Kenya’s fastest growing Information Technology solutions provider, Seven Seas Technologies, has unveiled a joint investment partnership with Zimbabwe’s Twenty Third Century Systems, one of the largest sub-Sahara Africa business solutions providers.
In a pioneering multimillion business alliance between a South African regional giant and an East and Central Africa IT flagbearer, Seven Seas Technologies (SST) and Twenty Third Century Systems (TTCS) have unveiled a joint venture operation in Kenya to spearhead the rollout of premium Enterprise applications.
The full-fledged IT solutions firm will be trading under the brand name: Twenty Third Century Systems Kenya, with a business mandate to provide SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions.
As the largest sub Saharan Africa solutions provider for SAP, the union between SST and TTCS is geared at facilitating SAP’s aggressive market expansion drive in the continent. The venture is also expected to herald the dawn of a new era in specializes systems trainings as the firm gears up to unveil an SAP Talent Academy here in Nairobi.
Beyond ERP solutions, Twenty Third Century Systems Kenya will guarantee both breadth and depth across the entire ICT spectrum spanning hardware, software, connectivity and implementation services.
Speaking in Nairobi during a formal event to announce the joint venture, Seven Seas Technologies Founder and CEO Mr. Mike Macharia flanked by TTCS CEO Mr. Ellman Chanakira said the joint investment between the two firms is geared at cost effectively driving the two firm’s Pan African expansion drive.
And in a return investment bid, SST is also considering setting up shop in Harare, Zimbabwe by co-investing with TTCS.
The two organizations, Macharia explained will be seeking to harness their joint resources and experience in the two regional markets to support the sales and marketing initiatives for leading business solutions providers such as SAP which is gearing for a major African coverage.
“The launch of Twenty Third Century Systems Kenya as a joint venture between Seven Seas Technologies and Twenty Third Century Systems is a major milestone geared at complementing our mutual service delivery capacities to further drive shareholder value and deepen business solutions capacity,” Macharia said.
And Added: “Twenty Third Century Systems Kenya will act as a specialized business solutions provider with specialist SAP Enterprise Resource Planning solutions delivery capacity.”
Hailing the launch of TTCSK, Andrew Waititu, the SAP General Manager for East Africa, noted that the joint venture between the two leading ICT companies would help extend the reach and benefits of SAP ERP to newer markets in the region.
“The two founding companies are formidable in their respective fields”, he said. “SAP is proud of the depth of skill and experience that each of the firms wields, and which will no doubt be of benefit to our end user customers”.
Zimbabwe headquartered Twenty Third Century Systems is the largest SAP business solutions provider in Sub Sahara Africa, and will through the local venture continue to building its relationship with SAP to deploy varied total solutions in small, medium to large scale business enterprises across the public and private sector investments.
On his part, Mr Chanakira said the investment between TTCS and SST has been designed to transform the East Africa regional IT industry by offering and deploying world class technology solutions.
The move he added is also part of TTCS ongoing restructuring strategy to take advantage of an aggressive drive into Africa by SAP in the next five years.
”Our mandate is to help organizations re-establish global competitiveness and thereby accelerate development initiatives in and outside Africa through interventions with both private and public entities. From the knowledge and experience we have gained from different assignments on the African continent, we have developed a keen awareness of how to successfully accomplish the business aims of our customers,” Chanakira said.
And added: “This venture between us and Seven Seas Technologies is a culmination of a long but fruitful journey to seek a suitable partner in the East Africa market who shares our passion for world class service delivery.”
As SAP’s largest resource partner in Africa, Twenty Third Century Systems features more than 100 full time consultants and has successfully completed key projects in over 10 countries. The company currently has resource capacity to deploying SAP ‘All-in-One’ (A1) applications in companies with turnover of between US$ 2.5 – 50m.
For large enterprises with a turnover of more than US$50m, TTCS works closely with SAP in deploying solutions to large enterprises such as governments, oil and gas companies, utilities and related companies.
The firm’s key strength is in Tax and Revenue Management, Business Intelligence, Financials, Customer Relationship Management, Procurement, Sales and Distribution, Banking and Human resources. Being a Pan African company, registered in Zimbabwe and the only SAP Gold partner in that market it has made tremendous inroads in the local and regional technology markets.
The company has extensive experience in Africa and the Middle East, with successful projects in countries like Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Nigeria, Mauritius, Malawi, Rwanda, Kenya, Botswana, and Bahrain.
The announcement of the new firm comes in the wake of major developments in the ICT sector in Kenya, with an increase in mobile phone and Internet penetration, and increased awareness and access to software products.
