Anyone who attended the recent Softline Accpac Insights Africa 2009 Conference, in the Drakensberg, will not have missed the formidable presence of the AccTech Systems team. There isn`t time for "bosberaads" and the like during the year, but this is one event CEO Tertius Zitzke says the company never misses, because the opportunity potential here, both to learn and to network, is invaluable.
He was impressed with the strong commitment from Sage, Softline Accpac`s parent company, at this year`s event. Three top Sage executives laid roadmaps and plans on the table that all focused on only one thing - the customer.
"It`s obvious that Sage is very committed to its global brands, Accpac ERP, Sage ERP X3 and Sage CRM, and is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to developing around the customer. The management at Softline Accpac are backing customer-centric development and the outcomes have been very positive for all stakeholders. Positive is of course good, especially in the current economic climate which, I must admit, hasn`t had too much of an impact on AccTech. The work keeps coming in and we`re doing well," says Zitzke.
AccTech has 30 products it has developed around Accpac ERP in the international market, and the recent addition of Sage ERP X3, with its scalability and Web-native design features, has enabled them to break new ground in the African market. Their specialist pool of staff and Alliance partners include accountants, business and system analysts, project managers, development staff and consultants, all specialising in different solution fields with specific industry knowledge.
Morn'e Swanepoel, COO of AccTech Systems, says an all-rounded skills base is just one of the company`s strong points. The biggest secret to their success, he says, is the high level of organisational culture that has been fostered. Staff are customer-focused, motivated and stick around - on average, staff spend about six years with the company - which largely goes against the industry norm.
He adds that delivering the right solutions to the customer calls for out-of-the-box thinking. The AccTech "school" has driven home the importance of innovation and of calibrating resources to provide the right solutions. Their strength lies in their resources and Swanepoel believes job satisfaction comes from delivering exactly what the customer needs. The company`s methodologies are also strongly centred on successfully managing the client expectation and budget.
Will they be Softline Accpac business partner of the year 2009? Zitzke emphatically believes so. His advice to other business partners is to forget the doom and gloom and get on with business - keep your eyes peeled for those opportunities and find the sweet spot and exploit it!
Jeremy Waterman, MD of Softline Accpac, says AccTech Systems has contributed enormously to Accpac product development and is committed to high-quality solutions to meet customer needs. "The company`s extraordinary culture is a big part of its success and we commend Tertius for fostering such a positive and winning attitude among his staff."
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Softline Accpac
Softline Accpac is a provider of business management solutions, including financial, distribution, service management, retail, warehouse management, manufacturing and CRM to the mid-range market. Accpac solutions are delivered to 130 countries exclusively through a global network of solution providers, including over 150 throughout Africa. Softline Accpac`s product line includes: Accpac ERP, Accpac CRM, Accpac RMS, Service Manager and Accpac Insight. Softline Accpac also distributes Sage ERP X3, a full-service enterprise management software system for mid-to-large businesses. With a choice of languages, currencies, enterprises, locations and legislations, Sage ERP X3 offers an efficient, multi-company solution.
Sage ERP X3
Sage ERP X3 is a solution designed specifically for midsize and large businesses. With over 2 300 customers worldwide, Sage ERP X3 is a mature solution specifically targeted at companies with 50 to 2 000 employees working in the fields of manufacturing, services and distribution. Sage ERP X3, which is based on the SAFE X3 (Sage Application Framework for the Enterprise) development and integration platform, common to the other Sage solutions (CRM, FRP, WMS, HR), enables automation of business processes and skills specificities, in compliance with legal and normative aspects. This modular and pre-configured powerful solution allows for advanced customisations and embeds several interactive Sage visual processes. Sage ERP X3 is a solution that is easy to use, fast to implement and cost-effective.
Softline
Softline is a leading provider of accounting, payroll, CRM and ERP software solutions to small, medium and large sized companies. Founded in 1988 by Ivan Epstein, Alan Osrin and Steven Cohen, Softline was established during the formative years of the software industry and listed on the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa in February 1997. Softline expanded to establish a strong position within its area of focus in South Africa and Australia. Focused on the development of accounting, payroll, CRM and ERP software solutions, Softline has a 20-year track record as a market leader. The group has a broad range of products offering users a variety of software solutions to run their businesses efficiently. Softline`s leading brands include Softline Accpac, Softline Enterprise, Softline Pastel (Accounting and Payroll) and Softline VIP. The combination of the group`s product offerings provides Softline customers with comprehensive, well-branded accounting, payroll, CRM and ERP software solutions. In November 2003, Softline was acquired by the Sage Group, a FTSE 100 company. The software group includes market-leading businesses throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, South Africa and Australia, supplying business software to the small, medium and large sized business community. Softline has a solid track record of profitability and cash generation. The group delivers quality accounting, payroll, CRM and ERP software solutions that improve the efficiencies of businesses around the world.
The Sage Group
The Sage Group is a leading global supplier of business management software solutions and related products and services, principally for small to medium-sized enterprises. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989. Sage has 5.8 million customers and more than 14 500 employees worldwide. We operate in over 26 countries covering the UK, Europe, North America, South Africa, Australia, India and China. For further information, please visit http://www.sage.com.
AccTech Systems
AccTech Systems is a technology independent IT solution and services provider. Certified as a Microsoft Gold Partner with competencies in SOA and business process solutions, business intelligence solutions, data management solutions, information worker solutions, ISV/software solutions, networking infrastructure solutions, security solutions, unified communications solutions and small business specialisation, AccTech has representation in five South African provinces as well as 11 other African countries. AccTech is also certified as a Premier Accpac Solution provider by Sage International and is currently ranked as the number one Accpac Solution provider in the world. Web site: http://www.acctech.biz
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