ERP Implementation, Customization, Integration market directions Andrew Karasev interview
Interview was given to local media in Sao Paulo, Brazil, October 2005
Alba Spectrum Technologies
Sγo Paulo: 55-11-38263449, USA 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918
Question: Do you think that one of the competing MRP applications will take the market as Microsoft battled Apple back in 1990th?
Answer: In my opinion, ERP market has developed stabilizing mechanisms and technologies, such as XML, which allow harmonic cross-platform integration. The idea is really brilliant lets go back and rely on human text (XML) to enable cross platform communication: Windows, Unix/Linux, Apple.
Question: Brazilian ERP market. Do you expect strong Microsoft, Oracle and SAP competition.?
Answer: Probably worldwide ERP vendors (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft) will first try to gain market share, taking it from local vendors such as Microsiga. As far as we know, SAP Business One is targeting Microsiga clients, Microsoft Navision / Dynamics NAV is in similar market niche. These three super ERPs will first try to probe local vendors. I was seeing this battle in Russia and East Europe back in 1990th, when Great Plains Software (now part of Microsoft Business Solutions) took its first steps on the local market. I see kind of similarities in Brazil very unique tax code, payroll specifics, profit distribution. In Russia we saw similar believes that Russian ERP market is very unique: government regulated chart of accounts (even the government approved code to do General Ledger transactions
Question: Any predictions on SAP Business One in Brazil.
Answer. SAP Business One has modern interface and architecture, plus it is perfectly localized, including tax code. If SAP will provide reasonable support to launch the product in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Brasilia as it did in Mexico, Venezuela, Columbia, Argentina, Chili - SAP Business One will be very successful on the Brazilian soil.
Questions: Your guess on Oracle Financials?
Answers. We just purchased company in Curitiba to serve all the Brazil plus USA and Europe through the network of subcontractors. In my opinion Oracle E-Business Suite has excellent opportunity to increase its market share Oracle is taking revolutionary steps, such as Oracle Fusion.
Question: ERP Offshoring and its impact on Brazil?
Answer. In our Sao Paulo office we have people from Philippines, Russia, Argentina to serve such products as Microsoft Great Plains, Navision, Axapta, Microsoft CRM to Brazil and Latin America, plus remote support to the USA. At the same time 70% of our employees and 100% of our management are Brazilians, so I do not this that Brazil will lose due to offshore development
Question: Microsoft CRM fate in Brazil?
Answer: We understand that MS CRM has its first steps in Brazil and it has very strong Microsoft muscles behind. Plus MS CRM has modern design and is probably designed with all the former CRM vendors lessons learned. In my opinion MS CRM success will be related to Microsoft Project Green success.
Andrew Karasev is expert in ERP system at Alba Spectrum Technologies ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ) Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, Navision, Axapta MS CRM, Oracle Financials and IBM Lotus Domino Partner, serving corporate customers in the following industries: Aerospace & Defense, Medical & Healthcare, Distribution & Logistics, Hospitality, Banking & Finance, Wholesale & Retail, Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Placement & Recruiting, Advertising & Publishing, Textile, Pharmaceutical, Non-Profit, Beverages, Conglomerates, Apparels, Durables, Manufacturing and having locations in multiple states and internationally.