SAP supports Saudi Aramco’s bid to boost IT and SME sectors

SAP recently reiterated its commitment to supporting local talent and the SME sector at Saudi Aramco’s first Trends, Industry and Entrepreneurs (TIE) IT Forum.
The world’s largest enterprise software company attended the event to draw attention to its SME expertise, as well as its multiple training and development initiatives.
Ahmed Al-Faifi, managing director, SAP Saudi Arabia, said: “SMEs have developed rapidly in Saudi Arabia and become a key economic driver. To support this momentum, SAP has developed localized solutions for Saudi Arabia that can enable many SMEs to gain a new competitive edge. We are proud to take part in the TIE IT Forum; Saudi Aramco’s commitment to SMEs and the local IT industry is exceptional, and exciting, potential-rich times lie ahead.”
Highlighting its SME track record at the forum, SAP indicated how more than 80 percent of its customers worldwide operate in this sector, 88 percent of new business clients are small and 35 percent of SAP’s sales come through indirect entrepreneurs.
SME-specific SAP solutions include SAP Business All-in-One (a customizable and extensible solution for midsize companies with deep industry best practices built in) and SAP Business One (a single integrated solution for successfully managing small businesses and for managing subsidiaries of large corporation).
In terms of training and development, SAP emphasized that 2013 has been its best ever year.
As a part of its presence at the event, SAP demonstrated some of its expertise in this area by hosting a CodeJam event for over 50 students from King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals, the University of Dammam and members from Saudi Aramco Professional Development Program (PDPs).
Marita Mitschein, SAP training and development Institute managing director and growth plan lead for SAP Middle East & North Africa, said: “Our vision is to discover and shape the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs and to ensure they are able to make strong and lasting impressions across a wide range of industries in the region — irrespective of whether they end up working for SAP or not.”