Johannesburg, 3 July 2024: Traditional small business accounting systems inhibit growth and make it difficult to adapt to disruptions and rapid change. This was the crux of a presentation delivered by Kevin Pentecost, Microsoft SA Channel Sales Manager for BizApps, at a recent event hosted in Johannesburg by Microsoft and epic ERP.
The event highlighted how the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central ERP solution can address the unique needs of midmarket businesses in most industries, but with specific focus on retail and distribution, manufacturing, financial and professional services, non-profit as well as public sector. Other industries include pharma and life sciences, agriculture, healthcare, transportation and logistics, and telecoms as examples.
Business Central differentiates itself through industry-specific templates, workflows, configurations, apps, connectors and third-party ISVs, which contribute to faster deployment times and a superior match for industry specific requirements.
“Traditional systems are often manual, inefficient and prone to errors,” he explained. “They slow down employees, reducing their operational effectiveness, and prevent them from concentrating on strategic initiatives.”
This situation, he said, results in frustrated staff, lower profit margins, higher employee turnover and increased operational costs.
Dynamics 365 Business Central provides a central platform to integrate finance, sales, service, and operations teams with a comprehensive business management solution.
Surprisingly, according to Stuart Scanlon, MD of epic ERP, Microsoft’s enterprise resource planning partner in Africa, the solution is relatively unknown on the continent.
“Microsoft Dynamics and epic ERP can help businesses navigate the challenges faced by mid-market firms across industries,” he said. “We’ve been surprised to hear from several sources that there is a lack of awareness around the availability of these incredible operational tools in Africa.”
Pentecost highlighted the benefits of using off-the-shelf solutions like Business Central, stating, “Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a powerful ERP solution that offers advanced forecasting tools, seamless integration with other Microsoft products like Teams and Outlook, and robust data management and reporting features. This makes it far more efficient and cost-effective compared to developing custom solutions.”
Both Scanlon and Pentecost underscored the inclusion of Microsoft Copilot in Business Central, a cutting-edge AI solution that enhances productivity across the Microsoft product lineup.
Pentecost said, “Copilot, powered by Azure OpenAI Service, provides AI-powered assistance that helps business professionals generate ideas, automate tasks and gain insights using natural language. This integration empowers firms to work smarter and make data-driven decisions effortlessly.”
Business Central’s integration with the Microsoft ecosystem allows firms to manage operations directly within Outlook, simplifying change management and system adoption. It also supports comprehensive financial management, advanced reporting and compliance with regulatory standards, crucial for accounting and auditing firms.
The platform also has remarkable capabilities when it comes to localisation, supporting multiple currencies, exchange rates and local tax regulations across various African countries.
“This makes it an ideal solution for firms looking to expand their operations globally,” said Scanlon.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is not just an ERP platform, but a strategic tool for midmarket firms across Africa.
“It enables these companies to streamline their operations, enhance client services, and maintain compliance with industry standards, all while leveraging the power of AI and seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem,” said Scanlon.