MTP

Implementing IFS Applications gave MTP greater control of its costs, faster, easier access to business-critical data, and a significantly more stable business software environment. The benefits were immediate. MTP went live with IFS Applications to organize its biggest event—a 1,000-exhibitor trade fair for the construction industry—without a hitch and within budget.

Legacy Systems Could not Cope with Growth

Krzysztof Slatala, head of MTP’s IT Department, explains the problem: “Our legacy system had become too complicated. We estimated that the costs of any evolutionary upgrade of the existing system would be too high, so we decided to replace it. If we wanted to be able to develop further, we would need more modern business software. We really had no choice.”

IFS Offered the Best Fit

One of the most important elements of MTP’s services is well-documented contact with the customer, which requires systems that are capable of handling large amounts of varied data. Krzysztof Slatala again, “We paid particular attention to optimizing the way business processes are recorded, and most importantly, to introducing book-keeping controls that would allow us to control costs in a completely different way than was previously possible. These are very crucial changes that directly affect the work of many employees. We therefore sought a business partner that was capable of carrying out a large-scale implementation project, one that would be able to integrate various applications.”

MTP spent more than 12 months selecting its new business software, assessing 40-odd systems in the process. Of these, 7 were shortlisted. After reducing the shortlist to 2 finalists, MTP selected IFS. Krzysztof Slatala adds, "Our approach was exhaustive, requiring many hours of discussion with both companies, but it paid off. We saved hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of zlotys by ensuring that we got the business software with the best fit for our processes. IFS was able to offer all the business attributes we required."

Implementation

Implementation followed IFS’ proven implementation methodology to handle the project in manageable, clearly  defined phases to minimize disruption. Krzysztof Slatala comments, “Our business model is quite complicated. We have approximately 11,000 exhibitors a year, each with individual and very varying requirements. We began by precisely specifying our business processes and how to optimize them. This resulted in a new model, with which we reduced our business processes from over 200 to 176.” 

MTP also uses CAD software. This system is used in the company’s spatial planning of its trade fair events and in the design of exhibition stands. CAD data are fed back into IFS Applications to facilitate event planning and make it easier to trace costs and profits related to trade fairs.

Stability, Safety and Development

The first trade fair event to be fully organized using the new system was the Budma 2003 trade fair for the construction industry. Krzysztof Slatala comments, “Budma is our largest trade fair, involving over 1,000 exhibitors, so you could say we jumped in at the deep end. The new system ran without a hitch—and we stayed within our budget.” 

Krzysztof Slatala concludes, “The very first thing we clearly noticed was the stability of our new  business software. Data are accessible within a reasonable time, which is a huge benefit. Data are entered just once, in the place where they are generated. Secure access to data is made possible by means of standard tools. Now we have the capability to continue developing. We mean to continually improve the quality of our service and  we aim to increase the quantity of contacts with our customers via electronic media. Two particular current issues  are orders and remote management of customer accounts. 

Thanks to the budget and control system, we can regularly follow the profitability of every undertaking, at every level of the profit margin, taking into account the board of management’s general costs, company costs, and the costs of real estate maintenance. Thanks to the structure enabled by IFS Applications, we can trace the individual component costs of every undertaking.”

Software

Oracle 8i database system, Set of IFS Applications modules.

Hardware

• IBM RS/6000 M80 host computer
• Dell PowerEdge applications server
• Capability for 200 simultaneous users