For the first time, the Saphila 2012 conference agenda boasted a Francophone track, which, according to the team from SAP, is a demonstration of SAP's dedication to its current and potential customers in Africa.
Franck Cohen, SAP president for EMEA, presented the opening keynote for the French track.
“I think the reason I wanted to have a French track is because I believe that Saphila is not only a South African event but an African one,” he said during a media roundtable at Saphila 2012. According to Cohen, a Pan-African focus is essential because of the diversity of Africa as a continent.
“I think if you look at the French part of Africa, our market share is pathetic, to tell you the truth,” said Cohen. He added that there are 17 French-speaking countries in Africa and, as there are a lot of similarities between these countries, SAP needs to address their unique needs.
“The problems you have in South Africa are very similar to those that you have in Switzerland, but you also have countries in Africa that are not moving at the same pace and our objective is to cater to the whole continent,” he said. According to Cohen, SAP is opening new hubs in eastern Africa and is looking at other destinations around the continent.
Cohen noted that SAP's strong partner network and ecosystem will play a major role in the company's ability to grow its African footprint. When talking about SAP's African expansion, he pointed out that SAP's objective is not only to cater to large enterprises; it is currently selling 200 net new licences for the Business One solution for small businesses in Africa each year.
“We know that, in Africa in particular, there are a lot more micro companies than in the rest of the globe and we need to deal with that and help them to grow.”
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