By Faith Nkosi, Cluster ERP IS Service Manager at ABB South & Southern Africa

In today’s fast-changing business environment, speed and agility are the ultimate differentiators. Whether it is delivering products faster, closing financial cycles sooner, or responding to customer demands in real time. Success belongs to those who can turn complexity into clarity and action. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) has become the backbone of this capability, enabling businesses to integrate and simplify processes while giving leaders the insights they need to act decisively.

ERP is not a new concept. At its core, it integrates the fundamental functions of an organisation, finance, procurement, human resources, manufacturing, sales, and supply chain, into a single system of record. Rather than operating in silos, business units can share data and processes, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and efficiency. However, what has changed in recent years is the pace at which markets evolve and the increased importance of data as a strategic asset. ERP is no longer just a back-office enabler - it is a driver of competitiveness in the digital economy.

South African organisations are under pressure from rising operational costs, energy instability, supply chain disruptions, and economic volatility. According to the Small Business Growth Index (SBGI) study, more than 70% of businesses report that the ability to adapt to sudden shocks is now a significant concern. At the same time, many still struggle with inefficient legacy systems that hinder decision-making. These challenges make it more difficult for businesses to scale, remain resilient, and sustain their growth.

ERP systems are designed to address these very obstacles by consolidating data, automating workflows, and delivering real-time visibility. Solutions such as SAP S/4HANA, Oracle NetSuite, and Microsoft Dynamics 365, among others, enable companies to monitor operations end-to-end, respond quickly to market shifts, and eliminate costly inefficiencies. The result is time saved, stronger governance, improved collaboration, and the ability to adapt operations with greater speed and agility.

At ABB South & Southern Africa, I have seen firsthand the tangible impact of integrating new ERP technologies in streamlining various business functionalities. For instance, our finance team has incorporated a Smart Closing, which successfully reduced its month-end closing by three days, freeing nearly a full working week for planning and forward-looking strategy. Across supply chain and project management, ERP has enabled departments to collaborate in real-time, reducing bottlenecks and accelerating delivery. These are not abstract benefits but everyday realities that demonstrate what ERP can achieve when implemented with discipline and focus.

As data becomes the new currency of business, its value depends on how well it is managed. ERP manager and tools provide the foundation for trustworthy, accessible, and secure information across the enterprise, ensuring that leaders can make decisions with confidence. This is particularly important as more organisations adopt cloud models and need to adapt quickly to disruptive technologies.

ERP systems are no longer simply tools for keeping the lights on; they are essential catalysts for growth, resilience, and innovation. For African and South African businesses navigating uncertainty and global competition, ERP delivers the agility needed to thrive. The role of the Cluster ERP IS Service Manager is to ensure that these robust systems are aligned with business priorities, governed effectively, and embedded in a way that drives collaboration and performance. When done right, ERP not only supports operations but also unlocks potential and positions organisations for a sustainable, future-ready path.