Smurfit Europe Selects SER Knowledge-Enabled Content Capture Solution for SSCs

SERdistiller to deliver cost, efficiency and customer service improvements to UK Shared Service Centre

SER Systems (SER), the global market leading provider of knowledge-enabled software products and solutions (Frankfurt Neuer Markt: SES), has signed an agreement to provide Smurfit Europe’s Shared Service Centre in Liverpool with its knowledge-enabled software solution for Shared Service Centres (SSCs).

The SER solution incorporates its front end content capture product, SERdistiller, supported by repository document management software which will be fully integrated within Smurfit’s existing SAP system.  Implementation is due to go live in May 2001 and the two companies are currently in discussion to extend the SER solution across the remaining four European SSCs.

Smurfit, a subsidiary of international paperboard-based packaging giant, Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, selected SER because of its “unmatched” experience and proven capability in this area.  “We wanted a truly end-to-end solution which was totally compatible with our established financial accounting processes,” confirms Marieanne Newton, IT manager, Smurfit.

The Liverpool Shared Service Centre currently handles 140,000 invoices annually,  “until now a highly labour-intensive task,” she confirms.  “In future, when an invoice is received, it will be scanned and routed automatically to the right person for processing, irrespective of where he or she is located."

“Further, as the appropriate tables within the SAP system are automatically populated with the required data – including, for example, supplier details, invoice value and purchase order number – staff have all the information they need to complete the approval cycle.  At the same time, any queries can be speedily resolved by easily and quickly retrieving any associated documents from within the document archive.”

From day one, SERdistiller will enable at least 68% of invoices to be handled automatically, with manual intervention required for exceptions only. 

“Critically,” Newton points out,  “the resulting dramatic reduction in manpower required – originally 25 staff across our 23 UK sites down to a maximum of four within the Shared Service Centre – will enable us to deploy key staff more effectively within our credit control function.”

Intelligent ‘quick win’ solution

For his part, Peter Turnbull, SER’s head of marketing, believes that SER’s knowledge-enabled software solution is ideally suited to the Shared Service Centre environment, “due to its ability to capture dynamically any type of incoming data, regardless of format or content."

“Today, many SSCs employ large armies of people to process manually an increasing deluge of incoming information.  This work is mundane, repetitive and often prone to errors.  Now, SER has a solution that leverages the knowledge of these workers to automate this process, allowing organisations to focus employees on more value-added activities, at the same time increasing organisational responsiveness and efficiency in the process,” he confirms.

From back to front

The need to improve customer service has been a key business driver for Smurfit, demanding a fundamental culture change.  “Historically, the financial accounts department has been a purely back-office function,” says Newton.  “Today however, as an integral part of the SSC it must be strongly focused on, and responsive to, the needs of our internal and external customers.” 

Turnbull agrees and adds: “In response to this, SER’s unique ability to capture and track content of all types delivers demonstrable improvements in customer service as well as cost and efficiency savings - in all, a compelling business solution.”    

Ends.

For more information, please contact:

Euro Banking Solutions:
Keith Blankley
Managing Director
Tel: + 971 4 3210011
Email: kblankley@eurobankingsolutions.com