CSC deploys imaging for Defence in $2.63m project

Stan Beer
Sunday, 18 September 2005 09:39

IT Industry - Deals

An integrated Imaging solution utilising the latest optical character recognition (OCR) technology has been deployed by Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) for the Australian Department of Defence.

The new automated system was part of a $2.63 million investment by Defence to enhance its accounts payable administration processes.  CSC was selected as a result of an open tendering process conducted in July 2003 to deploy the solution into a shared services model.

The scanner-fed optical character recognition system has replaced the former manual processing of 600,000 paper invoices per year and is part of an initiative to automate the entire accounts payable system.

The new system comprises a sophisticated four-step process that captures the data on paper invoices and transmits it into the accounts systems. Top Image Systems' eFlow recognition software validates against purchase order and goods received details, and transfers the information to an IXOS e-content management system to label, store and manage documents before data is up-loaded into the Department's SAP financials package for reconciliation.

Damien Chifley, project director for accounts payable imaging, maintains that the system has reduced processing times and anticipates that cost savings will be realised. "We expect cost savings as a result of the increased automation as well as corporate governance benefits resulting from improved data integrity and an increase in the long term in our ability to provide timely payment to suppliers," he said.

Ron Leeder, CSC vice president account management said, "The application of this technology into a shared services model is extremely effective for large, complex organizations such as the Department of Defence. The ability of technology to handle all types of paper or electronic forms makes it suitable for multiple scenarios throughout the enterprise".