Oracle E-Business Suite in Auchan Russia

The system created in 2010-2011 acts on the basis of business applications of Oracle E-Business Suite "Creditory" and "Upravleniye denezhnymi sredstvami" and also their Russian localization and additional expansions developed by specialists of IBS Borlas according to wishes "Auchan Russia". The solution of IBS Borlas allowed the customer to improve a number of business processes of financial divisions and to achieve bigger efficiency during the processing, a statement and payment of accounts, to provide transparency of business processes and their compliance to the Russian legislation, to reduce risk of errors, to make process protected by means of enciphering of payment data. Works were conducted by the international command consisting of representatives AUCHAN Group (France), "Auchan Russia" and IBS Borlas.

Financial divisions of retail chain stores "Auchan Russia", the world trade representing the interests of one of leaders in Russia – the French AUCHAN group, improved the business processes on the basis of Oracle E-Business Suite. The project is implemented by a joint team of specialists of AUCHAN Group, "Auchan Russia" and IBS Borlas.

The main objective of the project was to automate and ensure safety of processing and payment of accounts and invoices on general running costs, capital investments and investments taking into account regulations of the Russian legislation. The choice for benefit of IBS Borlas as the company consultant was connected with solid examination of the company in the field of similar IT solutions and also the previous positive experience of cooperation with Borlas Ukraine company during implementation of Oracle E-Business Suite in AUCHAN Ukraine.

As the head of group of methodology of accounting and the project manager from Auchan Russia company Stefan Shlopek reported, the tasks were set for a project team:

• Reduce the volume of the administrative works connected taking into account and payment of accounts (to automate process);
• Simplify payment process and make it safer;
• Provide a printability of key reports and registers on accounting of the VAT according to requirements of the Russian legislation;
• Reduce duration of process of closing of month;
• Increase system effectiveness of internal control on processing and payment of accounts.

The project started in March, 2010. At the first stage, from March to May, future business processes within the planned functionality of a system were defined and the solution architecture is developed: the implemented applications, settings, additional developments. At the second stage, from June to November, works on implementation were conducted. On November 8 a system was brought into commercial operation, in December, 2010 project works were completed.

According to the project manager from IBS Borlas Sergey Uglitskikh, "The project was difficult first of all from the point of view of the organization of interaction of participants. In it two commands from AUCHAN Group headquarters in France (group of functional and technology specialists), two commands "Auchan Russia" (group of technology specialists and key users) and a team of consultants of our company combined the efforts. As a result we gained invaluable experience of the organization of works in the conditions of different languages, cultures and traditions and also experience of joint work with authoritative European specialists. At the same time the project is implemented within planned date and the budget".

The created system acts on the basis of business applications of Oracle E-Business Suite "Creditory" and "Upravleniye denezhnymi sredstvami" and also their Russian localization and additional expansions developed by specialists of IBS Borlas according to wishes "Auchan Russia". During the project the following processes are automated: accounting of the entering accounts and invoices, an approval process of accounts for their payment, formation of electronic bank payments, processing of bank statements, accounting and the reporting under the VAT, accounting of accounts, invoices and payments. Besides, the interface of the payment documents transferred from Oracle applications to an information system of bank partner protected by means of the data encryption algorithm is created. Thereby safety of financial information is ensured.

A system is implemented within general bookkeeping department, five regional accounting and the Center of payments "Auchan Russia" and covers in total 19 operational divisions. The current number of users – more than 50.

Summing up the project results, the chief financial officer of Auchan Russia company Thierry Lekont said: "The implemented system on the basis of Oracle E-Business Suite allowed us to improve a number of business processes of financial divisions. We achieved bigger efficiency during the processing, a statement and payment of accounts, provided transparency of these business processes and their compliance to the Russian legislation, reduced risk of errors, made process protected by means of enciphering of payment data. Security, efficiency, accuracy, smaller labor costs, reliable control – here key of the effects reached by us".

In turn, the CEO of IBS Borlas Garankin Oleg expressed satisfaction in connection with a successful completion of the project and noted: "We are grateful to AUCHAN for trust and sales opportunity of so difficult project on creation of the localized system for financial divisions "Auchan Russia" which at the same time was integrated into a single corporate system of management of AUCHAN Group. The international team of representatives of AUCHAN Group, "Auchan Russia" and IBS Borlas proved the compliance to the highest quality requirements of both work, and the final software solution".