By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
4Sight Dynamics Africa has announced earlier today, that from 1 June 2023, the software-as-a-service (SaaS) version of the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central application will become available to businesses in an additional 11 countries across Africa, effectively doubling access on the continent.
4Sight Dynamics Africa already supports partners benefitting from the cloud-based version of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Angola, Mauritius, Kenya, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Nigeria.
As of 1 June 2023, businesses in Namibia, Madagascar, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Ghana, and Senegal will also gain access to this comprehensive business management and enterprise resource planning solution for small and medium-sized businesses (SMB).
“Microsoft has made steady progress in expanding coverage across Africa since first launching the solution into sub-Saharan Africa,” explains Nick Botha, Managing Director at 4Sight Dynamics Africa, a value-added indirect Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) that services a large number of Microsoft partners in Africa and the Middle East.
“With the launch of the SaaS solution in these additional countries, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central will be available in every major economy on the African continent,” he adds.
While less than half (22) of the 54 countries in Africa will have access to the solution from 1 June, these economies contribute roughly 85% of Africa’s total GDP, which is estimated to reach $8.86 trillion (PPP) in 2023, according to IMF data.
“Providing SMBs across Africa with access to the latest technology solutions is vital to support their continued growth and enhance their competitiveness in the global business environment,” continues Botha.
In this regard, Botha explains that cloud-based solutions offer significant advantages over the traditional on-premises model.
“Businesses gain quicker and easier access to a wider range of additional services and improved business process automation, in addition to more competitive pricing and an OpEx model that improves cash flow.”
From a functionality perspective, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central brings together comprehensive organisational information, automates manual tasks, connects processes and workflows, enables fact-based inventory management, and provides managers with clear visibility into business performance, margins, profitability, and opportunities for improvement.
The SaaS delivery model also allows multi-national businesses based in supported countries to access the solution from regions not currently included on the launch roadmap.
“Provided the company is registered in one of the 22 supported countries, users at satellite operations in unsupported regions can access the system via a reliable high-speed internet connection.”
According to Botha, ongoing investments to expand terrestrial fibre networks across Africa have improved terrestrial broadband penetration and delivered the download and upload speeds needed to support the use of cloud-based business solutions.
“The need to enable remote and hybrid working environments, create more nimble and agile businesses that can compete with global competitors, and support transcontinental expansion without significant capital expenditure, remain key drivers for cloud adoption in Africa,” elaborates Botha.
“By making business solutions like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central available in more African countries via the cloud will empower businesses in these regions to digitalise their operations and contribute positively to Africa’s emergence as the next global economic powerhouse,” he concludes.