“Businesses and specifically financial professionals need to understand their own business processes enough to evaluate systems and their ability replace or integrate with existing processes, and we are able to assist them with this,” says Marius Fabian, the CEO of SAP ERP solutions provider 4most, a gold partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
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In the coming weeks and months, we will be chatting to all the Indaba partners, asking them why they are joining the event and what their most important message for finance professionals is.
Do you want to hear how 4most can resolve your ERP issues? Do you want to be informed about the latest and greatest in finance? Then don't miss the Finance Indaba Africa 2016.
Why will you be present at the Finance Indaba?
"As a conference for financial professionals, the Finance Indaba is set to create an environment unique to the sector, which presents insights into, among others, 'the technology and services available to make informed choices'.
"As a leading SAP Business One solutions provider and ERP Consulting firm, we are focused on advising businesses on how best to use technology to meet their business requirements and to support sound, confident decision making.
"With 47% of the business professionals we consult with being financial executives (the other 53% consisting of senior executives, business-owners, managing executives and technology executives) we have a deep understanding of the challenges these professionals face and play a key role in helping organisations of all sizes - across all industries - source and implement a solution that best fits their individual needs to transform and run their businesses."
What will you be talking about?
"The Financial Executive is no longer just the record keeper of business transactions, but is becoming more strategically involved in elevating the financial performance of the business.
"We will be talking about the changing role of Financial Executives and how they can better understand and make use of technologies to meet the demands on them to support decision making and run their organisations more effectively.
"Firstly, 4most will be addressing the issues of data integrity, transparency and availability; how business processes together with systems enable accurate data driven decision making, in real-time, from anywhere, and at any time.
"Digital technology is driving change in every industry and sector. Finance remains at the center of this transformation as supporting company processes, as we know them, becomes the key change expected to occur when adopting industry and market changes associated with this technological development.
"The major challenge that financial executives face is the availability, transparency and integrity of the data which they require to make accurate decisions. This is as a direct result of the complexity of their current system, or lack of systems that support the business processes of the company.
"As such, ensuring that sound business processes are carried out, supported by systems that provide information that is accessible, traceable and accurate, providing a clear view of the business to enable accurate decision making, is critical.
"More and more, they find themselves in a position to verify if their business applications are able to support their processes, information needs and reporting requirements and to enable profitable business growth through efficiency.
"Secondly, we will be addressing some common myths regarding ERP and SAP solutions, namely that they are expensive, complex and only for very large companies.
"Our solutions utilise SAP Business One as a core solution and our clients can testify to its:
Ability to streamline the entire business
Ease of use and reporting, using in-memory technology
Customisability and simplicity
Affordability
Ability to start small and grow as the business grows
Ability to access real-time, accurate information
Availability from anywhere at any time utilising mobile and cloud technology
What are the challenges you can help finance professionals with in 2016?
"The selection of an ERP system represents a major investment in time, capital and attention from the financial executive, and that being said we understand the challenges that they face in sourcing and deciding on a solution that offers:
A measurable value in terms of meeting the unique business processes and delivering the required outcomes.
A lower total cost of ownership which delivers that same value within the scope of affordability in the short and long term, in the most efficient manner.
Flexibility to their specific business requirements and reporting needs as well as able to grow with the business in size and complexity of changes.
Simplicity in the usability and structure of the system to incorporate the entire business and all business entities.
Choice in the manner which the system is deployed, whether onsite, hosted or as a cloud based solution, to provide access from anywhere, on any device.
"We are able to address these challenges firstly by conducting a needs assessment focused on assessing their current requirements in relation to the system that is in place (if any) and advise them on how best to use the available solutions and latest technology to meet their business objectives (their current needs and future roadmap) within the scope of their affordability.
"Businesses and specifically financial professionals need to understand their own business processes enough to evaluate systems and their ability replace or integrate with existing processes, and we are able to assist them with this evaluation.
"In addition, the solutions we provide are tailored to their unique needs, processes and industry to provide clear visibility company wide, provide greater control over all business areas, plan daily operations more profitably, see who their best customers are, to serve them better, and to ensure profitability and business growth.
What have been the key factors behind 4most becoming a leading provider of SAP ERP business management solution software and technology solutions?
"Our key success factors:
Our Team:
"The 4most team comprises the very best business specialists in their respective fields. With the single and united goal of adding value, we share ownership in ensuring that 4most's Mission, Vision and Values are realized.
Our Clients:
"We have implemented over 3 000 SAP Business One Users across numerous industries and have supplied services to more than 150 companies. 4most truly partners with our clients from the very beginning. We seek to fully understand their business and daily operational processes, we then address their requirements whilst sharing our knowledge and expertise. We provide a clear project plan detailing roles, responsibilities and time-lines and we remain with our clients as they grow and help them to define their future business."
Our complete service delivery approach:
"We remain with our clients as they grow and help them to define their future business, and as such 4most provides full turnkey services to provide complete support from inception onwards.
"These services include the implementation, hosting, on-going support, maintenance, customized software development, and application modifications of ERP software solutions providing enterprise specific solutions that give a competitive advantage to businesses in Southern Africa.
"Dedicated to ensuring the continued care of our clients, 4most boasts an in-house Client Care Center and training facility, as well as a dedicated Data Center to facilitate hosted solutions. Total solution management also includes infrastructure support and maintenance.
Our Methodology:
"4most has developed and follows a proven, established methodology, which adheres to industry standards and best practices. It ensures that the project is delivered not only in the scope, time and cost, but also with complete customer satisfaction.
Our SAP Partnership:
"Established as an SAP Partner in 2004, we deliver ERP solutions utilising SAP Business One at the core and being the first and only partner to establish all-round SAP competency, we offer 30 years of experience and skills.
"As a company of certified SAP professionals, we help companies buy, build, implement, service, and support the SAP solution that best fits their unique needs."
Your African footprint is growing. What challenges have you faced in expanding across the continent?
"4most has offices in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia and a growing economic footprint in the DRC, Kenya, 
Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Nigeria and more.
"The challenges we face with regards to expanding into Africa are similar to what many businesses face.
Sourcing talent to support clients locally: As a client centred company focused on delivering value, ideally we try to provide local support and services wherever possible. However sourcing local skilled resources is a challenge.
Lack of infrastructure: A common challenge for many businesses, lack of technological infrastructure and connectivity does serve as a major challenge in expanding in Africa."
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