SSA Global bullish about SA

Johannesburg, 03 Nov 2004

SSA Global, a provider of enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions for manufacturing, distribution, retail, services and public organisations worldwide, says it sees great potential in the South African market.

The company offers a range of integrated extension solutions, including corporate performance management, customer relationship management, product lifecycle management, supply chain management and supplier relationship management.

SSA Global EMEA president Peter Prince says the South African market has responded well to his company's offering and although there seems to be a saturation of ERP solutions targeted at the high-end user, the small and medium enterprise space is showing potential for good growth.

He predicts it could achieve a 25% year-on-year growth rate if it maintains its current pace.

The company says that since launching its product strategy in September 2003, SSA Global has achieved significant milestones in all core areas of its product vision.

"We have delivered on our promise to enhance the value of our customers' currently installed systems and to protect their IT investment for the future," says Prince.

Russ Storey, SSA Global's director for solutions management, explains that last year the company established a long-term product roadmap structured around delivering steady progress in four key areas. These are: the convergence of functionally similar products; modernisation of SSA Global's solutions based on industry-standard, open and modern technologies; integration of extension products into its core enterprise resource planning applications; and a continued focus on enhancing the industry-specific functionality of its solutions.

In its drive towards modernisation, the company has strengthened strategic relationships with several key industry players, including IBM and Cognos.

Over the past year, SSA Global has made acquisitions and delivered new products in an effort to expand its industry focus.

"Through acquiring, developing and enhancing a set of core extension products, SSA Global has responded to the industry need to leverage core ERP capability with new functionality in specialised areas, such as supply chain planning and execution, collaborative order management, customer relationship management and product lifecycle management," says Storey.

SSA Global could have a public listing before the end of the year, says Prince, as the Securities Exchange Commission has given the go-ahead for the company's intended initial public offering.