News

On the cloud trail with partners

Published

7 years ago

May 14, 2017

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Sage offers flexible, integrated and scalable solutions for organizations ranging from start-ups to scale-ups, to mid-sized and larger enterprises. Keith Fenner, Vice President Sage Enterprise Africa and Middle East discusses the company’s cloud first focus and partner enablement

Discuss the cloud focus at Sage

It is definitely cloud first strategy for us. Having said that, wholesale transition to cloud is not a possibility and our customers aren’t interested in that anyway. We are focused in three market segments on three cloud products. The enterprise product will always be available as on premise version as well as a multi-tenancy cloud product. Then there is the enterprise cloud which would be the private cloud product for customers who have their own development environments, test environments.

The interesting thing Our R&D roadmap for Sage X3 delivers to cloud first in iterative updates. Every week, every 2 weeks, every month, the cloud is being updated as you can imagine; it is elastic R&D. Every 6 months to 12 months, we collect all of those updates and create an on-premises patch. So this is an instance of cloud first focus.

While our focus is the cloud for the future, we know that our customers are going to move to the cloud at their own pace. Which is why we still offer on-premises options, in the enterprise space.

What is the feedback from customers on cloud adoption?

Every customer conversation we are having in the region now involves cloud, whether they are transacting cloud or not. They typically are keen to know about Sage’s cloud strategy, when they could take cloud on, whether they can come off cloud if they don’t like it and what is our strategy towards data in the region with legislative requirements. Our strategy is to deliver to the UAE and Saudi data centers for now which covers large part of the region. In short, our cloud is strategy is quite focused and we are offering a choice that other vendors aren’t. However, at the moment, most transactions are still with on-premises editions.

How will the cloud delivery model unfold and how does the channel benefit?

We have an agreement with a provider that runs the datacenter in UAE and Saudi Arabia and are in process of authentication and certification of the data centers. Within the cloud model, the contract is between us and the customer. We have worked towards the model wherein Sage is the contractor where it is our responsibility for the data center, obviously on a back to back agreement. As our business model is via the channel, we are protecting the partner who still has the margins and does the services. While it does take some consulting time off for the partners with the software being preloaded on the cloud, we hand it to the partners for all further services.

How has the public cloud model worked until now for Sage in the region? What options do you offer to customers?

Prior to now, customers in the region have had the choice of running our X3 cloud from Amazon AWS. But there have concerns about need for data to reside in local data centers with reference to local legislative requirements in some countries. We have to be vigilant on that and deliver solution to address the challenges. There have also been issues of latency in some countries as well.

If customers are comfortable of running the solution in the public cloud, they can do it. We also offer the private cloud options for customers who want customization and then there is the local hosting option to round off.

How are you enabling partners in the cloud Business?

We have been explaining to partners the importance of moving to a cloud based services model from the traditional way of Business. We have our ways of enabling partners towards the cloud model. All partners, technically, can sell both cloud and on premises options. However, there is a difference in just flaunting a cloud logo and in being actively involved in driving the digital transformation towards the cloud in the market place. We are committed to this education towards helping them make this transformation. We have some great business incentives to encourage the transition. And I would reiterate the point that we are a channel focused company and in the cloud model, while we are the contractor, the channel is the services element behind the contract.

Discuss the customer preference for private cloud deployment?

Customers running for critical environments tend to prefer private cloud options. For ERP covering big sites with a lot of integrations and significant customization, where our customers are stepping out of Sage X3 best practice processes and are building their own best practices or changing them a bit, they probably have a large IT team and will want to control their upgrade path, have a sandbox up in the cloud, have their test and development services etc. That is a different world altogether and they are quite comfortable with the private cloud which offer them better security, backup as well as DR options etc.

How do you see yourself across the different customer segments? What is the emphasis on the enterprise part?

We have three distinct segments for our products- start-up, scale-up and enterprise. Sage 50 which is Peachtree is for start-ups. We have four versions which are Sage 50 US, Sage 50 UK, Sage 50 Canada and Sage 50 Middle East. The strategy is to get every customer in the region to get on to the Sage-Middle East version which does transactions upto 3 decimal places. That is a process which will take time as it involves a huge number of customers. The change would be the introduction of the cloud based start-up product Sage One in the region when we do it. We have some work ahead of that including Arabisation and we would like to hit the road to the market hard when we have it ready and look at offering a difference.

In the scale up segment, Sage 300 is growing in the region, has a lot of partners transacting. The cloud version is Sage live. In fact, for long, the scale up and the start-up segments have been the traditional strongholds for Sage and we have been regarded as a mid-market player.

The focus now with the roadshows we have been doing is to build up the brand in the enterprise segment. We want to become regarded as an enterprise player along with the names that have been traditionally considered as enterprise players. Our brand awareness needs to be enhanced on the enterprise side but having said that, we have been closing some great enterprise deals in the region. In Africa, we are pretty strong on the enterprise and we will look to replicate that here.

Discuss outlook for growth and the partner focus?

We grew our business globally by 74% last year and partners are a key part of our growth focus. In the cloud model, while Sage is the contractor ultimately, in services the channel is involved. While we don’t have a post sales team but we do run a quality team that will check the integrity and sign off the project milestones, which gives the assurance to customers. We have some very larger partners that are making sizeable investments in growing the business. We have around 25 consultants that are responsible for consultation, implementation, BPR, change management etc.

News

THIRD EDITION OF BENTLEY’S EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN INITIATIVE WELCOMES STUDENTS FROM THE UK AND QATAR TO CREWE

Published

1 week ago

June 26, 2024

Integrator Web-Editor

The third edition of Bentley Motors’ Extraordinary Women initiative has concluded with students from universities in the UK and Qatar spending a week at the luxury car brand’s headquarters in Crewe, England. As part of a specially designed schedule, they met with Bentley experts and executives, went behind the scenes of its manufacturing operations, and tackled individual tasks.

Designed to encourage and develop the next generation of young female leaders, the 2024 edition of the Extraordinary Women programme has seen the students receive one-on-one mentorship over the past three months from a selection of inspirational Pioneers from the fields of technology, engineering, design, and business.

The students, who passed through a structured selection process focused around these four specific fields, came from a variety of participating universities: including The University of Doha for Science and Technology in Qatar, and the Universities of Bath, Loughborough, and Manchester Metropolitan in the UK.

Noora Al-Hajri, University of Doha for Science & Technology student, commented, “This experience has been nothing short of life-changing. Through the programme, I have gained invaluable knowledge and skills that will significantly impact my personal and professional growth. The opportunity to learn from inspiring mentors in both Qatar and the UK has been particularly enriching. Their guidance has broadened my horizons, challenged me to think critically, and empowered me to pursue my dreams with renewed confidence. The opportunity to visit the Bentley headquarters at the end of the programme has also been truly awe-inspiring. Thank you, Bentley, for believing in us and for creating such a transformative programme.”

The Pioneers were equally carefully selected. In the UK, entrepreneur Sara Davies MBE, founder and owner of Crafter’s Companion and TV personality from BBC One show Dragons’ Den, provided business mentorship, with Cecilia Harvey, founder of Tech Woman Today, offering the same in the field of technology.

Titi Oliyide CEng MIET, Senior Process Safety Engineer and winner of the 2023 Young Woman Engineer of the Year, mentored the engineering student, and renowned interior designer and Founder of Studioilse, Ilse Crawford provided design support.

The four Qatari Pioneers included Qatar’s UNESCO art ambassador, Muna Al-Bader, in the field of design. Dr Noora Fetais Al Marri, honoured by the Arab Women of the Year 2024 awards for her contributions to cyber security. Education and founding President of the Arab Association for Cyber Security, offered technology mentorship.

Covering the field of engineering was Dr. Hanan Farhat, founder of the Qatar Association for Women Engineers, and Dr. Buthaina Al Ansari in the field of business, who is a senior advisor at the organisation that established Tamkeen Training and Consulting Solutions.

Member of the Board for Human Resources at Bentley Motors, Dr. Karen Lange, commented, “With every year, the Extraordinary Women programme grows stronger, as exemplified by the quality of this year’s Pioneers, all who have generously given their time in the spirit of collaboration as we seek to build a legacy for young women. It has been a great honour to meet and engage with such talented young women during their visit – witnessing their energy and ability fills me with great optimism for the future.”

Launched in the UK and Middle East in 2022, the Extraordinary Women initiative has previously engaged students and Pioneers from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. It forms part of Bentley’s wider commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion under its Beyond100 strategy, and was created to encourage women to explore a variety of career paths in the STEM and automotive sectors.

Financial

Reem Finance signs with Network International to accelerate digital transformation

Published

1 week ago

June 26, 2024

Integrator Web-Editor

Network International (Network) has announced the signing of a strategic partnership with Reem Finance, the leading financial services provider in the UAE. The strategic alliance aims to leverage Network’s expertise to provide a fully-fledged payment processing solution to support the digital transition.

The partnership with Network complements Reem Finance’s focus on offering customers with a unique banking experience in tune with the digital age. The scope of services includes a comprehensive range of products and services from transaction processing, card hosting and management, as well as value-added services. As the region’s largest payment solutions company, Network is committed to supporting the UAE financial services sector by providing innovative solutions to customers and enhancing the experience of consumers.

Navneet Dave, Managing Director & Co-Head of Processing – Middle East at Network International, commented, “We are thrilled to partner with Reem Finance as we jointly deliver innovative digital payment solutions that offer an effortless and secure experience for customers. Our collaboration builds on Network’s three decades of experience and expertise in creating world-class digital payments infrastructure and services for clients. It underscores Network’s commitment to empowering our partners with cutting-edge processing services and value-added solutions and driving growth in the UAE financial services industry.”

Mr. Seraj Faidi, CEO of Reem Finance,said: “As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality of our products and services for our esteemed clients, and in light of our recent collaborations with prominent service providers and partners, we are delighted to partner with Network International to explore innovative paths to accelerate digitizing our services to better serve our customers. This engagement is an important step for Reem Finance in expanding our capabilities to provide top tier, friendly and easy to use services to our customers. We are confident that with Network International, the processing of card transactions related to both consumer and commercial sectors will be state-of-the-art and seamless. We are committed to playing a vital role in elevating the financial system in the UAE, delivering value to our shareholders, and prioritizing the needs of our clients.”

Financial

Wio Bank Redefines SME Banking with New Embedded Finance

Published

1 week ago

June 24, 2024

Integrator Web-Editor

Wio Bank PJSC is introducing a new embedded finance service designed especially for the UAE’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This initiative includes strategic partnerships with leading accounting software platforms Zoho Books, Fiskl and Wafeq, aiming to embed banking services into daily business operations and simplify financial management.

Wio Business, the bank’s first digital banking application, caters to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as freelancers and entrepreneurs. By directly integrating with accounting and financial management systems through APIs, Wio Business facilitates seamless financial workflows, enhancing management and eliminating the need for third-party intermediaries. This integration automates bookkeeping, significantly reducing manual labor and allowing businesses to concentrate on their core activities.

Jayesh Patel, Chief Executive Officer of Wio Bank PJSC, shares his vision for the new service: “By adopting Embedded Finance, we are transforming how businesses manage their finances. Our direct integration initiative simplifies how financial services are delivered and managed, making it easier and more transparent for SMEs.”

With over 94% of UAE businesses categorized as SMEs and significant contributors to employment, Wio Bank’s new service is tailored to meet a vital market need. This initiative, along with its strategic partners, is designed to simplify business operations, allowing them to thrive by focusing on growth rather than administrative financial tasks.

A New Era of Financial Management

Through Wio Business, companies can now link their accounts with selected software platforms such as Zoho Books, Fiskl, and Wafeq, offering a holistic view of their financial health. This integration eliminates the dependency on third-party intermediaries, simplifies financial workflows, ensures real-time financial insights with automatic updates, and streamlines accounting tasks with features like auto-reconciliation of bank statement. Additionally, integrating Wio Business APIs into Corporate ERPs and payment platforms facilitates automated account payables and instant transaction reconciliation, thus reducing manual labor and errors, and enhancing cost efficiency and operational gains.

Wio Bank was established to redefine banking in the UAE for both businesses and consumers. Its second digital offering, Wio Personal, is a day-to-day banking platform that changes how individuals see, manage, and grow their money. It provides users with unprecedented financial visibility and flexibility, serving as a foundation for achieving personal financial goals with an engaging experience that includes smart cards and exciting rewards.