Software AG Case Studies A Time-Tested System Is Modernized for Maximum Business Flexibility and User Acceptance

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	A Time-Tested System Is Modernized for Maximum Business Flexibility and User Acceptance Software AG

A Time-Tested System Is Modernized for Maximum Business Flexibility and User Acceptance

Software AG

Technology Category	Application Infrastructure & Middleware - API Integration & Management
Applicable Industries	Utilities
Applicable Functions	Human Resources
Services	System Integration Software Design & Engineering Services
Challenge	The companies of Vienna’s Wiener Stadtwerke (WStW) Holding AG public utilities holding company were using a personnel information system called PI, introduced in the early 1990s, for payroll accounting and personnel management. In 2005, the company management contemplated whether the solution should be replaced with a more modern one. The challenge was to replace or modernize the PI system without losing its unique features such as application functionality and security. The PI system involved 130 complex application processes with logic and database access along with 239 screen interactions where users could choose from about 1,800 input/output maps. The users who accessed PI on a regular basis were accustomed to the symbol-oriented green screens, but the less frequent users preferred standard PC user interfaces. Read More
About Customer	The customer in this case study is WienIT, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wiener Stadtwerke (WStW) Holding AG, a public utilities holding company based in Vienna. WienIT is a universal IT provider focused on the energy sector and communal electricity supply. It also serves as an SAP Competence Center with particular SAP expertise. The company runs a personnel information system called PI for the entire group at one of its two data-processing centers on behalf of parent company Wiener Stadtwerke (WStW) Holding AG. The PI system, a specially developed mainframe solution based on Visual Age and DB2, was introduced in the early 1990s. Today more than 1,250 end users administer information on a total of 14,000 active and 12,000 retired employees in 425 offices with PI. Read More
Solution	WienIT tested various alternatives to the current PI application and decided to modernize the existing solution rather than replace it. Software AG was selected for the ensuing PI2WEB project to make PI functionality available to users via the intranet and standard Web browsers. The final decision for webMethods ApplinX was made after a successful pilot project. webMethods ApplinX not only allows host applications to be operated via Web browser without interference with the central application logic, but it also opens – in the same non-invasive manner – current systems for access via Web services, for example from individual Java applications. Following the successful pilot, the full implementation was then made available on the intranet in only three person months. In addition to the Web version, experienced users can still use their preferred 3270 interfaces. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - API Integration & Management

Applicable Industries

Utilities

Applicable Functions

Human Resources

Services

System Integration

Software Design & Engineering Services

Challenge

The companies of Vienna’s Wiener Stadtwerke (WStW) Holding AG public utilities holding company were using a personnel information system called PI, introduced in the early 1990s, for payroll accounting and personnel management. In 2005, the company management contemplated whether the solution should be replaced with a more modern one. The challenge was to replace or modernize the PI system without losing its unique features such as application functionality and security. The PI system involved 130 complex application processes with logic and database access along with 239 screen interactions where users could choose from about 1,800 input/output maps. The users who accessed PI on a regular basis were accustomed to the symbol-oriented green screens, but the less frequent users preferred standard PC user interfaces.

About Customer

The customer in this case study is WienIT, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wiener Stadtwerke (WStW) Holding AG, a public utilities holding company based in Vienna. WienIT is a universal IT provider focused on the energy sector and communal electricity supply. It also serves as an SAP Competence Center with particular SAP expertise. The company runs a personnel information system called PI for the entire group at one of its two data-processing centers on behalf of parent company Wiener Stadtwerke (WStW) Holding AG. The PI system, a specially developed mainframe solution based on Visual Age and DB2, was introduced in the early 1990s. Today more than 1,250 end users administer information on a total of 14,000 active and 12,000 retired employees in 425 offices with PI.

Solution

WienIT tested various alternatives to the current PI application and decided to modernize the existing solution rather than replace it. Software AG was selected for the ensuing PI2WEB project to make PI functionality available to users via the intranet and standard Web browsers. The final decision for webMethods ApplinX was made after a successful pilot project. webMethods ApplinX not only allows host applications to be operated via Web browser without interference with the central application logic, but it also opens – in the same non-invasive manner – current systems for access via Web services, for example from individual Java applications. Following the successful pilot, the full implementation was then made available on the intranet in only three person months. In addition to the Web version, experienced users can still use their preferred 3270 interfaces.

Impact #1	The system was Web-enabled in just three person-months
Impact #2	Met end-user demand for a more modern interface
Impact #3	WienIT retained the application flexibility to quickly make changes requested by end-users or stemming from new legal regulations

Impact #1

The system was Web-enabled in just three person-months

Impact #2

Met end-user demand for a more modern interface

Impact #3

WienIT retained the application flexibility to quickly make changes requested by end-users or stemming from new legal regulations

Benefit #1	95 percent of Web interfaces were generated automatically with templates
Benefit #2	The system was Web-enabled in just three person-months

Benefit #1

95 percent of Web interfaces were generated automatically with templates

Benefit #2

The system was Web-enabled in just three person-months

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Overview

A Time-Tested System Is Modernized for Maximum Business Flexibility and User Acceptance

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit