Nigeria and Kenya are rapidly developing markets for industrial software solutions, says Industry Software Solutions and Support (IS³) MD Dion Govender.

Although South Africa has a mature industrial base, Govender differentiates Nigeria and Kenya as being vibrant sources of new innovation for AVEVA’s design and build portfolio, while customers in South Africa are focused on operating more efficiently and optimising their assets.

He further explains that South Africa is generally focused on predictive analytics and making assets sweat.

The industries in Nigeria and Kenya that are seeing meaningful implementation of software solutions include electricity, oil and gas, food and beverage, agriculture and mining.

Govender says Nigeria and Kenya have intensified its gas capture, flaring, separation and use activities in recent years and, through enterprise management systems, have developed a deep understanding of data and digital transformation.

He adds that the East African community as a whole is open and eager to innovate, citing the rise of mobile money – as a financial technology – in the region as an example. Govender lauds the stakeholders within Kenya and Nigeria for driving innovation and creating value for the country.

With the country having solved the issue of capital moving freely, it is now focusing on having expertise and knowledge move freely, using software.

Owing to the continent being rich in natural resources from minerals to energy, Govender deems it vital to unlock accessibility to software that allows for the responsible use and management of resources.

Govender states that software itself is not a panacea for industrial development, but is rather enabling people-centred solutions to come about from industry, to achieve sustainability goals or lower costs, as well as ensure efficiency and scalability.

Commenting on whether he believes the majority of people see the value of software solutions and know how to access them, Govender says a history of software use has contributed to safer and more secure operations, while technology has been made more accessible without the need for large capital investments.

“Most end-users know how accessible technology or software is, but many still do not believe it, and think there must be a ‘catch’. Hence, IS³ continues to create awareness about flexible business models to access and use software, for all sizes of business.”

Software giant AVEVA Middle East, Africa and Türkiye VP Nayef Bou Chaaya agrees that Nigeria is becoming a vibrant market for software solutions, particularly the oil and gas sector, while AVEVA has also identified Egypt as a market with massive software expansion potential.

AVEVA is setting up a presence in Egypt through an office to get closer to these customers and understand their needs. Where the group deems apt, it works through certified partners such as IS³ to provide local expertise and perspective to solutions. 

AVEVA endeavours to help this market manage resources responsibly and optimally, through three regional areas – Southern Africa, West Africa and East Africa, with the East African area advancing the Kenya developments.

Chaaya tells Engineering News that AVEVA prefers the use of local content, skills and employment, wherever possible.

Chaaya and Govender agree that AVEVA works with customers to identify gaps and minimise the difference between where companies are in their digital transformation, to where they want to be.

Chaaya emphasises digital transformation is a journey, which requires a phased approach through a roadmap towards returns on investment.

Hence, AVEVA’s solutions span from engineering in design and build, through to operations and optimisation, across the asset lifecycle.

Chaaya concludes the topmost priority for AVEVA to continue refining its software offerings and expanding into new markets is to listen and remain attuned to customers’ needs.

*Chaaya and Govender were interviewed on the sidelines of the X-Change 2023 conference, held from June 4 to 7, in the Drakensberg. Marleny Arnoldi attended the X-Change 2023 conference as a guest of IS³ and AVEVA.