GPU Energy Partners with SAP America to Invent the Future.READING, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 1997--GPU Energy is taking a major step in redesigning its business processes with the selection of SAP America Inc., a world leader in software integration for utilities. GPU GPU: see secret police. (Graphics Processing Unit) A specialized logic chip devoted to rendering 2D or 3D images. Display adapters contain one or more GPUs for fast graphics rendering. Energy will take advantage of SAP technology through the use of an industry-specific suite of business software applications. The SAP Utilities' integration software package was a key factor in GPU Energy's selection of "an enterprise solution" to manage the company's business growth, accomplish Year 2000-compliance and meet deregulation Deregulation The reduction or elimination of government power in a particular industry, usually enacted to create more competition within the industry. Notes: Traditional areas that have been deregulated are the telephone and airline industries. mandates. "We are positioning GPU Energy as a world leader in customer service in a deregulated utility industry," said Doug Howe, GPU Energy vice president - information and planning. "To accomplish that, the company is defining the best ways to do business in every one of its core business areas. In addition to redesigning our business, we are changing our culture to involve employees at many levels in decision-making. Our future agility is a key factor in our ability to respond rapidly to customers' needs. The redesign re·de·sign tr.v. re·de·signed, re·de·sign·ing, re·de·signs To make a revision in the appearance or function of. re effort using the SAP software system as a tool is critical to our making the quantum leap quantum leap n. An abrupt change or step, especially in method, information, or knowledge: "War was going to take a quantum leap; it would never be the same" Garry Wills. we need to successfully realize our goals, which go beyond business as usual." GPU Energy's strategy is focused on growth and world-class customer service. The SAP system will enable GPU Energy to greatly increase customer satisfaction, allow decisions to be made at lower levels and respond rapidly to change; in particular, change brought about by deregulation mandates in Pennsylvania and those coming soon to New Jersey. Pennsylvania is one of the first states to legislate To enact laws or pass resolutions by the lawmaking process, in contrast to law that is derived from principles espoused by courts in decisions. deregulation requirements for electric utilities. "We were looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a company to meet a number of needs including integration of information within GPU Energy as well as financial, purchasing, payroll and benefits information shared by the family of GPU companies," said Steve Schumacher, GPU Energy director of customer solutions. "In addition to the Year 2000 issues many companies are facing, we knew we needed new financial and work management systems and a partner in developing a new customer information system for deregulation. SAP's systems meet our requirements of a software integration tool that will allow us to do business most efficiently." Schumacher is the newly appointed director of a team of more than 100 individuals charged with redesigning GPU's business processes and implementing the SAP system for the GPU companies. As an indication of the importance SAP places on its business alliance with GPU Energy, SAP's global products director and its manager for utilities and telecommunications traveled from SAP headquarters in Walldorf, Germany to Reading in August. The purpose of the trip was to cement the working partnership between the two companies and discuss details of a new customer information system for GPU Energy called a customer care system. The new system will replace GPU Energy's current customer information system and is the first of its kind in the world. "An integrated system of information will allow GPU Energy to offer customer choice while supporting business decisions that truly improve customer service and competitive advantage," Howe continued. "We are preparing to meet business growth goals, not just legislative mandates. We are not talking about maintaining status quo [Latin, The existing state of things at any given date.] Status quo ante bellum means the state of things before the war. The status quo to be preserved by a preliminary injunction is the last actual, peaceable, uncontested status which preceded the pending controversy. . We are talking about managing our business dynamically and flourishing in this brave new world Brave New World Aldous Huxley’s grim picture of the future, where scientific and social developments have turned life into a tragic travesty. [Br. Lit.: Magill I, 79] See : Dystopia Brave New World of utility competition." The consolidation last year of Jersey Central Power & Light Company, Metropolitan Edison Company and Pennsylvania Electric Company into GPU Energy created the need for a fully integrated information system. GPU Energy plans to implement the SAP package to manage the functions of finance, purchasing, accounts payable, facilities and work management, customer service, human resources The fancy word for "people." The human resources department within an organization, years ago known as the "personnel department," manages the administrative aspects of the employees. and payroll within its own corporate functions and for other companies within the GPU Inc. system. The system is scheduled to be fully operational early in 1999. GPU Energy is part of GPU Inc., a $4 billion electric utility holding company headquartered in Parsippany, NJ. Its principal business unit is GPU Energy, an electric utility headquartered in Reading, which serves more than 2 million customers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of states. SAP is a technology leader in integrated software Separate software components or applications that have been combined into one package. See integrated software package. for several industries, including utilities and telecommunications. Founded in 1972, SAP has more than 350 utility customers and 11,000 software installations worldwide. CONTACT: GPU Energy Donna Rovins, 610/921-6479 Pager 1. (hardware, communications) pager - (Or "beeper", "bleeper" (UK?)) A small wireless receiver that, when triggered (generally via phone), will beep or vibrate (un)pleasantly. : 201/605-2848 |
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