Certified IT Consultants Enters Saudi Market with Full-fledged Operations in Riyadh

Riyadh - KSA: 22 December, 2010 – Certified IT Consultants (CIC), one of the first SAP services company in the region, today announced the launch of its operations in Saudi Arabia with the setting up of an office in Riyadh.

The launch ceremony at CIC’s new office in Akaria Plaza was attended by SAP’s management and staff, as well as CIC’s founders and customers, and key IT leaders.

The expansion will facilitate CIC to offer its expertise in implementing the SAP system across diverse industries, including the automotive, real estate, pharmaceuticals, domestic appliances, building materials and petrochemical sectors in Saudi Arabia.

Hesham El Ganainy, Co-Chairman and CEO, CIC, said: “Our entry into the Saudi market comes in line with our strategy to enhance the status of our company as a leading platform for SAP support systems in the region. Armed with our team’s expertise and knowledge, we will ensure our SAP clients in the country are efficiently serviced.”  

Recently ranked as one of the top 100 investors in the country, SAP commenced its direct investments in the Saudi market three years ago at a time when most major corporations in the country switched their operations to adopting the SAP system, across more than 25 industries. Consequently, the need for skilled human resources with the capability to support the SAP systems arose and created a gap that companies such as CIS aim to fill. 

Abdel Rahman Bawazeer, Managing Director, SAP KSA, said: “We value and appreciate that a company such as CIC has joined our mission to develop the SAP market in Saudi Arabia. This is a partnership that we take pride in and further demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the maturity of the Saudi economy, which is currently witnessing a rapid development across all industries.

“Our goal is to support efficient workflow using SAP's technology around the world. Even if vital, the technology could prove useless without the availability of resources and partners who can understand and implement the product. This is where companies such as CIC play a critical role.”

Saudi Arabia counts for more than 50 per cent of the SAP installed base in the MENA region and US$3.3 billion in IT investments. CIC plans to utilize its winning practices and rich industry-specific experience gained from markets such as UAE, Qatar, and Egypt to help Saudi companies better leverage their IT investments.

Ibrahim Ahmed, Co-Chairman and CEO, CIC, said: “CIC holds the credit for changing SAP’s customer perception in the MENA region. As part of our strategic expansion plans, we are committed to training local talent in the areas we operate. We also endorse global best practices that help us eliminate geographical and cultural barriers. We will carry this corporate culture to the Saudi market through establishing an Arabic-speaking resource pool and training local talent in using the SAP systems.”

Andreas Baldwin, Sales Alliance Director, SAP, said: “We perceive significant value in partnering with CIC, specifically in the Saudi market that has a requirement for the expertise, capacity and capabilities they have already demonstrated in the UAE and Egypt markets.

“The key point here is the industry expertise. SAP is embedded in more than 25 industries and CIC spans across most of them, which is vital as we look towards adding value to our customers in the region. We have a network of about 50 partners in the region, but CIC is one of the largest and most important that we have.”

CIC was established in 2002 with one office in the UAE to implement and support the implementation of SAP in the MENA region. Two years later, CIC expanded its operation with a presence in Egypt to capitalize on the knowledge gained and build a dedicated Arabic-speaking resource pool. The launch of operations in Saudi Arabia follows the successful implementation of more than 20 full lifecycles and a client base of over 40 customers that are serviced by nearly 130 Arabic speaking consultants.

  

About CIC

Certified IT Consultants is a nationally owned, Abu Dhabi–based company, with offices in Egypt, KSA and the UK. Founded in 2002, CIC has grown rapidly, building its reputation on business and technical expertise, becoming its clients' chosen partner for SAP implementations and related consulting. Working in a competitive, rapidly changing industry, we add value through service quality at all phases of implementation – from initial pre-project assessments through to final delivery and afterwards. Our experience in implementing SAP solutions, portals and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) makes us a highly valued partner for organizations seeking to extend the scope and capabilities of their IT infrastructure. For further information visit www.cic.ae

About SAP

As the world's leading provider of business software*, SAP delivers products and services that help accelerate business innovation for our customers. We believe that doing so will unleash growth and create significant new value – for our customers, SAP, and ultimately, entire industries and the economy at large. Today, customers in more than 120 countries run SAP applications – from distinct solutions addressing the needs of small businesses and midsize companies to suite offerings for global organizations.

Founded in 1972, SAP has a rich history of innovation and growth as a true industry leader. SAP currently has sales and development locations in more than 50 countries worldwide and is listed on several exchanges, including the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and NYSE under the symbol "SAP". For further information visit www.sap.com