CASE STUDY:  AON France

With an existing investment in a corporate ERP solution, Aon* France wanted to improve on its purchasing management through automation – but not sacrifice their well-established and proven processes. After an in-depth needs assessment, the company developed a long list of requirements for a robust solution that would deliver security, reliability, centralization, and traceability. The company was focused on harnessing technology for more rigorous management of budgets, suppliers, processes, and quality control across the purchasing cycle.

With 160 users across more than five job functions and an unending calendar of projects, Aon France’s Facilities and Purchasing manager, Angelo Videira, was charged with honing in on a solution that would optimize the company’s purchasing cycle.

Selected in 2006, b-pack was a clear frontrunner to address Aon France’s needs due to its high security, robust business processor and in-depth traceability, among other benefits and features. Because b-pack is created with Web- and standards-based open technology, it was quickly deployed, flexibly personalized and can be easily evolved to address Aon France’s ongoing needs.

After an “easy” installation (the application is remotely hosted at b-pack) and a few internally-led two-hour training sessions, Aon France was ready to optimize their business operations with b-pack. Job functions tapping the power of b-pack span Aon France’s buyers, accountants, database administrators and other purchasing-related job functions.

The company has realized significant productivity and financial gains, including real-time reports access, workflow security and traceability, purchase justification and a corporate catalog that addresses 85 percent of the company’s specific purchasing needs. Based on past successes, Aon France is now entering the second phase of deployment, as the company continues to improve on its purchasing and business optimization with b-pack.

*Aon is the leading provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human capital and management consulting.