Microsoft Navision will also integrate with the Council's existing payroll and property database systems, with the long-term view to enable staff to access customer information from one central location.

Neven Hill, manager, information management, Rotorua District Council, says the project is part of the Council's information services strategic plan and will lead to greater operational and staff efficiencies, while also improving customer service levels.

"Our operations staff and management team will be able to easily create and access their own business reports with Microsoft Navision, and minimise the re-keying of data, particularly within budgeting and accounts receivable," says Hill. "This will further free up our finance team from administration tasks and enable them to adopt an even more strategic role within the Council."

Microsoft Navision will automate a number of the Council's financial processes, such as direct credits - adding value to customers who prefer to interact with the Council electronically in the long-term.

"The solution will also interface easily with our other systems, says Hill, "which is important as we look to provide staff with a single view of customer data in the future."

Based on a combination of product functionality, compatibility with other systems and partner expertise, the Council chose Microsoft Navision, in partnership with Fujitsu, over four other business management applications.

"Microsoft Navision is a modern, scaleable and user-friendly solution. By standardising on the Microsoft technology platform, the Council stands to minimise the risks associated with deployment," says Hill.

"Fujitsu understands our business needs and has developed an implementation methodology that meets current and future requirements. The company has a strong presence throughout New Zealand, which means product support is readily available." 

Paul Muckleston, small and mid-market solutions and partner (SMS &P) director for Microsoft New Zealand, says there are currently more than 80 New Zealand organisations using Microsoft Navision, with interest in the government sector growing steadily.

"Statistics New Zealand and Antarctica New Zealand are among the organisations currently taking advantage of Microsoft Navision's financial and business management capabilities," says Muckleston.

"As with the Rotorua District Council, organisations are increasingly seeking a flexible business management solution, like Microsoft Navision, which can scale to their current and future business needs and delivers ease of integration with existing technology investments."

Dawid Falck, Fujitsu business development manager adds: "Microsoft Navision is well-suited to the Council and Fujitsu will add new modules and functionality as the organisation's business needs evolve."

About Microsoft Business Solutions 
Microsoft Business Solutions, a division of Microsoft, offers a wide range of integrated, end-to-end business applications and services designed to help small, mid-market and corporate businesses become more connected with customers, employees, partners and suppliers. Microsoft Business Solutions' applications optimise strategic business processes across financial management, analytics, human resources management, project management, customer relationship management, field service management, supply chain management, e-commerce, manufacturing and retail management. The applications are designed to provide insight to help customers achieve business success. More information about Microsoft Business Solutions can be found at www.microsoft.com/businesssolutions.

About the Rotorua District Council
Rotorua District is New Zealand's fourth largest district Council by population. Located in the Bay of Plenty, the Rotorua District centres on Rotorua City and has a population of 64,473 and total area of 2,708km².

February 2004

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