Touchstone
Group stars at the National
Theatre
13 May 2010: Touchstone Group, the UK’s
leading enterprise solutions provider, has successfully completed
an overhaul of the National Theatre’s (NT) procurement and finance
systems.
The NT, renowned for its world-class
productions, was using a legacy purchasing solution which was no
longer being effectively maintained or supported. In addition, they
were also using an outdated version of SunSystems for their
financial management processes and recognised that this too needed
to be reviewed. Touchstone Group proposed an upgrade of SunSystems
and the implementation of PROACTIS, as the replacement purchasing
solution, to bring the National fully up-to-date with a
best-of-breed system.
During the evaluation process, the NT was
particularly impressed by the comprehensive functionality of
PROACTIS, including Document Scanning, Stores Management and Sales
Invoicing, as well as Touchstone Group’s unrivalled expertise. Fern
Stoner, Head of Finance at the NT, explains: “With
PROACTIS, we found that the workflows were intuitive, the
screen layouts were great and it allowed us to work the way we
wanted, while maintaining appropriate levels of control. What’s
more, Touchstone Group’s understanding of our requirement and
experience of the PROACTIS product was first rate and made them
stand out from the competition."
When it came to the NT’s financial management
system, initial investigations had considered replacing SunSystems.
However, Touchstone Group proposed retaining the solution and
upgrading it from version 5.1.5 to 5.3, keeping in place the core
strengths of SunSystems, while broadening functionality to include
new features such as an updated navigation facility with a
user-specific tailored interface. Critically, SunSystems also
facilitates seamless integration with PROACTIS, so this innovative
approach would provide the NT with two powerful and complementary
solutions as well as saving time and resources.
Despite being charged with delivering the
entire project within a very challenging 3-month timetable and
tightly managed budget, Touchstone Group completed it ahead of
schedule and under budget. Looking back on the implementation,
Stoner comments: “We were delighted with the process from
beginning to end. It was vital that we got on with the people and
they were very open and great to work with - really, really,
fantastic - which made the installation so much easier. Each stage
was well managed and there was always someone on hand to ask for
advice, from consultants to members of the helpdesk - Touchstone
Group’s advanced knowledge shone through at every step.”
As well as significantly improved reliability,
line managers have already experienced the advantages of
controlling their own costs through PROACTIS’ online order approval
capability while full visibility of supplier performance will drive
higher standards and competitiveness.
Stoner concludes: “I see the project as
the start of a long-term relationship. Moving forward, I envisage
the potential uses of the product and its role within the National
Theatre expanding. With Touchstone’s market leadership, I feel that
we’re well placed to achieve this.”
Les Jones, Services Manager of the SunSystems
& eProcurement Business Unit at Touchstone Group, comments:
“Replacing their faltering incumbent procurement
system with PROACTIS, allied with upgrading their SunSystems
solution, has evidently brought significant benefits to the
National Theatre. I’m extremely pleased with the implementation and
the results experienced by the NT to date and look forward to the
continuation of a rich partnership between the NT and Touchstone
Group.”
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About the National
Theatre
The National Theatre (NT) is central to the
creative life of the UK. In its three theatres on the South Bank in
London it presents an eclectic mix of new plays and classics, with
seven to eight productions in repertory at any one time. Its
international reputation for excellence enables the theatre to
attract the best artists and stage productions of the highest
quality.
The NT employs approximately 900 staff and
most years, taking into account extensive touring and work in the
West End and very often on Broadway, NT productions will be viewed
by well over a million paying audience members. In addition to the
three theatres, the NT complex includes two restaurants, seven
bars, easy parking for more than 400 cars and a specialist theatre
bookshop.
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/