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Controlling the Process of Creating Material Master Data: A Workflow Solution from Optura

Material Masters are the data records that lie at the heart of an SAP system. Consequently, if the master data is bad, everything that follows is bad. A company can lose market share and competitiveness by having inaccurate and slow data. The time, effort and money required to clean up bad data can be extensive. Plus, there is not one “process owner” of this data but many owners in diverse locations. The problem becomes even more complex as more material masters are entered.

Since the main issue with material masters is in the creation of them, a workflow process slant at this inception of data is becoming increasingly popular in the marketplace. The creation process is comprised of two elements: 1) the gathering of initial data and 2) entry of the initial data into the material creation transaction followed by subsequent view population. Without a process to ensure data integrity, a manual process often results in incorrect master data and duplicate material masters.

Optura’s RapidFlow Material Master Data (MMD) is a workflow process that ensures accurate input of data and timeliness of the information. It also delivers the key ingredients of a workflow process: getting the right information to the right person at the right time. This solution is also flexible enough to handle any extensions in data creation.

Benefits of RapidFlow MMD:

· Reduces cycle time so companies are provided with increased sales opportunities through rapid prototyping and product availability.
· Improvement in procurement activities for purchased materials through timely notification.
· Improvement in labeling and transportation through timely notification.
· Duplicate material masters are reduced through checking at workflow inception.

RapidFlow Material Master Data is a true workhorse that validates a company’s SAP investment. It offers an online Material Request Form with real-time SAP validation, approval workflow for material requests and flexible routing, coordination of timely and accurate input of material master data from various departments, and reports with visibility into bottle-necks, cycle-time and throughput; it even includes visibility for routing and status.

What makes Optura’s RapidFlow Material Master Data (MMD) different from other workflow process solutions, such as SAP’s own Master Data Management?

· Functionality: A specialized process designed specifically for Material (Product) Masters and out-of-the-box best practice workflows.
· Project Scope: MMD is a quick hit project to help solve immediate needs.
· Infrastructure: Leverages R/3 with no investment in infrastructure. By comparison, SAP’s Master Data Management solution requires an investment in NetWeaver which involves more time needed for training.
· Product Maturity: Material Master Data has been on the market for 2+ years with a solid track record of performance.
· ROI: Return on investment is tangible and measurable with Optura’s MMD and rapid installation means wait time for ROI data is reduced.

Let Optura’s RapidFlow Material Master Data leverage your investment in SAP material masters by ensuring the right information is entered and tracked from start to finish.

For More Information:
Click Here

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TELUS chooses Optura to increase efficiency of blocked invoices.

What do you do if you’re the largest telecommunications company in Western Canada, the second largest in the country, and you need better efficiency in processing your invoices?

You call Optura.

TELUS Corporation, a company that provides a full range of telecommunications products and services including data, Internet Protocol (IP), voice and TELUS Mobility wireless services, was looking for improvements to how they process problem or blocked PO invoices. Optura presented a solution to TELUS that would streamline their Accounts Payable operations and increase efficiency in this invoice process.

TELUS chose RapidFlow Invoice Exception from Optura because Optura’s solution is built right into SAP and is not an external ‘bolt on’ or separate system. This fact was critical in helping TELUS choose Optura. Another factor was Optura’s close working relationship with SAP and their position as the leader in SAP workflow design and implementation. The solution that Optura presented also met TELUS’ business requirements for implementing workflow for Accounts Payable.

This solution was appealing to TELUS because it was integrated within SAP and was, therefore, seamless to the end user. With this solution, the process of handling invoice exceptions is much simpler and integrated between Accounts Payable, Purchasing, Receiving and Requisitioners. Success of this project is already evident—TELUS is measuring the amount of time and effort it takes to handle blocked invoices; thus far, they have noted a significant increase in the efficiency of this business process.

TELUS’ strategy is to unleash the power of the Internet to deliver the best solutions to Canadians at home, in the workplace and on the move. Now with some help from Optura’s workflow processes, they can more fully realize this vision.

For more information on this TELUS success story or to speak to Optura about providing workflow solutions for your AP Department click here

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Contact Optura 480-488-3040
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