MTL unveils enterprise resource planning tool for SMEs

In view of the information and communication gap among small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL) has teamed up with a Zimbabwean company, Twenty Third Century Systems (TTCS), to provide an enterprise resource planning (ERP) application, Cumulus to SMEs.
Unveiling the product at this year’s Malawi International Trade Fair in Blantyre, MTL head of marketing Chimwemwe Khonje said Cumulus aims to give businesses a platform to have all their business needs in one package at a low cost.
He said the company seeks to help the SMEs market with services that offer innovation and ease of use in terms of communication needs thereby promoting business efficiency.
“Our research indicates that SMEs seldom use ERP tools, as such, we thought of launching the product to enable businesses to have similar output like that of other large businessess,” he said.
In her remarks, Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) head of membership services and communication Enid Mauluka hailed MTL for launching the programme saying it complements this year trade fair theme.
“We believe that this is just the beginning and [we] hope to see more partnering with other countries, specifically those that are participating in the fair. We commend MTL for opening doors for SMEs who have been trying to trade but had no communication platform,” she said.
Among other benefits, the tool also enhances businesses by providing a platform for business information captured in a single system instantly being accessible across the organisation, offers financials, customer relationship management, inventory management functionality and it also provides solution to grow with a business and adapts as business needs change.