Bringing together 350+ ERP experts in new global partnership
It’s a new everyday reality for many businesses. ERP systems, which form the very heart of an organization, are evolving at an extreme pace and placing new demands on companies. Cloud technology, automation and artificial intelligence require organizations to transform faster than ever before.
Addovation, which has extensive experience implementing and operating ERP systems, is meeting these challenges by joining forces with SEBSA, a global partner for IFS and technology.
Building the foundation for an AI-driven future
“Ten months ago, we started talking with SEBSA about whether we should do something together. We have a very similar culture, and we both have broad experience working with IFS. We asked each other: how can we do something together to strengthen our position while also creating value for our customers? So for a couple of months now, we’ve started drawing on parts of each other’s experience and expertise in projects,” says Mikael Johansson, Interim CEO at Addovation.
“No company can move fast enough on its own to deliver the innovations the market is actually demanding. If anyone claims they can do it alone, I find that hard to believe, because things are moving so incredibly fast,” says Martin Gunnarsson, SVP Growth & Innovation, Addovation & SEBSA.
Gunnarsson is focused on making sure the company always stays ahead of developments.
“I’ve led research and development for a long time. What I see very clearly now is that the ecosystem is the most important thing of all. There are so many innovations and solutions out there that we need to find, integrate and build on. That requires us to keep an open mind, listen, and find the right tools – tools we can now bring to our customers together with SEBSA.”
The partnership takes a major step forward
SEBSA, headquartered in Sri Lanka, operates across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, the US and Canada. The company has broad experience with IFS across a wide range of industries. Addovation and SEBSA have previously collaborated on several concrete projects. Now the collaboration is being taken a step further as the partnership is formalized.
Muthuraja Nanayakkara, Group CEO of SEBSA, notes that close ties between Nordic companies and professional communities in Sri Lanka are nothing new in the industry.
“This is an industry that takes time to build, and there are many examples of Nordic and Sri Lanka-based companies joining forces. Still, this is about far more than simply signing an agreement. We’ve worked purposefully, met, and tested the collaboration on concrete assignments over the past few months. That has shown us that we’re a very good match for each other,” says Nanayakkara.
He emphasizes that the goal is to become a long-term, reliable IFS transformation partner for customers.
“We complement each other and create added value. Both organizations have extensive experience delivering successful IFS projects and building long-term customer relationships. By combining our expertise, industry knowledge and global presence, we can deliver a far more complete offering to the market.”
Lena Ström, CEO of SEBSA Europe, adds:
“It’s not just about expertise and capacity, but also about combining long-standing customer relationships, successful projects, and value that continues long after go-live. Together we can offer services and specialist expertise that neither of us necessarily has alone, including support functions and 24/7 help whenever customers need it.”
Local roots with global reach
Fredrik Wingren, CRO at Addovation, points out that the partnership responds directly to feedback from the market:
“Customers want a partner who can look them in the eye — not just when the contract is signed, but at go-live, after launch, and in all the years that follow. That kind of trust takes time to build. By joining forces, Addovation and SEBSA combine that trust with global capacity.”
Mikael Johansson agrees:
“Both companies are passionate about the long-term customer relationship, and about building relationships for the whole journey. That was an absolutely decisive shared value for us in this process.”
This long-term commitment is anchored in structured programs, where the goal is to understand customers’ strategic plans and future needs.
“Before we implement a new platform or migrate an existing IFS customer to the cloud, we always carry out a value analysis. We send experts out to the company, the production line or the warehouse to map out best practices for their specific situation. That requires a long-term relationship, deep expertise, and an openness to adopting the latest technology,” Wingren explains.
Nanayakkara adds that this also applies when customers expand into new industries or new countries:
“When our customers move into new sectors, such as oil and gas, SEBSA has deep specialist expertise there. Addovation, for its part, has a strong local presence in the Nordics. That means we complement each other seamlessly, based on what’s needed.”
Betting big on artificial intelligence
New technologies and AI call for a more flexible, modern approach.
“On Addovation’s side, we’ve invested in a new AI platform built for the needs of the market. We’ve built a flexible architecture and infrastructure, because we know the tools change from quarter to quarter. At the same time, we have deep in-house expertise from people who have worked with this for many years,” says Wingren.
Lena Ström stresses that good AI initiatives start with the right foundation:
“Our experience shows that good initiatives start long before the tools do. Customers need a solid data foundation that brings ERP data and information together in a structured way. Together with Addovation, we can help our customers prepare for AI throughout the entire transformation process.”
Johansson highlights the benefit for customers:
“The collaboration with SEBSA on AI is an exciting investment. We put AI first in everything we do, and we’re always looking at how we can make our own processes more efficient to create added value.”
Gunnarsson adds that it’s the combination of knowledge and new technology that makes the difference:
“The combination of these two companies becomes a unique differentiator in the market. With more than 350 consultants combined, we have enormous experience and a broad range of services. Only once the data foundation and infrastructure are in place can AI become the fantastic tool everyone is talking about.”
Culture and human expertise
For customers, the agreement means seamless support across the world. Johansson highlights a recent example:
“We have an ongoing upgrade project for a Norwegian customer with global operations. On it, we’re using a senior solution architect from SEBSA. As the customer now rolls out its global template to operations in Vietnam, we can use that same architect locally, on the ground there. That gives the customer real peace of mind and ensures continuity and a consistent approach across regions.”
In closing, Ström and Gunnarsson point out that success in the software industry ultimately comes down to close customer relationships and company culture.
“It’s about choosing the right people with the right mindset to handle rapid change. There, Addovation and SEBSA have a very similar company culture, which makes this an incredibly good match,” Ström emphasizes.
Gunnarsson concludes:
“These are two well-established players with deep expertise in the market. When we join forces, it represents enormous strength for our customers. At the end of the day, the software industry is a people business, and it’s the people and the relationships that are the key to success,” he says.
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