Leading supplier of enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions, Softline Enterprise, has launched an initiative aimed at providing special services to business partners that will not only improve customer satisfaction and educate consultants, but ultimately increase partner revenue.
"Business partners rely on the provision of services as a revenue stream, but they face a major stumbling block in that they do not have the luxury of sending consultants on regular training in order to provide these special services. We believe that vendors can make a difference and assist business partners to implement and understand new technologies," says Ashley Ellington, managing director, Softline Enterprise.
Ellington says Softline Enterprise has created a special services department that will provide trained consultants to work hand in hand with business partners and their customers. These services are often related to new technologies launched.
"We offer internationally trained consultants as a value-add to our business partners. These people will manage aspects of an implementation, ensuring the solution is correctly installed, while also training the business partners on site."
He says this is particularly relevant when they launch new products or tools such as Sage Business Intelligence, part of Softline Enterprise's extended ERP product suite.
"Our consultants can now ensure the business partner implementation is a success and that the onsite team is trained, first hand, on the new BI tool. This automatically provides the business partner with a new revenue stream as they master the tool and are able to manage the next implementation on their own."
Proving its prowess as an ERP master, Softline Enterprise recently introduced a local research and development team which has developed a point of sale integration solution for its flagship product, Sage Line 500. This was done in conjunction with Sage UK and has proven to be an outright success.
"Our locally developed integration tool has been accepted by Sage UK as the standard integration tool between Sage Line 500 and Sage Paypoint.
"It was so well received that it has become the UK company's integration solution between these two products. Offering this kind of specialist service is powerful for our business partners and product offering," says Ellington.
Ensuring that what was sold is indeed implemented often calls for a measure of project management. Ellington says this service is growing in popularity. He says Softline Enterprise believes that project management is a specialised discipline, consisting of a mix of essential components, which, if all applied effectively and consistently, will normally deliver the result of a "successful project".
He says this ability is one of Softline Enterprise's key differentiators in the marketplace today: "We are more than happy to have an ongoing role within an implementation, ensuring that what was promised is delivered on time, according to spec and within budget. It is also an opportunity to share our project management skills, which we have honed over the past 20 years with our business partners."
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Softline Enterprise is a leading supplier of enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions, delivering performance and web capability that is essential for success in today's competitive business environment. Addressing finance, construction, distribution, manufacturing, services and e-business requirements, the product offering also supports and consolidates activity across expanding business needs. Available on a wide range of operating systems and compatible with a host of industry leading databases, it gives mid-range and larger organisations the reliability and scalability required to keep ahead of competitors.
Softline Enterprise products are supported through a network of accredited partners which bring together the individual product and service components to deliver a complete and tailored solution.
Softline Enterprise products include:
Sage Line 500 - offering all the advantages of a traditional ERP solution, Sage Line 500 provides tight financial control with full visibility of costs and powerful reporting tools. In addition, it includes an evaluation of market trends to assist customers to make informed strategic decisions. The product also manages cash flow through close budget control and efficient purchase requisitioning and supports international business with multi-language, multi-currency, multi-company features. It includes vertical solutions such as manufacturing, construction and retail.
SalesLogix - an affordable, fully scaleable and powerful CRM solution that is easily customised for medium-sized and divisions of large corporate businesses. SalesLogix is designed to integrate seamlessly with other business software and back office applications, providing customers with a holistic view of each customer
Softline
Softline is a leading provider of accounting, payroll and CRM software solutions to small, medium and large 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 and CRM software solutions, Softline has a 17-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, provide Softline customers with comprehensive, well-branded accounting, payroll and CRM software solutions.
In November 2003, Softline was acquired by Sage Group plc, an established FTSE 100 company. The 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 business community.
Softline has a solid track record of profitability and cash generation. The group delivers quality accounting, payroll and CRM software solutions that improve the efficiencies of businesses around the world.
Sage
The Sage Group plc is a leading supplier of accounting and business management software solutions and related services for small, medium and large enterprises. It comprises market-leading businesses throughout Europe, United Kingdom, North America, South Africa and Australia .The Sage group plc has over 5 million small-and mid-sized customers in 17 countries and 10 500 staff.
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