Tata Interactive Systems implements SAP
The global e-learning producer TATA Interactive Systems (TIS) has invested $1m in making all its processes run on the SAP system.
Sanjaya Sharma, CEO of TIS, commented: "As TIS grows and becomes a truly global producer of e-learning solutions, it needs to have a strong internal system.
"Before we introduced SAP, while we were able to track project execution and key metrics was good, our ability to track projects at a high level of granularity and integration with Human Resources and Finance in terms of metrics and analysis was limited and difficult. Now, we can track everything in a highly integrated manner from initial sales inquiry to proposals and quotations to sales order coming in to the project being completed successfully and onwards through receivables collection."
The R/3 SAP system - covering project systems, finance, human resources and so on - went 'live' at TIS in September. The CRM-related part of the system is scheduled to go 'live' from 1st January 2006.
"SAP integrates all a company's systems into one", explained Rati Menon, who has been appointed Head of SAP Implementation at TIS. "Before the advent of SAP, each stakeholder within the company operated individual systems and interpreted the data these produced in ways more attuned to his/her immediate function or department needs and priorities, which required constant third party attention and analysis to ensure consistency.
"This often led to the need for frequent manual effort to reconcile data and to ensure consistent interpretation and usage of data. Using SAP means that there is only one system, which everyone operates.
"This makes it much easier for a project manager to check if a particular project is on track," she added.
SAP also enables an organisation to identify the competencies of each of its workers and match these to the requirements of each project.
"From the client's perspective, dealing with a company using SAP gives added confidence that a project will be managed even more efficiently and effectively," Menon continued. "In addition, the CRM element of SAP helps us to more accurately tailor the e-learning solutions we provide for them."
"TIS regularly produces e-learning materials that help to train our clients in the implementation and operation of SAP,_ said Manoj Kutty, TIS's Worldwide President of Sales and Marketing. "It's now much easier for us to produce learning materials on a system such as SAP as we now have actual experience of its usage and benefits.
"Our first hand experience of SAP will help us to make our own systems increasingly efficient and, additionally, will also enable us to satisfy our clients' needs with regards to SAP learning materials even more efficiently."