Designing an enterprise solution - Making the Pieces Fit
Ruth Sulentich
Project Analyst, Project Management Office
BC Gas Utility Ltd., 17 - 1111 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 4M4, Canada
Introduction
Corporate overview
BC Gas Inc. is a leading provider of energy and utility services in British
Columbia and BC Gas Utility Ltd. is the largest distributor of natural gas to British
Columbians, serving 750,000 customers in more than 100 communities.
2000 proved to be a year packed with activity for BC Gas. The corporate Goals
set for 2000 included:
- Build the Company's multi-utility businesses through further acquisitions and
expansions and expansion of measurement technology and other utility
services; and
- Continue to strengthen the company's market position with an enhanced
image and service platform, improved customer care and billing interfaces
and an expanded range of products and services.
A revised Corporate Strategic Plan was introduced to all employees. Key
elements of the plan included:
- We must be an attractive investment to our current and potential
shareholders;
- Our ability to grow is dependent on excellence in our base business; and
- We must optimize our base business, grow from our base business and sell
new products and services to our customers.
Enterprise Projects
Within BC Gas there are many technology projects being implemented
concurrently. In order for BC Gas to reach its goals, it is imperative to recognize
the importance and value of each and every project within the company.
However, implementing several major technology projects concurrently has its
challenges. Beginning in 1997 the following technologies were being developed
and implemented within the Operations group:
- AM/FM - Automated Mapping and Facilities Management using Smallworld on an NT platform;
- IRM - Integrated Resource Management using Utility Partners on a Unix platform; and
- WMS/PM - Work Management/Preventative Maintenance using SAP modules on an NT platform.
Closely related technologies but not included in Operations were:
- ERP - Enterprise Resource Planning using SAP on a NT platform; and
- CIS - Customer Interface System using Peace on a Irix platform.
- Key user groups that were impacted within Operations include:
- System Support;
- Drafting;
- Records;
- Planning;
- System Survey;
- System Planning;
- Corrosion Control;
- Dispatch;
- Customer Call Centre; and
- Operations and Installation Managers.
All of these groups were impacted by more that one project. Some groups were
impacted by all of them.
Operations Technology Projects Overview
AM/FM
The AM/FM implementation project started in late 1997. The first phase was a
five-month Architecture and Project Planning phase. Once Smallworld was
chosen as the software provider, the architecture was completed and detailed
project plans and budgets were developed for each of the following project
components: Data Conversion, Application Development and Change
Management.
Data Conversion
Data Conversion was separated into two phases. The Interior conversion
included all cities and towns outside of the Lower Mainland and the Coastal
conversion, including all cities and towns in the Lower Mainland. The Interior
data conversion phase kicked off with the first pilot area of data converted in late
1998. Data was then converted area by area until the conversion was completed
at the end of 1999. The Coastal conversion phase started in 1999 and will be
completed by June 2001.
AM/FM Application Development
The Application Development component was divided into phases; the phases
were closely aligned with the major business processes that AM/FM will support.
Rather than implementing the technology all at once at the end of the project, the
decision was made to deliver functionality to the business as soon as possible.
This phased implementation approach allows the business to begin realizing
benefits early and allows users to start climbing the learning curve. For further
information on the different phases, refer to Diagram 1.1.
