PeopleSoft Africa MD, Mike Evans has expressed optimism about the opportunities for the new PeopleSoft in KwaZulu-Natal.
He says: "We have seen a distinct resurgence in the Durban market over the past year as the manufacturing sector recovers. When the rand was at around R13 to the dollar, the cost of imported capital equipment put many South African manufacturing businesses at a competitive disadvantage. Since the strengthening of the rand, however, the sector as a whole has seen a real improvement in performance."
He says PeopleSoft is set to benefit from the recovery in the KwaZulu-Natal economy. One reason for this is the historically strong footprint enjoyed by PeopleSoft`s EnterpriseOne product set in medium-sized manufacturing and distribution businesses. Durban is an important port and is also home to a number of automotive manufacturers. This makes it a very strong target market for PeopleSoft.
Evans says: "PeopleSoft has been well positioned in Durban since it first opened an office there in 1997, and this market has been good to us since then. We are very well represented across the full industry spectrum in Durban, from financial services organisations like Ithala, through distribution companies like Kinesis, to manufacturing concerns such as Smiths Manufacturing and GUD, as well as in the local government field (eThekwini Metro) and many of the major oil companies.
"eThekwini is a visionary local authority and its development initiatives are encouraging significant industrial relocation into KwaZulu-Natal, making it easier for companies to do business there."
Evans adds: "With the expanded product set offered by the new PeopleSoft, we will see new opportunities in the Durban market that were previously unavailable to us. PeopleSoft has a very strong and committed customer and partner community in the region and a reputation of doing what we say we will do. All of this bodes well for our business in KwaZulu-Natal."
PeopleSoft has a strong consulting capability in Durban to service its products, and most of its key partners are also seeing a resurgence in business in the area.
Evans concludes: "PeopleSoft is committed to investment in the Durban market - in our customers, our partners and in the expansion of our business."
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