About the client
Zebra Telecom is the leader on the market of providing IP telephony services and one of the leading Internet access providers. Today Zebra Telecom is a comprehensive communication service provider operating on the corporate, consumer and inter-provider markets in nine regions of Russia. As of the middle of 2006 it is part of the Rostelecom group of companies.
Zebra Telecom provides services of local, intercity and international communications, Internet access, intelligent phone numbers with the federal code 8-800, services of protected global networks for geographically diffused offices of enterprises, IT consulting, supplies of telecommunications equipment. At one time Zebra Telecom was the first communication service provider, which presented the telecommunication service as a mass consumption good by means of the Zebra Telecom all-purpose card. This card currently allows to use telephone and Internet access services. Among the other services provided by the company are – free access to information and entertainment web resources, payment for licenses of anti-virus software, voice entertainment and enquiry services, payment for RBC hosting services and payment for services of the Dozory game.
In general Zebra Telecom may be characterized as a company with an innovative direction of development aimed at constant expansion and improving quality of rendered services.
Situation
Having become part of Rostelecom group of companies, Zebra Telecom automatically became a member of the project for the creation of unified system of consolidated reporting based on single accounting standards and principles of information transparency. The task that zebra Telecom was faced with required a modern and hi-tech solution on the organization of a reporting system capable of integration with existing software products. These functions were characteristic of Microsoft Dynamics AX, which became the basis for the automated finance management system of Zebra Telecom.
Solution
GMCS, which has had experience in optimizing business processes for telecommunication companies, was selected to carry out the project. GMCS consultants were faced with the task of automating all sectors of financial analysis pursuant to Russian legislative requirements, including fixed assets accounting, settlements with suppliers and clients, end cost calculation and determining financial results in terms of services.
Pre-project assessment helped uncover “problem” areas that existed in the Zebra telecom reporting system. For example, financial operations for each form of Zebra Telecom business activities were calculated in different billing systems. This made it a bit difficult to unify obtained data within a single format of financial reports. Zebra Telecom and GMCS experts all agreed that Microsoft Dynamics AX had the necessary potential for comprehensive support of key lines of activity in the field of corporate finance. The main factor in favor of choosing Microsoft Dynamics AX was the fact that with the aid of this system Zebra Telecom could receive reliable financial information, evaluate profitability on each business type. The basis of the implemented solution was the industry business application GMCS Telecom developed based on Microsoft Dynamics AX with consideration of the specifics of the telecommunications industry which in the end allowed to get a full picture of the financial state of the service provider.
Results
GMCS successfully accomplished the specified tasks. Consultants of the It company automated fixed assets accounting according to international standards, designed Zebra Telecom corporate reporting forms fully complying to Rostelecom standards. Moreover, Microsoft Dynamics AX was successfully integrated with the human resource management and billing systems used at Zebra Telecom.
Thanks to the competent work of the GMCS team all project works were completed in under 6 months – the project started in spring of 2007 and the launch of the finance management system based on Microsoft Dynamics AX was already possible in October 2007. From this moment on the system is being used as the only tool of financial management. GMCS is currently carrying out technical support of the finance management system of Zebra Telecom.
This is what Viktor Kaledin says of the results of the project: “We made the correct and timely decision, having selected Microsoft Dynamics AX as the basis of the future financial management system. The obtained results fully meet our expectations. First of all we were able to accumulate all information within one financial system and create a transparent information space. For example, we were able to systematize information on revenues. This is an important fact considering that the previous financial system did not provide for operations with incomes by client and contract. Secondly we actualized printing of primary documents from the actual financial system, not billing systems. The possibilities of Microsoft Dynamics AX and GMCS Telecom allow to print out documents in the format convenient for the client (for example facsimile printing). Today we can also send bills to clients through e-mail.
Perspectives
At the moment a full-featured automated finance management system operates at Zebra Telecom. Simplification of financial reporting, new possibilities of working with clients, simplicity in evaluating business profitability – all this allows Zebra Telecom to approach its business goals with confidence and make long term plans looking to the future.
Projects
