Q & A
EDITOR ’ S
Enterprise resource planning ( ERP ) applications have been around for more than four decades and IT channel companies have been central to the reselling , implementing and supporting of businesses with ERP software that matches their needs . The market while mature is still expected to grow further as more and more companies are investing in ERP solutions in order to optimise and automate their processes . This presents significant opportunities and also challenges for software vendors and their channel partners .
SOUMIA AZEROUAL , PARTNER AND CHANNEL SALES DIRECTOR , MIDDLE EAST AND SOUTH ASIA , IFS
The cloud is an established model for sourcing and using mission-critical ERP , EAM and service applications . It is also an effective and powerful way to scale and leverage AI , Analytics and Machine Learning . Choosing to run in the cloud can make it easier for customers to handle the pace of change in the digital age . Running with a cloud service also frees customers from finding , retaining and funding qualified IT personnel needed to operate applications . While we see many customers sourcing solutions as SaaS via our IFS Cloud Services , we also know that in regulated industries there is a need for alternative models , whether private , government-approved or even on-premise . Respecting this , our IFS Cloud 21R1 product will offer three operating models for our solutions : SaaS , remote and self-managed .
Without a doubt , cloud-based ERP software has taken centre stage especially given the current business environment and challenges over the last year . We have also seen increasing focus on incorporating
The market while mature is still expected to grow further as more and more companies are investing in ERP solutions in order to optimise and automate their processes .
AI and Machine Learning into ERP systems to help raise business and cost efficiencies and enable organisations to become more productive . Other areas in ERP that have been gaining momentum of late , are the use of mobile ERP and data analytics . The former is truly in synch with the current business needs of accessing data on the go while the latter provides data driven decisions to help future planning and growth based on predictions that these tools provide .
In fact , IFS has just launched its latest product IFS Cloud , which encompasses all our class leading solutions from a single product built on a common platform . It provides a unique experience and industry expertise simply not found in other products . In addition , IFS is the most experienced and successful service-optimisation software company in the world and the company puts it ’ s sole focus on helping companies that like to automate and streamline their service processes . It results in significant improvements in customer service , cost savings and revenue .
That said , channel stakeholders ( vendors , distributors and resellers ) should address the IT skills challenge facing the MEA channel market . Recent McKinsey ’ s research tells us that there ’ s going to be a more than 25 % increase in the demand for soft skills by 2030 , because machines are just not able to bring some abilities to the table . We need humans for problem solving and critical thinking . To this end , IFS is heavily investing in partner business enablement in the region with a win-win approach and rolling out a variety of channel programmes and policies . This new direction and shift stems from the belief that the company ’ s long-term success is dependent on the success of its ecosystem .
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