often-complex taxation regulations and language incompatibilities. The European market is less likely to adopt an application if it is not in the region`s language, and the company is working on a number of translations, including Slovakian, he adds.
Of the World Software Conference, Lewis says: "With our widespread representation, we felt that it was time to bring the international Pastel sales community together in a forum that will be to the benefit of us all. We see our conference as an opportunity to not only get to know one another better but also as a means of exchanging ideas and experiences. In fact, it is a showpiece for SME business development in the generic sense."
The conference will include information on the company`s new technology advancements and products. A portion of the conference will be allocated to presentations by the Pastel technical team on development opportunities facing the company, including possible new platforms and features. Technical workshops are also included in the programme to give resellers the opportunity to resolve implementation problems.
Lewis says Pastel recently returned to distributing its software through Incredible Connection and Macro outlets, a move that resulted in a record number of sales in March. Pastel previously pulled out of these outlets in favour of its channel partners.
Lewis points out that small, medium and micro enterprise businesses in SA contribute 35% of the country`s gross domestic product and, unlike many major businesses, they are creating real growth in terms of employment.
"As a major supplier of business software and services to SMEs, I believe that Pastel and its distribution channel can play a significant role in helping to realise the full potential of this sector. Sound, simple and cost-effective accounting and payroll software plays a critical role in the success of small enterprises."
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