Summerpride Foods Limited, an East London manufacturer of canned pineapples and related products, has partnered with leading information and communications technology (ICT) integrator Comparex Africa to revamp its information infrastructure and implement SAGE (an ERP solution). The infrastructure revamp includes new fibre optic and CAT5 cabling coupled with CISCO switches to increase capacity and speed as the company expands locally and globally.
According to Grant Stuart, Financial Manager for Summerpride Foods, Comparex Africa`s impressive implementation track record and ability to source expertise from around the country, in addition to its sizable East London presence and reputation, made it the ICT integrator of choice for Summerpride.
"Summerpride provides 90% of the total SA domestic pineapple market and we have grown in pineapple production volumes from 78 000 tons per annum in 1998 to 115 000 tons per annum in 2002. Our turnover has doubled since 1996 and we needed a new ICT system to handle the larger transaction volumes and increase production turnaround speed," he said.
"The benefit of SAGE and a major reason Summerpride chose it is that we export 70% of our production to countries and regions worldwide, including the UK, US, Europe, Middle East, New Zealand and South America, and this system would be accessible to our agents in these countries, making e-business a reality. Access to quality reports, soil and leaf sample results would be an accessible to our raw material suppliers," he said.
"This ability to order stock internationally coupled with the increased efficiency and convenience of a unified ERP package encompassing sales, warehouse, general ledger and finished goods was a big draw-card in Summerpride`s decision to install SAGE through Comparex Africa," said Grant.
"Our efficiency will increase and this would free up more Summerpride staff, " he said.
Business executive for Comparex Africa, Jaco Moolman, said Comparex Africa`s reputation as an effective ICT integrator contributed to Summerpride`s decision to use the company`s skills.
"The reference checks from companies like Cape Span and the Laser Group proved invaluable, as confirmation that projects were delivered within budget and timeframe could be endorsed. Our competitive-edge was looking at ways to improve processes for both Summerpride and their suppliers, thus adding value all along the supply chain."
Moolman said Comparex Africa`s commitment to understanding what made Summerpride`s business tick, coupled with a strong cultural fit between the two companies, made Comparex Africa the ICT integrator of choice for Summerpride Foods.
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Comparex Africa is the leading integrator of ICT-based business solutions that make its clients more successful. Based on a strong customer-centric approach, Comparex Africa delivers technology-business solutions from the full range of competencies within its group that align its clients` strategic and operational business needs.
Comparex Africa`s client-centric structure stems from its Systems Integration Model, a methodology that allows for flexibility and close client relationships. Offering business solutions that address all areas of its clients business, Comparex Africa services organisations within the corporate and large enterprise, government and parastatal markets as well as within the medium enterprise sector in all vertical markets. As an organisation with its roots firmly embedded in Africa, Comparex Africa reflects a cultural diversity, relying on the unique contribution of each of its skilled employees to succeed. Transformation is an overriding business imperative for Comparex Africa and as such it has dedicated resources from across the organisation to drive employment equity, economic empowerment and social investment programmes.
For more information on Comparex Africa, visit www.comparexafrica.co.za.
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