BSG Automates Shell Oil's Invoice Retrieval with World Class, Client Server Imaging System; Houston-based Imaging System Processes 40,000 Invoice Documents Daily.HOUSTON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 1995--BSG today announced the completion of a new high performance document imaging system for Shell Oil. Based on a volume of 800,000 pages per month, the Cash Audit Retrieval System (CARS) is believed to be one of the largest imaging systems in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . CARS was built by BSG BSG Battlestar Galactica BSG Broadband Stakeholder Group (UK) BSG British Society of Gastroenterology (London, UK) BSG Business Systems Group BSG Business Solutions Group BSG Basigin , a leading next generation IT services company, using products from FileNet Corp.'s WorkFlo Business System Software. "About two years ago, we decided that we could achieve significant productivity benefits in the transactional arm of the company by retrieving invoices over Shell Oil's high speed wide area network," said Lydia Foght, records center manager and user sponsor for the CARS project. "However, when we first considered an imaging solution, we were concerned about the cost and complexity. It was critical that minimal effort be required to scan and index these invoices and that information from the host applications be integrated to support retrieval. BSG, integrating FileNet's software with other best of class client/server technologies, helped us build a system that delivers a strong business solution." The CARS system automates the retrieval of Shell Oil's invoices and supporting documentation that have been processed for payment. Shell's original motivation to build the system was twofold. First, the previous manual system was becoming too unwieldy. Prior to CARS, the paper documents were manually routed to Shell Oil staff and other outside organizations who needed to review the charges and other information on the documents. This resulted in delays in reviewing the documents, the potential for loss or damage, and a large clerical effort to manage them. Second, Shell Oil viewed implementing CARS as a business driven opportunity to introduce a new technology into the company. The knowledge gained from implementing the system would potentially pave PAVE Cardiology A clinical trial–Post AV Node Ablation Evaluation the way for additional document imaging systems at Shell Oil. The CARS project, which went into production July 1, 1994, began with a business analysis phase in late 1993. Shell Oil chose BSG to design and build the system. Among the issues important in the selection of BSG were BSG's track record in developing client/server-based, document imaging solutions, BSG's working relationship with FileNet, and the company's local office presence. Shell Oil and BSG chose to develop an open system for CARS, based on a sophisticated client/server architecture An environment in which the application processing is divided between client workstations and servers. It implies the use of desktop computers interacting with servers in a network in contrast to processing everything in a large centralized mainframe. See client/server. , an approach that prevents Shell Oil from being locked into a single, proprietary vendor solution. The key software component is FileNet's comprehensive family of document imaging and Workflo products, the Workflo Business System, with application tools provided by Powersoft's PowerBuilder. "CARS is an excellent example of an open, client/server solution for automating and controlling business processes such as invoice processing," said Larry Jordon, senior vice president of sales at FileNet. Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California Costa Mesa is a suburban middle class city in Orange County, California, United States. The population was 108,724 at the 2000 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a suburban city with an economy based on , FileNet Corporation is a leader in client/server-based document imaging workflow The automatic routing of documents to the users responsible for working on them. Workflow is concerned with providing the information required to support each step of the business cycle. management solutions and a strong BSG vendor partner. "The use of popular programming tools such as PowerBuilder to build mission critical, client/server applications is an alternative to the development tools we traditionally provide and one that we encourage as part of our open systems strategy." Other products used in CARS, include Microsoft's Windows v3.1, Oracle's Oracle Server database, Kodak's ImageLink 900 scanners, and IBM's RS/6000 servers. Additional specialized spe·cial·ize v. spe·cial·ized, spe·cial·iz·ing, spe·cial·iz·es v.intr. 1. To pursue a special activity, occupation, or field of study. 2. components included Hewlett Packard's imaging juke boxes and Cornerstone's large screen monitors. Finally, to ensure quality and speed in the application development for CARS, BSG used its BluePrint blueprint, white-on-blue photographic print, commonly of a working drawing used during building or manufacturing. The plan is first drawn to scale on a special paper or tracing cloth through which light can penetrate. Object Development Environment (ODE ode, elaborate and stately lyric poem of some length. The ode dates back to the Greek choral songs that were sung and danced at public events and celebrations. ). Shell is now continuing with an enhancement phase to the imaging system and plans subsequent imaging efforts based upon the technical infrastructure developed during the CARS effort. The payoff since the system went into production in July has been significant. Response times to document requests have been reduced from days to seconds, resulting in a direct boost to productivity. With this strong start, the company hopes to integrate Electronic Data Interchange See EDI. (application, communications) electronic data interchange - (EDI) The exchange of standardised document forms between computer systems for business use. EDI is part of electronic commerce. (EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) The electronic communication of business transactions, such as orders, confirmations and invoices, between organizations. Third parties provide EDI services that enable organizations with different equipment to connect. ) links through CARS with Shell Oil customers and suppliers to improve service levels and information quality even further. "BSG's objective is to partner with companies such as Shell Oil in industries that are transforming their business processes," said Mike Alsup, BSG's director for the Shell Oil project. "We provide leading edge client/server technology solutions to address the changing environment and competitive forces in today's markets. We are very pleased to be partnering with Shell Oil to help them lead the change in the oil industry." About Shell Oil Shell Oil Company is one of America's leading oil and natural gas producers, gasoline gasoline or petrol, light, volatile mixture of hydrocarbons for use in the internal-combustion engine and as an organic solvent, obtained primarily by fractional distillation and "cracking" of petroleum, but also obtained from natural gas, by marketers and petrochemical petrochemical, any one of a large group of chemicals derived from a component of petroleum or natural gas. The cracking processes for manufacturing gasoline produce vast quantities of gaseous hydrocarbons. manufacturers. It is also a recognized pioneer in technology for oil and gas exploration and production and for oil and chemical products and processes. Shell Oil, headquartered in Houston, Texas “Houston” redirects here. For other uses, see Houston (disambiguation). Houston (pronounced /'hjuːstən/) is the largest city in the state of Texas and the , is an affiliate of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies. Shell Oil is the 18th largest industrial corporation in the U.S., based on 1993 sales. It is the sixth largest U.S. oil company, based upon 1993 sales. About BSG BSG is a leading next generation IT services company. BSG's STRANSFORMATION approach -- for "Strategy Transformed into Action" -- combines client/server systems integration, consulting, technology transfer, and education. Led by chairman, president, and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Steven G. Papermaster, BSG partners with companies worldwide in applying emerging technologies to create value and respond to changing business requirements. Founded in 1987, BSG has nine offices across the U.S. About FileNet Corporation FileNet Corporation is a leader in client/server-based document imaging workflow management solutions. The company's WorkFlo Business System software manages and controls the movement of images, data, text, and other information throughout an enterprise. FileNet customers include paper-intensive organizations in many industries and levels of government. Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, FileNet markets to end users through the company's sales offices in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia, and through resellers in 36 countries. FileNet and WorkFlo are registered trademarks of FileNet Corporation. They can be reached at 800/345-3638. CONTACT: BSG Steve Guengerich, 713/965-1305 Shell Oil Lydia Foght, 713/241-8508 Pat Casey Pat Casey (b. 1959 in McMinnville, Oregon) is the head coach for the Oregon State Beavers baseball team. He is best known for winning the 2006 College World Series for the Beavers' first-ever baseball National Championship. , 713/245-2322 FileNet Corporation Robin Tanchum, 714/966-3444 |
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