Johannesburg, 15 May 2013
Global business intelligence (BI) software vendor, Yellowfin, has announced a distribution agreement with South African enterprise IT applications and services provider, Albi Investment Group Services (AIGS).
The agreement will see AIGS offer Yellowfin, and its associated suite of professional services, directly throughout sub-Saharan Africa, trading under the name Yellowfin South Africa.
AIGS CEO, Ricky Parry - who also successfully developed the Progress Software brand in South Africa - said the time was right to introduce Yellowfin to the African market.
"As a premium international BI product, built on simplicity, flexibility and ease-of-use, Yellowfin complements our business approach while satisfying strong marketplace demand," said Parry. "To ensure we continue to provide the quality of service now expected from AIGS, and the quality of user experience enjoyed by Yellowfin's existing customers, we have formed Yellowfin South Africa. Yellowfin South Africa will distribute Yellowfin, its range of professional services, and offer agile customer support locally."
Parry said Yellowfin's fast-growing worldwide reputation for product excellence and customer satisfaction were crucial factors in AIGS' decision to partner with the vendor.
"Yellowfin's market-leading dashboards, collaborative BI, mobile BI and mapping capabilities - combined with the vibrancy and agility of its people - were among the reasons we elected to partner with the company. These attributes will ensure that Yellowfin's African operations will rapidly mirror its worldwide growth and success."
Speaking about the launch of Yellowfin South Africa, Yellowfin CEO, Glen Rabie, said AIGS' outstanding record in introducing new software to Africa would ensure Yellowfin's success in the region.
"AIGS has been a pioneer in the African enterprise IT market for many years," said Rabie. "We're confident that Yellowfin South Africa is in excellent hands. AIGS' unparalleled reputation, skills and understanding of Africa's ICT community will enable Yellowfin to meet burgeoning demand for consumer-oriented BI technologies, and expand our reach in EMEA."
Yellowfin South Africa has already won significant local success, signing multiple clients and reseller partners - including Liv4 and Wishlist Corporation - prior to its official launch today.
Casper Badenhorst, Managing Director of South African software solutions specialist Liv4, said the value and quality of Yellowfin's BI solution, in conjunction with the ability to receive localised support and expert advice, made the decision to partner with Yellowfin easy.
"We were looking for something more attuned with market needs, that is cost-effective and flexible," said Badenhorst. "Yellowfin met all of these criteria and more, with enormous cost savings and return on investment. Everyone we have shown the product to loves it. We are excited to be partnering with Yellowfin South Africa, because we now have access to a world-class international product and local support."
Badenhorst's sentiments were echoed by Neville Levinthal, Managing Director and owner of another newly signed partner, Wishlist Corporation - South Africa's premier Microsoft Dynamics ERP partner.
"When we first looked at Yellowfin as a product, we considered going direct; but the formation of Yellowfin South Africa has allowed us to gain the benefit of local channel expertise," said Levinthal. "We're excited to be working with Yellowfin because they've given us the ability to enhance our offering with one of the few world-class BI tools that delivers real mobile solutions. Yellowfin's ability to provide mobile intelligence that also encapsulates social networking capabilities and collaboration is unmatched."
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