Page 25 - Sphere No.11 (Apr 2004)

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PHERE

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around the world.When HPH has consolidated the results of all

its operations, they in turn are rolled up into the Group’s consol-

idated results. The reporting format, translation, transfer of data

and actual consolidation process are all automated, making the

process faster and more accurate.

I

NFORMATION ON

T

AP

The Group, its divisions and its subdivisions

are all able to quickly and accurately

extract the analysis they require via the

HARP

system.

If

EBIS

represents the building blocks that

are so necessary for the efficient financial

reporting of the various divisions, the top of

the pyramid is occupied by the Group’s

Management Information Portal.

“It is about getting the right information

to the right people,” explains David Nicholls,

Head of the Group Information Systems

Department. “Top management can now log on securely any-

where in the world and get up-to-date information about the

state of the business.”

Taken individually, the various enhancements brought about by

EBIS

are impressive enough.Taken as a whole, they have allowed

HWL to revolutionise the speed at which it can report as well

as assess and make decisions based on financial data, providing the

company with a significant competitive edge.

As Nicholls points out: “This is not akin

to being in the top 25% or 10%. Successful

companies are about being as agile as they

need to be, and this technology allows us

to capture opportunities in the smallest

of windows.”

HWL’s US$5 billion bond issue in

November 2003 was a case in point.The deal

had to be closed in less than two weeks and

would not have been possible without the

improved reporting timetable.

“We have moved from closing in three

weeks to being able to close in seven days,”

says Cheung.

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USINESS

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FRIENDLY

The evolution of

EBIS

demonstrates HWL’s ability to utilise

technology in the most effective manner possible.The Group has

never been afraid to translate sophisticated technology into some-

“This technology

allows us to

capture opportunities

in the smallest

of windows”