Can you tell us about ZILLIONe and how its partnership with Microsoft has evolved, helping local businesses reimagine themselves over the years?
Established in 1979, we pioneered ERP solutions in Sri Lanka and partnered Microsoft in Sri Lanka in the initial stages. We are a Gold Certified Partner of Microsoft in Sri Lanka selling its solutions in the local market, and later we became the first Sri Lanka-based company to be awarded Microsoft Fast Track Ready Partner status. ZILLIONe is the most experienced Microsoft partner in Sri Lanka offering the complete suite of Microsoft solutions from Office to Azure, Dynamics 365, security and business applications, data analytics, and AI.
Our partnership with Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a decade-long journey. We started small, but today ZILLIONe is the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Country Partner for the Southeast Asia new market region. We offer the entire spectrum of Microsoft solutions, and this gives us a competitive advantage in Southeast Asia.
We are a leading partner for the customer relationship management (CRM) component of Microsoft Dynamics 365. We have customers in multiple sectors including industry-leading telecommunications, healthcare, education, and food manufacturing giants. On the data analytics side, we offer Dynamics 365 Customer Insights.
What were the highlight of the event for ZILLIONe?
Microsoft recently introduced Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Online (SaaS version) to the Sri Lankan Market and ZILLIONe is the only partner to be featured in the panel because we developed the localization app. Enrico Lisk was featured among the panel members in the launch event along with Conrad Dias, one of the globally ranked CIOs, whose company uses Microsoft Dynamics that was implemented by ZILLIONe.
What makes the Microsoft Dynamics 365 SaaS rollout a game-changer, and what is ZILLIONe’s is role in this ambitious endeavour?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, popularly called Business Central in the Sri Lankan market, is the need of the hour. The unfolding Covid-19 crisis has accentuated the importance of connectivity like never before.
Since it is a fully SaaS-based product, you do not need to invest in additional infrastructure like servers and allocate resources to maintain the service.
The SaaS-based solution is affordable and secure that even startups can use Business Central as an integrated ERP system, and even large complex businesses can create a seamless ecosystem. In addition to that, you get a mobile application available on all IOS, Android, and Microsoft platforms enabling decision-makers to access data instantly.
Usually, such ERP projects are capital intensive, but we offer affordable subscriptions with the premium package starting from $70 per user a month and this we believe has further democratised digital technology.
Affordability and security are not the only advantages. Businesses will also get an intelligent and modern ERP solution with AI, machine learning, automated robotic processing, and business intelligence technologies embedded. For these reasons, not only is Microsoft Dynamics 365 different from other ERP solutions, but it is also a gamechanger for businesses subscribing to it.
Can you discuss and give examples of how the ZILLIONe localization app is localising ERP solutions for the domestic market and unlocking efficiencies and benefits?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a global product that can adjust to unique market needs and requirements. For instance, each country has a different tax system. Often, they are complex, and businesses struggle to contend with multiple taxes, rates, and applications. We have localised Microsoft Dynamics for the Sri Lankan market by incorporating the tax requirements prescribed by the Department of Inland Revenue Sri Lanka. Every time there are changes in taxation policy, these are accounted for so that customers do not have to worry about modifying their entire systems whenever the government changes VAT rates or adds or removes NBT or WHT. Because this is a tested and proven solution with all the tax regulations in the relevant formats in line with the Department of Inland Revenue Sri Lanka, you can access all those reports from a mobile app. We provide a guarantee that the localized app will always reflect the current tax structures. At ZILLIONe, we are pushing localisation beyond that. In the next phase of the rollout, we will include processes unique to the local market like purchase requisitions, letters of credit and more.
What is next for ZILLIONe?
As the veteran tech company in Sri Lanka, we have built a global clientele. As the ERP Gold partner and Microsoft Dynamics Partner of the Year consecutively for 2020 and 2021, We serve over 700 clients and completed over 400 successful projects locally and overseas as a group. We have offices in the Maldives, Australia and Fiji and plan to venture into Europe, the Gulf region, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. We are looking to expand our global presence. As the Microsoft Dynamics 365 partner of Southeast Asia new markets, we have access to nine countries including, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, and the Maldives.