- Together with IT and business services provider Logica, GDF SUEZ used the webMethods Business Process Management Suite (BPMS) to create a Rich Internet Application that connects users with actionable information
- The partnership helps one of the world's largest utilities to gain competitive advantage in the global gas market
- Software AG awards Logica with the Partner Innovation Award for its timesaving deployment
Software AG and its partner Logica, a leading IT and business services company, today announced successful deployment of webMethods Business Process Management Suite (BPMS) for global energy provider GDF SUEZ. Using webMethods, Logica created a composite application that provides greater visibility into endtoend energy transaction processes. The application helps GDF SUEZ's staff save time in managing its global business.
"As one of the world's largest utilities, GDF SUEZ needs fast and reliable access to information in order to maintain its competitive advantage in a fastmoving energy marketplace. Together with Logica, GDF SUEZ has created a solution that leverages existing investments to provide that capability at the greatest cost advantage," said Dr. Peter Kuerpick, Chief Product Officer and member of the Executive Board, Software AG. "Furthermore, Logica has built a SOAbased solution that can be leveraged to support additional integration and composite application development and that will deliver continued economic value for GDF SUEZ going forward."
European gas markets have gone through significant regulatory restructuring processes in the last 10 years. This change presented an opportunity for GDF SUEZ, but it also required the right tools to solve information access challenges. Because the opening of the European gas market led to an expansion of suppliers and increased transactions, GDF SUEZ's accounting services needed more detailed information regarding upstream transactions. The utility also required a solution that could model business processes and data through a combined Business Process Management (BPM) and Composite Application Framework (CAF) approach. The solution chosen also needed to deliver a rich user experience, increased reliability, and an optimized transaction amendment process.
To address these challenges and gain advantage in a new global energy marketplace, GDE SUEZ chose Software AG's webMethods BPM Suite as the basis for a composite application solution, dubbed Actarus. The new application delivers actionable information to endusers based on business and IT services distributed throughout its global network within a Rich Internet Application (RIA)
environment. The solution takes advantage of GDF SUEZ's existing technology investments and integrates several key technologies, including a portal, EAI server, process engine, and task engine, all within an SOA framework.
With Actarus deployed, GDF SUEZ accounting staff and top management now has improved visibility on incoming transactions. Easy, intuitive application navigation enables users to be more efficient, saves time, and has been met with widespread satisfaction, according to an internal survey. Data is well structured, access is controlled, and efficient followup of transaction results is provided.
"GDF SUEZ saves time and cost in gaining access to the information and intelligence that is critical to managing its business in the new reality of the European energy market," said George Abou Harb, Enterprise Architecture & SOA Global Practice Leader, Logica. "Additionally, by leveraging existing IT investments and providing an extensible platform for future development, the webMethods solution delivers GDF Suez continued value over time."
Due to the success and business impact of the project, Logica earned a Partner Innovation Award from Software AG. Software AG's annual Innovation Awards process recognizes the top achievements within the categories of Customer Service, Innovation, Return on Investment, Productivity, and Partner Innovation.
The partnership, which started in 2000, brings together Software AG's webMethods technology and Logica's project delivery capabilities for SOA and BPM. Today, Logica has delivered more than 100 successful webMethods projects. In 2009 Logica opened the Software AG Factory as part of its delivery center in Bordeaux, France to provide a 'One-Stop-Shop' for services and capabilities around webMethods products.
About Logica
Logica is a leading IT and business services company, employing 40,000 people. It provides business consulting, systems integration, and IT and business process outsourcing services. Logica works closely with its customers to release their potential - enabling change that increases their efficiency, accelerates growth and manages risk. It applies its deep industry knowledge, technical excellence and global delivery expertise to help its customers build leadership positions in their markets. Logica is listed on both the London Stock Exchange and Euronext (Amsterdam) (LSE: LOG; Euronext: LOG). More information is available at www.logica.com.