TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG – MORE than 130 scholars in South Africa are posied to benefit from a partnership between Sage, the global market leader for integrated accounting, payroll and payment systems, and a foundation committed to empowering talented youngsters.

Sage will assist Make A Difference (MAD) Leadership Foundation to make a  difference to the lives of talented youngsters by reducing the time the  team spends on administration and reporting.

This will be done through Parity Software, the Sage business partner that oversaw the project, with the solution recently going live.

MAD, a non-profit organisation founded by former Springbok captain  Francois Pienaar, will be able to improve its service to the students on  its scholarship programme, as well as to its corporate partners and individual supporters following the implementation of the Sage X3 and Sage  CRM business management solutions.

Sage provided 10 licences of Sage X3 and 20 Sage CRM business management  solutions to MAD Leadership Foundation to help the organisation streamline its business processes, enhance relationships with stakeholders, and
improve its access to reporting information. Parity Software agreed to  provide implementation and consulting services at no cost.

With 137 scholars on the Scholar Wellness, Development and Support Programme, as well as numerous sponsors, donors, and supporters attending its fundraising golf days and participating in sporting events to raise  funds and awareness for MAD Leadership Foundation, the organisation needs a robust business system to manage its data.

Pienaar said the organisation had grown exponentially over the past few  years, demanding that they took business processes and systems to the  next level.

“Sage business management solutions will enable us to grow without limits and make more effective use of our resources to support the future leaders on our programme. Our corporate partners, meanwhile, will benefit from
comprehensive reports on how their investment is helping to develop our country’s next generation of leaders,” said Pienaar.

Keith Fenner, Vice President Sage X3 International, believes a socially-responsible world and in playing a positive role in communities  and with entrepreneurs.

“For us this is the right way to do business,” he said.

He will also be dedicating my time and expertise through the Sage Foundation to support MAD Leadership Foundation’s effort to develop  talented scholars with leadership potential.

“I’m excited that our solutions will help such a worthy organisation to drive even better returns out of the money it is investing in South  Africa’s future.”