Cost Cutting Through Innovative IT

In a recession, innovation only grows in importance. IT leaders who demonstrate the benefits of IT-enabled innovation will be the success stories of the year.

If you feel that cutting costs is your only option there are a number of ways you can automate processes and integrate your line-of-business systems, removing the need for manual intervention and reducing the time and effort spent on admin...

 

Streamline processes: Integrate with or develop existing management systems such as planning and project management resulting in less time spent on administrative tasks	Streamline processes FirstGroup PLC is the UK’s largest transport company with annual revenues of over £5 billion, employing 137,000 staff throughout the UK and North America. First Rail Support provides replacement bus services for train companies who require passengers to be moved by coach or bus whilst there are track outages. From a functional specification provided by FirstGroup we developed an application with an uncomplicated user interface, which is robust and reliable. The user interface enables FRS customer to place orders, submit pricing requests to suppliers and manage coaches, allowing all drivers and supervisors to provide a high quality and punctual service. A system that provides the entire infrastructure for the business; replacing the old low-tech paper and fax system, which now includes the real time monitoring of buses through cell site location which validates the buses arrival at the required station.	Increase productivity: Integrate with or develop existing logistics systems such as warehousing and supply chain management to provide real time visibility of inventory and flow of goods to customers	Increase productivity Innovate Logistics is now part of Eddie Stobart Group, one of the UK’s leading providers of multimodal transport and logistics solutions. Eddie Stobart has a fleet totalling around 1,850 trucks, 3,000 trailers and 27 depots at strategic locations throughout the UK and Europe. Innovate were mid project to upgrade their systems to Manhattan Associates' Integrated Logistics Solutions, Motive Technology were called in to develop a new order fulfillment web interface for some of it's customers and more importantly a new EDI to xml messaging-processor. The system uses a very clever EDI to XML map editor to allow Innovate to have total control and flexibility over all of the inbound and outbound messages. Various messaging formats such as Infolink, Tradacomms, ANSI 302, etc are all supported but as and when new message formats are required the system has the capability to be very quickly configured to process it. For users who do not have EDI capabilities then Motive Technology have developed a new web portal, using AJAX technologies to meet their needs. Running on SQL server with real-time processing via the EDI to XML processor, it provides a global access point for order fulfillment. With global customers such as ASDA and Sainsbury's the new integrated system will allow more efficient and dynamic responses to their needs and help to keep Eddie Stobart at the forefront of its business.
Simplify workflow: Develop improvements in financial forecast and accounting systems to speed up invoicing and save money	Simplify workflow The Route Development Group (RDG) delivers the largest international range of networking events and forums which allow airports and airlines to meet face to face in order to build on existing and establish new business partnerships. With the establishment of Routesonline ( www.routesonline.com ), RDG has extended the events concept online, supplying an interactive portal through which delegates from airports, airlines and tourist organisations can initiate business crucial dialogue. Motive implemented a new website and online scheduling application integrated to RDG’s accountancy package Microsoft Business Dynamics. The interactive portal provides the facility for delegates from airports, airlines and tourist organisations to initiate business crucial dialogue, and book to attend RDG networking appointments, with a seamless flow of booking information into RDG’s existing accountancy systems. The portal has had a very positive effect on streamlining workflow as previously all scheduling had to be inputted manually - with a typical 2 day event requiring 25,0000 meetings to be scheduled this was no mean feat - plus further boosted RDG’s operational efficiency across the business and opened up new opportunities to maximise business functionality going forward.
Increase efficiencies: Automate core logistics processes to provide better tracking and monitoring of projects to improve customer service	Increase efficiencies Bakkavor is a leading international food manufacturing company specialising in fresh prepared food and produce. The Group operates 52 factories and employs around 20,000 people in 8 countries with a reported £1.5billion turnover. Bakkavor uses multiple hauliers to collect goods from its suppliers and deliver items to their production/manufacturing sites. This results in multiple visits by different hauliers to each supplier location. Motive were awarded the contract to consolidate the collections by creating an online Supplier/Haulier Admin System. The new system – The Bakkavor Distribution Portal – will combine collections from some 600 suppliers, plus combine deliveries to Bakkavor’s 52 sites. By merging collections from suppliers we will significantly reduce the number of collections and consequently the cost, plus considerably improve Bakkavor’s carbon footprint.	Reduce errors: Remove the need for manual intervention to reduce errors and therefore additional effort and cost	Reduce errors Sesame provides back office services for over 7,000 Independent Financial Advisors (IFA). They offer credit checking, financial products, services, insurance and complaints handling. In 2006 Sesame sold over £23billion worth of mortages through their IFAs and provided document storage facilities for paper records such as application forms, letters and general correspondence – representing over 25 million sheets of paper. Motive developed a highly secure web based system that allowed records to be indexed, searched and scanned and the images accessed on-line within 8 hours. This saved the complaints department from trawling through 80,000 boxes of documents, which they needed to access to process claims, and enabled them to hit their targets by processing their claims within the agreed timescale. This has saved Sesame many £Millions of pounds a year.