To streamline nationwide business processes and assist with the dissemination of critical information Imssa - the Independent Mediation Service of South Africa - is rolling out a system from ITI Business Solutions, a member of JSE-listed ITI Technology Holdings.
The solution, valued in excess of R2m, is targeted for complete deployment by September this year. Based around ITI`s Tics (Totally Integrated Computer Solution) it is set to provide a central system for dedicated project management, enhanced communication with partners, and comprehensive information storage, retrieval and dissemination.
Mark Turpin, the director of support services at Imssa, believes Tics - the modular, relational database-driven enterprise resource planning flagship of ITI Business Solutions - will significantly impact the business.
"As a non-profit organisation with five centres around the country we provide effective resolution and management of conflict for a wide range of southern African trade unions, parastatals and corporates. Our intention is to resolve disputes before they reach the litigation stage," he says.
"Dispute resolution often involves the co-ordination of several parties in different locations, vast quantities of background and situation-specific information, and ongoing dynamic negotiations. Simplifying this clearly complex process is one of the primary goals of the ITI project."
Once the wide area network infrastructure is in place, ITI`s Tics system will provide Imssa`s nationwide branches with rapid access to a central bank of policy and procedures information. It will facilitate faster communication between branches and customers. And it will free Imssa staff to transform services beyond dispute resolution.
"Clients often return to us each year with the same issue - a wage dispute for example," explains Turpin.
"We aim to terminate that cycle by using information captured within the Tics system to educate clients on the region`s myriad political, labour and management changes. If all parties are more aware of the issues, we hope they can resolve disputes before enlisting our services."
Imssa will also look to expand this information dissemination process along its natural path next year by embracing Web-based technologies. It will construct an extranet to offer clients specific access to labour relations, policy and procedures documents.
Andre Reyneke, the MD at ITI Business Solutions, believes the Tics implementation will provide major improvements and benefits for Imass - streamlining and refining its business processes by providing the necessary and accurate information at the time it is needed.
Fact File
Imssa was established in 1984 as an independent, non-profit organisation. To date it has conducted over 15 000 dispute resolution processes.
The NGO`s highly-trained, accredited practitioners are sourced from academic, community and professional backgrounds - and they are consistently used by major employers, labour federations, community groups and government departments.
Share
Editorial contacts