The client already used some features of Microsoft Office 365, but the platform’s most important collaborative tools — Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft OneDrive, and Microsoft Teams — were not rolled out because of security and compliance challenges. All three applications had been launched before but were quickly pulled back after generating a multitude of security red flags.
For office-based workers, collaborating via basic applications like Microsoft Outlook and Skype was already limiting. But when the COVID-19 pandemic forced more employees to work from home the need for a more functional and secure systems became acute.
And even before the pandemic, the client’s chief information officer (CIO) understood that the existing operating model and processes for data sharing were too loosely defined and inconsistently applied. In addition to making collaboration difficult, it also meant that responding to possible threats or violations was too slow.
Limited collaboration meets limited security
Before
After
Future
Replace aging applications that differed across divisions and subsidiaries
Reduce manual, disparate processes freeing up more resources for advanced analytics
Enable enhanced reporting and make it more widely available across the enterprise
Act with greater speed and agility to capture value in acquisitions
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Company-wide
opportunities
Process hundreds of thousands of transactions per month with greater efficiency
Reduce 10,000+ manual journal entries per period
Decrease >3-week close
Shorten the >3-month annual budgeting cycle
Provide better support for a growing e-commerce business
Control rising finance function costs and derive greater value
Finance
opportunities
Reduce 10,000+ manual journal entries per period
Decrease >3-week close
Shorten the >3-month annual budgeting cycle
Provide better support for a growing e-commerce busines
Control rising finance function costs and derive greater value
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Improve technical capabilities to keep pace with increased hiring needs
Reduce dependence on IT and tech resources for supporting and enabling continuous compliance with more than 800 collective bargaining agreements
Unify and automate workforce administration processes across the enterprise
Eliminate the need for employees to learn new systems and interfaces as they move from recruitment to training to managing benefit
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HR
opportunities
Before
Future
After
The client has established a clear, enterprise-wide Security Operations model defining a new organization and structure for secure collaboration. Preventative and detective controls have been enabled by Microsoft Data Loss Prevention (DLP) and Microsoft Defender for Cloud applications, and monitoring is enabled using Microsoft Sentinel.
In operational terms, the upgraded system lets workers communicate and share data securely from any location or device, including PCs, tablets or smartphones. Through better controls and automation, response times and reactions to security issues have been reduced significantly. And despite some initial resistance from some employees, extensive training and preparation have built trust and acceptance of the new system across the organization.
And at a higher level, the client is now better protected against cyberthreats, regulatory violations, and potential liability.
A clear structure, easier collaboration, better security
Developed all the necessary processes to support a single, modernized digital platform serving the entire enterprise
Migrated 290,000 employees from legacy systems to Oracle Cloud
Increased insight-driven decision making across functions, driving performance and growth gains
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Company-wide
success
Decreased balance sheet reconciliations
by 85%
Achieved a consolidated retail and
corporate close within a shortened period
Reduced the types of P&L statements from 100+ to 4
Reduced operations costs across the board
Enhanced availability of data-driven insights that help to capture maximum value during acquisitions
Achieved a consolidated retail and corporate close within a shortened period
Reduced the types of P&L statements from 100+ to 4
Reduced operations costs
across the board
Enhanced availability of data-driven insights that help to capture maximum value during acquisitions
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Finance
successes
HR
successes
Deployed a custom application for union-rule processing enabling a single HCM platform to administer benefits to all employee populations under 800+ complex union agreements
Created a digital-first, digital anywhere experience resulting in higher employee engagement
Reduced new-hire onboarding time
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Reduced new hire onboarding time
Streamlined and improved the process integration of new employees post-acquisition
Integrate processes and technology across the employee lifecycle from recruiting through compensation and performance
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The upgraded policy model and security integrations for Microsoft 365 used in the U.S. will be rolled out to other regions in the near future.
Additional functions and controls will be added to meet local or regional regulatory requirements.
The shift toward fully cloud-based platforms yields cost savings and balance sheet improvements.
Continue to enhance analytics-driven planning and forecasting
Optimize the supply chain
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Company-wide
vision
Achieve a continuous, virtual accounting close
Achieved a consolidated retail and corporate close within a shortened period
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Finance
vision
HR
vision
Establish a continual feedback-and-improvement loop based on quarterly HR reports from the field and deployment of new capabilities
Migrate payroll, benefits, and absence management to Oracle cloud for 2023
Insource benefits administration
Going global, reducing costs
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After
After
Future
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