Interpharm Data Systems, the wholly-owned but separately run subsidiary of Medscheme Holdings (Pty) Ltd, has bolstered its service with a strategic investment in enterprise project management.
Through its partnership with Microsoft Enterprise Project Management (EPM) specialists Fulcrum IT, the company now centrally manages projects maintaining a close eye on the effective use of its resources.
Based in Centurion, Pretoria, Interpharm Data Systems followed through on its introduction to Fulcrum IT through its holding company, and acquired the Enterprise Project Management specialist`s services to help it maximise off the newly implemented Microsoft Project 2002 Enterprise Project Management solution.
Interpharm Data Systems provides value add solutions for the Southern African healthcare market incorporating an extensive pharmacy and doctor network. The company provides this healthcare network with customisable product offering, technology based products and facilitates financial and clinical risk management via real-time benefit and clinical adjudication on claims.
"Our environment is dynamic and constantly changes. As such, we continuously develop and enhance our systems and what we call `products` around the system to render a better service to our clients. Our client base is mixed and comprises the pharmacist, the member, the medical aid administrator and the medical scheme - depending on which role we would play in that process. We deal with a number of different requirements and to accommodate, we have to change systems, adapt systems or develop new systems," explains Thea Meyer, Project Office Manager, Interpharm Data Systems.
"In addition, the company is busy with a complete restructure of all systems and architecture. As such, our resources need to be optimally managed and this is where the project issues come into play. We implemented a project management environment almost two years ago - initially on a small scale, on a per project basis. We are now in the process of `projectising` the entire company in order to streamline processes between the one side of the company that operated on a project management basis and the other side that was run through a normal line function management system. This was necessary in order to address our difficulties with regard to estimating outcomes, managing resources and performing accurate cost analysis. We look forward to venturing into other areas of business and believe the Microsoft Project 2002 EPM tool will really add value going forward," adds Meyer.
As a Microsoft Preferred Readiness Partner, Fulcrum IT - through its training division Fulcrum Training Solutions - is focused on its role to provide necessary training around this EPM solution. The emphasis falls on the needs of the enterprise as well as the individual within the project community.
"The EPM solution enables automated reporting, provides a central view to better manage projects and assigned resources. Having witnessed how the tool benefited its holding company, Interpharm Data Systems decided to take the initiative and implement the technology. Fulcrum IT was brought in to provide training and full support thereby helping Interpharm Data Systems to maximise off an enhanced project management environment. The fact that the company had conceptualised their requirements beforehand and were able to see the tool in action really added a great deal of value to the process. Although this is an ongoing situation, we are confident that the project management environment at Interpharm Data Systems has been positively reinforced," says Pieter Erasmus, Business Development Director at Fulcrum IT.
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