Recognising the world-class talent and technological expertise within African
businesses, international luxury safari lodge, hotel and resort group Serena
Hotels has appointed South African business and financial analysis software
specialist, Business Unusual Group (BUG), to centralise the accounting system
used by its units in Kenya (Nairobi and Mombasa) and Tanzania (Arusha). The
contract, which forms part of the hospitality group's objective to implement
a fully integrated back office function, pays tribute to the wealth of intellect
within many local enterprises and their ability to compete on the world stage.
It also highlights the value added by the native understanding of the African
continent and its culture.
Says Business Unusual Group Managing Director, Dion Retief, "African businesses,
whether based in South Africa or any other country on the continent, can contribute
substantially to the development of Africa's economy. By sharing our expertise
and knowledge across the national borders on our continent, we can stimulate
mutual growth through skills transfer and capacity building. At the same time,
we will be investing in the economic growth of the continent rather than spending
Africa's relatively limited financial resources abroad."
He contends that this "think global, buy local" approach will help
establish a powerful base of expertise within Africa, effectively reducing the
continent's dependence on the rest of the world. "We're already seeing
a growing appreciation among African enterprises of technology as an enabling
tool for greater business efficiency. The centralisation of Serena Hotel's accounting
system is a classic example of this trend as it will enable management to view
the current status at any of the group's hotels at any point in time."
Retief elaborates by explaining his company's approach to IT. "We believe
that decision-makers need access to up-to-the minute business information if
they are to run their businesses optimally, especially in a highly competitive
environment. Our ambition is to facilitate and support the decision-making process
by providing our clients with the software tools and solutions that will deliver
critical, business-related information in real-time.
"We achieve this by selecting appropriate financial applications, implementing
and integrating these applications as well as re-engineering the business to
improve process efficiencies."
He concludes by emphasising the need for Africa to take its rightful place
as a global competitor. "The African Renaissance is opening doors for business
growth across Africa as well as creating opportunities for African businesses
to become global players. We need to maximise these opportunities by working
with our business compatriots in Africa towards the bigger picture. We've got
the talent and the technical expertise right here in our own backyard. By leveraging
off one another, we'll maximise our individual and collective potential in the
world economy."
