Adapt IT is in the process of developing a Sage ERP X3 template customised specifically to help public sector organisations manage their financial reporting processes and comply with auditor general requirements. “Adapt IT understands the challenges faced by the public sector in trying to comply with the financial processes and procedures necessary for them to pass annual financial audits. Only 7 out of 250 municipalities passed their financial audits in the previous financial year revealing the need for a solution that can help the public sector meet its requirements. Sage ERP X3 is an excellent ERP solution to help government departments do the job, however it needs to be customised to comply with all the necessary requirements of public sector financial management,” says Adapt IT Project Leader Warren Chavda.

“We are in the process of developing a Sage ERP X3 template for the Agribusiness Development Agency. The agency is involved in project managing agricultural projects focused on economic development. The agency is now getting to the point where it needs to streamline its processes and procedures to comply with auditor general requirements. Once developed and implemented, the Sage ERP X3 template will enable the Agribusiness Development Agency to manage all its financial reporting procedures as well as comply with government policies around human resource management such as skills development, training and BEE compliance,” says Chavda.

“This template can then be implemented in other government agencies and departments with little further customisation needed. It will be a tried and tested solution that complies with government financial reporting requirements making it cheaper and faster to implement at other public sector organisations. Overall, the template will reduce the risks involved in implementing an ERP system at other public sector applications,” Chavda explains.

Sage ERP X3 is already well known in the manufacturing and processing industries of South Africa. However, government and the agricultural sector have not yet experienced the benefits of the system in this country. Adapt IT, is a Softline Accpac Sage ERP X3 implementation partner, and combined with its excellent BEE rating, aims to pursue these underdeveloped industries in the local market.

Public sector agencies are faced with never-ending pressure to provide services that are both efficient and cost-effective. But these organisations also have needs similar to businesses, including finances and human resources. By thinking of citizens as customers, government agencies can implement customer relationship management (CRM) systems to improve efficiency in workflow management, provide self-service procedures to the public, and improve customer service. In addition to integrated CRM, Sage ERP solutions offer streamlined financial processes that can simplify day-to-day administrative tasks.

Sage ERP X3 enables government to improve customer service to the public by using powerful CRM tools to profile demographics and determine their specific needs, behaviours and preferences; by using Sage CRM Web self-service to enable citizens to access information, log requests and receive automatic responses. It also enables government departments to streamline their processes through automated billing systems; simplify day-to-day administrative processes by connecting billing, HR, fixed asset management and purchasing into one integrated solution; and improve reporting for faster, easier and more informed decision making. Having one integrated information system enables each user to view data from the financial management system, the project management system and shared documents at any time.

“We believe the new Sage ERP X3 template developed for government will help the public sector meet its statutory requirements, and we look forward to working with government agencies to implement this unique solution,” concludes Chavda.