| Challenge: | To unify data sharing applications and interfaces throughout eight companies and 100+ business units with 8,000 employees at 193 offices in 75 countries. |
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| Solution: | CherryRoad Technologies' implementation of a standardized financial reporting system across the multiple organizations. |
| Features: | An enterprise-wide system of IT standards for project costing, purchasing, payables, billing, accounts receivable, general ledger, and time and labor |
| Benefits: | A standardized, organization-wide system for real-time reporting, project costing, and other financial reporting capabilities. |
In the highly competitive world of advertising and communications, the efficient sharing of ideas and information is the foundation upon which a company's reputation and success are built. During a period of dynamic growth in 1996, re:SOURCES, a shared service organization of Publicis Groupe (then the MacManus Group)* realized that its homegrown financial and human resources systems could no longer support its global operations. One of the largest communications companies in the world, the company had to repeatedly build and customize interfaces and data reporting features for its eight companies, each of which maintained its own policies, procedures and administrative protocols. In addition, several mergers and acquisitions had resulted in a variety of different business models.
"As our company continued to grow, it became increasingly difficult to manage the ongoing maintenance and improvement of customized software systems while trying to be responsive to our business units." said Jim Dileo, senior VP of worldwide information technology at Publicis Groupe. "We needed to establish some clear IT standards that would enable us to share and collaborate on a worldwide basis."
After an extensive evaluation, re:SOURCES selected CherryRoad to manage and implement their financial and time and labor software. Utilizing our unique RDS (Rapid Deployment of Software) methodology, we identified the organization's existing capabilities, defined their emerging requirements and began the implementation process in May 1998. An important element in the success of the project was CherryRoad's in-depth knowledge of the software and our understanding of Publicis Groupe's needs.
Our rollout team was on the scene several weeks in advance to make sure the business units were ready to make the most of the system. A detailed analysis and checklist helps ensure that customizations are minimized and kept on target. We conducted a walk-through in May 1999 and developed an issues log for further system refinements. The modules went live in October 1999 and we began rolling out to all North American business units. In 2003, we assisted Publicis Groupe with rollouts to their companies and business units.
"We increased the flexibility and responsiveness of our organization and avoided spending a ton of money retrofitting our older applications," says Dileo. "We can now track our resources and keep our projects on target. Web-enabled solutions provide employees, clients and even vendors with easy access to up-to-date information."
"CherryRoad Technologies understands that flexibility and adaptability are essential for success in the communications industry," said Publicis Groupe's project manager for the implementation. "With CherryRoad Technologies as our partner, we implemented a software solution that lets us measure the profitability of individual projects and customer accounts, allocate personnel and resources more effectively and support the overall growth of our business."
According to Lois Drumhiller, Publicis Groupe's technical project manager, "We've been able to provide real-time reporting and a lot more project management capabilities to the local offices. We designed how we wanted to view our client business, as well as our internal business. The software handles that very well." She added, "It has certainly been wonderful partnering with CherryRoad Technologies."
The key to the success of CherryRoad Technologies' implementation for Publicis Groupe is the customized project costing system. It allows managers to determine each client's contribution to their profit rate and deliver reports customized for the needs of each operating unit. Armed with up-to-date information, managing the diverse groups of creative, account and production teams has become dramatically easier. Best of all, it helps Publicis Groupe provide better service to its clients by controlling costs, and that's a big competitive edge. In addition, the scalability of the system first implemented in 1999 has positioned the organization to utilize the application across the larger Publicis organization.
*The MacManus Group and Leo Burnett merged to become Bcom3 in 2000. Subsequently, Publicis Groupe (the international advertising/communications firm) acquired Bcom3 in 2002, to become the world's fourth largest advertising, PR, and communications firm. This case study describes work that CherryRoad performed for the re:SOURCES division of The MacManus Group prior to and during these organizational changes.