JSC Altynalmas starts the next stage of implementation of ERP

JSC Altynalmas implements the ERP system of Microsoft Dynamics AX. Integrator in the project Columbus company.

Start

In 2009 management Altynalmas made strategic decision - to move to qualitatively new level of enterprise management and to implement an information system based on Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009. Earlier used software products did not conform to requirements of the company for functionality and integration. By the time of the beginning of the project the structure Altynalmas integrated the central office in Almaty, branches in Semipalatinsk, Akbakaye and Brent and also the mine in Taskar. Therefore the complex information management system suitable for scaling on several geographically distributed platforms was necessary for the company.

The main selection term for benefit of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 was what the functionality of this software product satisfied with everything to requirements and the purposes Altynalmas: creation of a system of accounting and control of costs, effective resource planning, ensuring transparency and data availability for control of budgets and formation of managerial and accounting reports in different cuts, an opportunity to build and integrate basic processes of the company in a unified environment.

Objectives

The management Altynalmas planned automation of the following key spheres of activity of the enterprise: logistics, financial transactions, production, registration of personnel and payroll. For reduction of terms and reduction of risk of transition to a new ERP system and also for the purpose of budget optimization in the company developed the step-by-step approach to automation. Business process automation of financial management became a main goal of the first stage of implementation of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 at the central office "Altynalmas". For system implementation Altynalmas held the tender between the consulting organizations of Kazakhstan. Preference at the first stage of implementation was given to the Almaty branch of the international consulting group Columbus.

Solution

The complex of the works performed by a project team of integrator during operating time in Altynalmas can be separated into the following groups conditionally: purchases, payments, fixed assets and reporting. In each of the business processes selected for information support Altynalmas the project team designated bottlenecks, additional requirements to a new corporate system of enterprise management – for the purpose of increase in efficiency of its work are created.

For example, regarding purchase management the system of strict control of expenditure of means constructed by a project team based on Windows Workflow Foundation and budgets of Microsoft Dynamics AX was implemented. In turn, for registration of requests for payment and monitoring of payment process the specialized module developed by specialists of consulting company Columbus is used. Input validation of data and expanded analytics of financial transactions allowed to raise Altynalmas quality characteristics of information provided in financial and tax statements of the company. Within the project the main forms of primary documents of accounting corresponding to the forms approved by the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan were developed.

The implementation project of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 was interrupted for several months – from the middle of March on October, 2010 – because of temporary change of priorities on project deadlines of Altynalmas company. During this time both from client side, and from the supplier there was a change of a number of key experts of a project team. However all difficulties were overcome, and a new system is brought into commercial operation. In April, 2011 specialists of the Russian division of Columbus successfully completed a phase of initial support.

Results

The management Altynalmas can monitor financial flows of the enterprise in real time. Based on the first stage of implementation all accounting of costs of the company is kept in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009. On the basis of the data loaded into a system in the hourly mode it is possible to keep the reporting in all necessary cuts.

Representatives Altynalmas note that as a result of transition to a new ERP system to the companies interaction between departments also improved. Understanding of a measure of responsibility and a role of each employee when forming data in a system came, the attitude to execution of functional duties by them was to the best changed. Substantially the efficiency of work of personnel increased.

Opinion

"We consider that the experience of cooperation with Columbus was useful to our company in terms of methodology and building of business processes; the project also is successful in terms of achievement of effective objectives on automation of a financial circuit. Implementation of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 increases controllability of the company and Altynalmas provides benefits for future development" - Kayrat Rakhishov, the vice president for finance, the financial controller, Altynalmas emphasizes.

"Of course, we understand that we managed to master not all possibilities of the ERP system within the first stage of implementation. But at the moment in Altynalmas the excellent team of professionals is created. Using this internal resource we are going to develop the received solution, and over time to use as much as possible functionality of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009, strategic objectives of the company and our mission, necessary for accomplishment", - Zhanara Amanzholova, the head of group of implementation of ERP in Altynalmas adds.