By ADAM GIFFORD
Wilson & Horton Group, owner of the New Zealand Herald and nine daily provincial newspapers, has bought JD Edwards One World software to handle its finances, asset management, payroll and human resources.
Chief financial officer Phil Eustace said it replaced several outdated systems, and would allow Wilson & Horton to centralise many accounting functions.
"We are proposing JD Edwards will replace all financial back office systems across the group as we move transaction processing into shared services," he said.
There will be about 45 seat licences for core users in finance, with more than 900 other users able to use procurement and HR self-help functions.
The value of the software is about $500,000, with hardware and implementation on top. The software will run on Compaq servers on a Microsoft SQL Server database on Windows NT.
The Herald has an existing ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) network connecting its sites. One World generates web page-based or Java interfaces which allow thin client access to the application with a web browser.
The Northern Advocate in Whangarei will be first to go live with the system on June 1, followed by newspapers in the central North Island. The Herald will be brought in by November.
Mr Eustace said the system would allow the group to introduce workflow, particularly in procurement where electronic systems would replace paper-based ones.
"There is also a web capability which provides a platform for a move to e-business, giving an electronic interface for suppliers and customers to trade with us electronically."
Wilson & Horton was asking banks to tender for its business. The Herald currently used the BNZ while regional newspapers used WestpacTrust.
"Technology will be a key element in who gets the business, particularly whether they can integrate their technology with JD Edwards'."
He said no package would do everything a newspaper needed. "We are not going for integrated ERP [enterprise resource planning] throughout the organisation because the newspaper industry is unique in the way it operates, so we will have best-of-breed solutions at the front end and ERP at the back."
The implementation is being done by JD Edwards. Selecting and designing the system, including workflows and architecture, was done with help from PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Peoplesoft was also shortlisted. Mr Eustace said Wilson & Horton was looking for a vendor and a system which would meet electronic business challenges and opportunities.
"JD Edwards is a good product, it is easy to use, it looked efficient, it appeared to integrate with our front office systems and a range of reference sites spoke positively about it," he said.
JD Edwards New Zealand manager David Batkin said the sale was its largest in this country this year, and was interesting because of the large number of users who would eventually access the procurement and HR systems.
W&H upgrade heralds move to e-business
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