AFKInsider: What new features can MiniERP users expect in the near future?

Pedersen: In our immediate road-map, we have 3 new features. One is ETR/ESD integration so that users can be able to generate tax compliant receipts. As it is now, they can be able to generate receipts from the system, just not official KRA (Kenya Revenue Authority) compliant receipts. Two, we also intend to have an expanded customer management capability where our users can be able to broadcast SMS’s to their entire customer base. SMS’s that might include sales promotions and so on. Three, inventory management. This is key to the growth of the package as most, if not all, retail businesses also have stock to manage.

AFKInsider: How many African markets are you targeting with this new app?

Right now the system is launched in Kenya, on the medium term it’s being launched in all of East Africa, and long term our ultimate goal is to get it across all of Africa. Keep in mind that for it to fully work in one country it needs to work different from location to location. There are different mobile-money systems to integrate with and different ETR systems in each country.

AFKInsider: How can you describe the African market when it comes to accounting software adaptability?

Pedersen: It’s a difficult market – accounting is often left at the hands of the bookkeeper/accountant without any oversight/management involvement (in the SME level at least), maybe accounting is seen as a hands off area by many managers who does not understand its implications. Hence there is limited focus on “clever” solutions here. On the operations aspect, which MiniERP addresses there are however a lot of focus, there are great concern about revenue leakages and a strong need for managers to increase accountability and transparency – especially if they are not present day to day in the business.
We expect this will affect the sales quite a bit.

AFKInsider: How’s the competition environment in Kenya and the region when it comes to accounting softwares?

Pedersen: Quite strong, there are quite a number of solutions in the market. Mostly however they are international systems that are being brought to Kenya to be sold here, they lack the local focus/relevance which we bring in our solutions.

AFKInsider:  How would you describe a successful role out of MiniERP in terms of reach and financial returns?

Pedersen: We have invested quite significantly in the development of the system, and naturally want to see that investment come back. But in terms of success we can look at it in many ways, we can talk numbers but I would rather look at successful implementations. If a customer is happy with the system he will recommend it to his friends / business-partners and we start seeing a ripple effect in terms of uptake. With this in mind I will declare it a (great) success if we get 10 solid leads through referrals – as this would mean we have quite a number very happy clients. To reuse the old saying: the success of our clients is our success.

AFKInsider: What other products can we expect from Uhasibu in the future?

Pedersen: I really want to re-launch our payroll system. Right now it is an integrated part of Uhasibu, and it has made the life easy for a good number of our Uhasibu clients, however it was always the intention that it should be released as an independent brand/solution also. Other than that I think we need to focus (if possible) on our existing product portfolio and enhance the value offering in those by continuous improvements based on customer feedback.