Driving Africa’s ICTs

 

(SAP), the global market leader in enterprise application software helping companies of all sizes and industries run better.

Zimbabwean-born business technology executive, Mr Pfungwa Serima, is the man credited with driving the German company to such great heights on the continent.

In a question and answer, CAJ News Head of Africa News Savious Kwinika (SK) explores SAP’s secrets to success as well as the power Mr Serima (PS) yields in the sector.

Below are the excerpts from the interview:
SK:  How did it so happen for you to be sitting at the helm of one of the world’s largest technology companies (SAP)?
PS: Since the beginning of my career, I had the burning desire to find a professional opportunity that would allow me to have an Africa-wide scope.
I was also looking for the possibility of making a real difference on this continent about which I feel so passionate. In my previous role, I was focused only on the South African market and when this role with SAP became a distinct possibility, I immediately recognised that it would allow me to do both. I am passionate about SAP’s products, its people and its ecosystem and leading the African part of it is something that makes me inordinately proud.

SK: What does it mean to you to be CEO for SAP Africa? What responsibilities does this post go with?
PS: I was appointed to the role in July 2008. I have overall responsibility across all SAP lines of business in sub-Saharan Africa. This is an exciting and challenging portfolio that involves leading all SAP’s business strategy and sales, routes-to-markets, including direct and indirect sales, ecosystem and channels, and the company’s consulting sales and delivery services over four strategic African regions, namely Southern Africa Region, West Africa Region, East Africa Region and Francophone Africa Region.

SK: With respect to your ascendancy to such a high position of a German corporate, what lessons can corporate executives draw from your experiences?
PS: I believe in inspiring people — getting them to collaborate and empower them to discover the fastest path to success. Live your passion, put your customers first at all times and strive for excellence in everything you do.

SK: What’s your vision for SAP Africa in the next five, 10 years?
PS: Our vision is to make the world run better and improve people’s lives. We see the future of business as a global, connected real-time marketplace where business networks, companies and people compete and collaborate — a real-time networked economy.
We believe that we can play a major role in optimising business and people networks to run better, and more sustainably, in the future. Together, our strategy, mission, and vision present SAP with the opportunity to reshape the IT industry and truly make the world run better and improve people’s lives.
In the next decade, we also see a major demographic shift that will greatly increase demand for natural resources. Businesses and governments will need a new category of sustainable solutions to cope with this demand and provide high value services to their consumers and citizens. With our vast experience in enterprise resource management and our new technology innovations, SAP can power these new types of solutions. SAP is serious about growing and investing in the greater Africa region and has dedicated senior resources to formalising an ambitious growth strategy for the region (US$1 billion in the next five years).

SK: How would you compare South Africa’s business environment with that of Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and other countries in the Southern Africa region, in respect of competitiveness?
PS: SAP remains the dominant player in South Africa and Zimbabwe (the region we call Southern Africa), accounting for the majority share of the market. In markets like Kenya and Nigeria we have had significant successes with key anchor businesses, making us one of the most major technology forces there, both in the private and public sector. However, I believe that given the potential of the market and the investments we are making, SAP will become THE trusted technology partner with whom forward-looking businesses of all sizes will want to partner moving forward.

SK: What are the chances for Africa (technology) to catch up with Europe, America and other developed countries in the areas of service delivery based on technology?
PS: Africa quite clearly is on the right path. The African zeitgeist is hallmarked by entrepreneurial and natural innovative thinking and this is evidenced by remarkable technologies that are emerging in all sorts of industries. We need to remain focused, open and committed to driving success.

SK: SAP already has operations across Africa, particularly in East, West and the entire Southern African Development Community region, what would you say are the major challenges in running transnational, transcontinental business?
PS: The right skills and infrastructure remain issues, but they are both being proactively tackled. For example, the completion of the undersea fibre-optic cables connecting East Africa to the rest of the world are going to result in a resounding boom, I have no doubt. In terms of attitude, we have to believe that we have the skills in Africa and that we can do it — mind over matter! Remaining true to one’s vision with a well thought-through strategy is also key.
If the strategy is solid — and our quarterly numbers clearly reveal that ours is: an impressive 58 percent growth for Africa in the third quarter — and the execution is superior, you will succeed.

SK: How do you perceive the SA/Zimbabwean economy’s potential in technology?
PS: Mark my words, Zimbabwe is rapidly becoming a powerful success story again. The country has shown amazing progress in the last three years.
The economy remains vulnerable, but they have turned a corner.
The understanding of the pivotal role that harnessing the power of technology can play is there. The potential therefore is significant.

SK: What does it mean to you to head SAP — CEO for Africa?
PS: I am tremendously honoured to be at the helm of such an exciting and relevant organisation. SAP makes the world run better and improves the lives of people: that is quite a vision.
And when you think that 63 percent of the word’s transaction revenue touches an SAP system, that’s quite a staggering and huge responsibility — one that we take very seriously.
We are committed to Africa as a whole and as a global information technology leader.
SAP also recognises and embraces its responsibility to contribute actively to society.
We believe the private sector plays a vital role in creating a level playing field, one that builds an environment that embraces education, technology and innovation.
We also believe that societies flourish where economies are strong and every person has a fair chance of active participation.
By enabling individuals to develop their own skills, creativity, and solutions, they will be better equipped to help themselves and take an active rewarding role in their communities.

SK: As a successful African corporate executive, what are your views on the implementation of the Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and indigenisation programmes in Africa?
PS: Matters such as diversity in the workplace are global imperatives for SAP and we view the continued diversification of our employees in South Africa to reflect the demographics of the country as a natural process.
Our work in South Africa with regards to socio-economic development ranks highly among our peer group and is appreciated in the communities in which we engage.
Ultimately this means that the SAP African market unit is on a solid platform, with an independent BBBEE rating of level three and a final value adding procurement level of 137,5 percent according to the codes of good practice of broad based black economic empowerment.
With our continued focus on transformation, I am of the firm belief that we shall continue on a positive trajectory to remain an exemplary BBBEE multinational company.

SK: Would you say there is a short-cut to success?
PS: Success is an equal measure of transpiration and perspiration, in my opinion.
There are no short cuts, however — being ahead of the game by anticipating one’s customers’ needs and constantly putting oneself in their shoes undoubtedly puts one in the position to be successful. — CAJ News.