The Sage Group, the FTSE 100 accounting and business management company considering making a bid for Softline, has revamped its strategy for SA, focusing on existing and new business development, the channel and vertical markets.
Sage says while a review of strategy may seem odd after the group achieved a 14% increase in pre-tax profit to lb74.3 million, it is aimed not at fixing problems but at creating more opportunities.
"We've spent much of the past year or so developing new business," says Ashley Ellington, divisional director for Africa.
"We need to pay closer attention to our existing users, especially those that are showing significant growth," he says.
"We'll be spending more time in front of our customers, gaining a greater understanding of their business issues and spreading the word about Sage.
"As we're a channel-focused organisation, this move will not cut out our accredited partners. On the contrary, it will show our direct support for their work."
Ellington says Sage will also change the way it takes its products to market, with a drive into the industry verticals for which it has developed specialised solutions - manufacturing, distribution, telcos, financial services and the public sector, among others.
The group achieved 4% increase in turnover to lb282 million. Gavin May, the UK-based MD at Sage Enterprise Solutions, says the African operation, headquartered in Johannesburg, made a significant contribution to turnover.
This, he says, is "no mean feat when you consider we've seen no obvious improvement in market conditions so far this year".
Sage recently announced that it was considering making a bid to buy the shares in JSE-listed Softline at 180c each. The only firm offer for the SA-based accounting software group is one of 130c, tabled by a management consortium.
Both Sage and a consortium led by Pastel Accounting founder Ivan Ferrer say their potential offers will depend on information provided by Softline. The Ferrer consortium has proposed making an offer of 145c a share.
Related stories:
Third bidder in contest for Softline
Share
