Microsoft partner in Asia picks RP as ERP operations hub

The Philippines has been chosen to be the hub of operations of Microsoft and Raffles Solutions for its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) operations.

ERP solutions involve information technology (IT) products, services and support.

This was announced yesterday by Bo Lindqvist, vice president of the Enterprise Division of Raffles Solutions which is the strategic partner of Microsoft in the Asian region.

Raffles Solutions is part of the Thakrai Group which is one of Singapore’s largest homegrown conglomerates.

The Thakrai Group is engaged in various activities that include trading and textiles, electronics distribution, real estate, hotel establishments, manufacturing, information technology and value-added consulting services.

The Thakrai Group has been operating in the Philippines since 1999.

Raffles Solutions, on the other hand, has been operating in the Philippines only for the past six months.

According to Lindqvist, the Thakrai Group is increasing its IT products, services and support in most emerging markets as well as Europe and the United States.

Raffles Solutions, particularly, will focus on ERP solutions and consulting as well as staff augmentation and IT placement.

The Thakrai Group is engaged in providing hi-tech equipment and services for major telco enterprises across the region.

The Thakrai Group, Lindqvist said, had actually looked at China, India and Vietnam before deciding to make the Philippines the hub for its ERP operations.

The Thakrai Group’s plans for its ERP operations would involve providing IT products, solutions, services and support with a trained Filipino staff to small and medium businesses not only in the Philippines but across the region to Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

China and India were ruled out because of their high cost structure.

The Thakrai Group, Lindqvist said, found the Philippines to have highly qualifed and easy to train manpower who could later on be sent to provide support services for the group’s ERP operations.