Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 29 | Page 91

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// while on holidays, but if it’s a requirement, they do. We’ve got support for iPhones etc. that enable approvals to be made as if you were at your desk. “I think as our appreciation grows of what mobility means for our business, I have a level of comfort that IFS will give us what we need.” Growing in partnership with IFS said Ribarovska. “They are finding increased accuracy around the materials handling process, for example, and are able to get better results.” Mobility benefits, now and in the future Multiplex has also benefited from IFS Applications’ mobility support and is looking to expand the use of mobile devices for real- time data collection on-site. “IFS Applications manages the approval process very well – better than our previous system – and that’s enhanced by the fact that there is mobile access,” said Bolt. “People may not want to approve things www.intelligentcio.com Since selecting IFS, Multiplex has expanded from 35 active projects to over 100 across its four major regions including the Middle East. “An advantage of IFS is its global footprint,” said Bolt. “Wherever in the world we choose to go, I have confidence I’m going to have IFS support.” Global consistency with regional flexibility Key to Multiplex’s transformation has been a change in culture to make software integral to the business. In the commercial area, the company’s processes are defined by a common project administration manual with some regional differences. Because adherence to those manuals was previously enforced by people, it was open to interpretation. INDUSTRY WATCH With a single system ensuring global alignment, Multiplex can better manage its project portfolio. “We thought we were all doing the same thing before, but we all had our own tweaks and were going in different directions,” said Erin Pidcock, Operational Development Manager for Multiple. “IFS Applications has brought us all back to a central core. The way that you’re looking at a project in Australia is the same way you’re looking at a project in the Middle East or in the UK. That’s enabled greater control without sacrificing flexibility.” Better decisions and improved team dynamics The enforcement of consistent business processes in IFS Applications has improved the quality of information delivered to Multiplex’s management, speeding up decision making and producing better business outcomes. It has also benefited team dynamics and staff morale. “The delegations and automated controls we implemented in IFS Applications allow management to trust that the information that the system is giving them is true and reliable,” said Ribarovska. n INTELLIGENTCIO 91