Channel Post speaks with Monzer Tohme, Regional Vice President, Middle East & Africa, Epicor Software on their participation at the upcoming GITEX Technology Week
Why did you choose to participate in GITEX Technology Week 2017?
Based on the results of a recent global survey we conducted, we can make a resounding business case that investment in IT systems is critical to a business’s ability to compete in today’s worldwide market, expand in to new regions, and grow their bottom line.
As the #1 technology show in the region, GITEX gives us the perfect opportunity to share our insights and expertise with prospective customers and to demonstrate how our enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions can help them set their businesses on a strong growth course.
I strongly believe that with our ERP solutions, organisations in the region can eliminate inefficiencies, improve decision making, increase agility and responsiveness to market trends, and deliver better customer service—critical success factors for navigating the challenges for growth.
Do you have standalone presence at the event or will you be showcasing with your partner(s)? Can you give us details of your hall and booth at the event?
At this years’ event, we will have a significant presence in Hall 7, Stand B7-29. In addition to having a strong direct presence, we have also invited four key partners, RheinBrücke, Knowledge Web, Cork Infotech and Index Infotech, to participate with us.
What are you showcasing at GITEX Technology Week 2017?
We will be using GITEX as a platform to showcase our range of global enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions including the latest version of Epicor ERP, Epicor iScala, Epicor iScala for Hospitality, and Epicor Human Capital Management (HCM).
What technology trends have you seen in the Middle East and Africa market?
From my perspective, there are two key trends:
- Industry 4.0–The advent of Industry 4.0 calls for a future of agile, affordable manufacturing, fuelled by technology enablers such as the Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, cloud computing, mobile devices and big data. This will combine the world of production and networking in a connected environment, and ERP will become even more central to production as the backbone to the network–connecting smart machines, logistics systems, production facilities, sensors and devices as products and machines communicate with each other and exchange commands along the production line. Industry 4.0-compatible ERP systems will fully integrate with manufacturing execution systems (MES) and, as a result, it will be possible to accurately track and document the transformation of raw materials through to finished goods.
- Analytics – According to an October 2016 report by Machina Research, the total number of IoT connections are estimated to grow 16% annually over the next 10-year period from six billion in 2015 to 27 billion in 2025. Alongside this, total IoT revenue is projected to grow to $3 trillion in 2025, up from $750 billion in 2015.
The next step for our customers, is to take the data that is available and analyse it in context, to make faster, better, and more efficient business decisions. Data is the business resource of the future—both in terms of optimising processes and services, and as a basis for innovative business models. As technology develops we can expect to see more integration between ERP software, big data and predictive analytics.
Do you have any plans to launch any new products, solutions or technologies at GITX Technology Week this year?
GITEX 2017 will be the Middle East showcase for the latest version of Epicor ERP and Epicor iScala for Hospitality.
Launched in June 2017, the latest version of Epicor ERP builds on the strengths of its cloud-first architecture, and provides powerful new capabilities to support operational excellence, improved visibility, and revenue expansion. Key features include a dedicated tenancy cloud option, offering greater flexibility and control, international financial and compliance capabilities which will be critical to smooth implementation of the upcoming GCC VAT regulations, and new data analytics packages for improved decision making.
Epicor iScala for Hospitality is a back-office solution for restaurants, hotels, and resorts. The solution is designed to enable its users to meet the unique needs of the hospitality industry. It enables companies to streamline by efficiently integrating all operations, from intelligent technologies, room reservations, and food and beverage, to event sales, human resources, and finance, on a single platform.
