Iocore Southern Focus provides SAP HR solution to Petronet

In the first deal won by Black Economic Empowerment company Iocore Southern Focus, its SAP Division has supplied a comprehensive SAP Human Resources management system to Petronet, enhancing its service offering to staff throughout the organisation.

The project focuses on the implementation of the HR Personnel Development (PD) module, and associated sub-modules.

With its strong technical capabilities, business expertise and effective working partnerships with leading IT vendor companies like SAP Southern Africa, Iocore develops and maintains best-of-breed solutions across the full spectrum of IT requirements.

Gerry Nel, SAP Business Development Manager for Iocore`s Outsourcing Division, says Transnet Limited has identified human resources as a major area for change during its `shared vision process`.

"Petronet, the pipeline division of Transet, needed to refine its information and reporting on people management issues. Operating Transnet`s extensive liquid and gas petroleum pipeline network, Petronet needed to integrate its people management issues and increase its ability to access information for statutory regulations regarding employment equity and skills development."

Previously, says Nel, Petronet`s HR policies, practices and procedures were only available via a manual system.

"In co-operation with Durban-based IT consulting firm, Southern Focus, which provided SAP resources in the form of two consultants, Iocore is configuring these policies into a streamlined, real-time human resources solution that maximises knowledge management and workforce collaboration."

Nel adds that Petronet already has an extensive investment in SAP via its implemented payroll application, which will be integrated into the total SAP HR solution.

The project is currently in the Business Blueprint phase. GoLive is scheduled for August 2001.

Nel says Iocore is implementing the various SAP HR sub-modules in stages, ensuring the outsourcing team can effectively train and transfer knowledge on the SAP system to Petronet staff.

"Each module also has a Petronet process leader, champion or superuser, who is able to convey applicable process and business knowledge to the Iocore team. And with Petronet`s chief executive acting as project sponsor, buy-in at management level is ensured."

The SAP R/3 HR application includes modules such as Training and Events Management, Organisational Management, Manager`s Desktop and Workflow, to equip Petronet`s HR professionals to function as a strategic resource within the organisation.

"Recruitment, Personnel Development, Employment Equity and Compensation Management Sub Modules help managers to develop, deploy and manage today`s workforce effectively and greatly enhance Petronet`s ability to analyse important trends within its workforce," says Nel.

And a set of easy-to-use components - the Employee Self Service module - empowers staff members to view, create and maintain their own data via the organisation`s intranet.

Iocore`s fixed price contract especially appealed to Petronet, enabling the company to effectively control costs on this complex project, Nel concludes.