When it comes to managing SAP systems on Azure, you’ll find only a handful of companies in the region possess the expertise necessary to do so. Among them is John Keells IT, which is a leading boutique consulting and professional services company and a pioneer in driving the adoption of cloud computing in the region. The company gained this unique expertise by supporting its parent company, John Keells Holdings and its 70+ subsidiaries in 7 unique industries with their digital transformation journey. Recognizing this, John Keells IT was awarded the rare milestone of “SAP on Azure Advanced Certification.”
Commenting on the achievement, COO of Microsoft Solutions & Services at John Keells IT, Nishan Thevathason said, “We were very excited to hear about the SAP & Microsoft Embrace initiative as a customer and a partner who have our main focus on these technologies. We started the migration journey some time ago and it was a natural progression for us to have the “SAP on Azure Advanced Certification” in place.”
For years, SAP has been a dominant force in the market for ERP solutions. Even before cloud computing became the norm, SAP systems were deployed as on-premise solutions. In recent years, the introduction of the “Embrace” initiative has seen SAP deepen its ties with Microsoft. Today, SAP on Azure is considered the industry standard for SAP ERP systems operating in the cloud. However, moving ERP systems be it to Azure or another cloud provider is no easy task.
Among the goals of the “Embrace” initiative by SAP and Microsoft was to identify the best partners globally to help organizations with the transition to the cloud. By extension, accelerating the digital transformation of industries and society. To identify these global partners with the necessary expertise, SAP & Microsoft established the exclusively rigorous certification programme known as the SAP on Azure Advanced Specialization. Partners that obtain this exclusive certification are said to be prioritized and recommended to organizations seeking to transition of SAP systems to an Azure cloud environment.
Nishan went onto say, “SAP on Azure Advanced Certification sets us apart from capability and engagement standpoint with SAP & Microsoft compared to other partners. We are committed to driving the conversation, which is a major global focus & with this certification, we are now among an exclusive list of top 25 partners globally to be endorsed by Microsoft to deliver value to our customers.”
Over the years, John Keells IT has established a long-standing relationship with Microsoft. Dating back to 2007, when the company was recognized as a Microsoft Gold Partner. Since then, it has only grown stronger as John Keells IT invested deeply in building its capabilities in several key technology areas. Today, the company has established itself as a market leader with several Microsoft certifications under its belt. At the 2020 Microsoft Inspire Awards, John Keells IT was recognized for its unique expertise with several awards.
Moving forward, John Keells IT is focused on enabling more organizations to adopt technologies that bring about a digital transformation. The company has established a blueprint for bringing about this digital transformation in 4 phases – Transact, Transform, Engage, and Innovate. Already, John Keells IT has laid out a detailed roadmap towards investing in its capabilities to empower more organizations to harness the power of technology and realize the benefits of digital transformation.