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SiteStuff

Texas-based SiteStuff provides an Internet-based solution for the real-estate sector to procure goods and services to operate commercial property.

Products include items such as paper products and air filters, as well as services supporting building maintenance and operation, including window cleaning and security. Customers interact via a B2B e-commerce business model.

The Challenge

SiteStuff’s co-founders realized that success depended on time to market. The objective was to create an exciting start-up deploying a new business model for the real-estate sector, with specific challenges being:

• integrated web-based front- to back-office systems with selected suppliers
• order processes facilitating a 360º customer view
• supplier integration and catalogue uploads
• multiple point solution packages integrated on Windows NT and Unix platforms.

Oracle Applications was selected as the ERP platform at the heart of the solution. SiteStuff needed a partner to help expand the vision and deliver solutions. The partner had to demonstrate:

• one-stop full-service capability
• skills and experience on Microsoft technology
• methods, especially on Oracle, to facilitate rapid deployment.

Capgemini had already helped SiteStuff to develop the initial strategy and was invited aboard to cement the partnership via three technology projects to complete the picture for SiteStuff. These were:

• back-office financial systems via Oracle Applications
• integration with selected suppliers for SiteStuff
• an e-commerce web site.

Capgemini Approach

Capgemini deployed a variety of tools and methods to accelerate delivery of quality results for SiteStuff. The ASE (Accelerated Solutions Environment) facilitated a dramatic reduction on time to solve complex issues and gained buy-in from key stakeholders. The ADC (Advanced Development Center) achieved a significant reduction in software development time.

Components deriving benefit at the earliest point in the chain were prioritised, resulting in a high level of re-use to ‘jump-start’ each step on the project.

Project plans were drawn up for scheduled releases via industry-standard Conference Room Pilots. These pilots facilitated a process model so that configuration of each module in Oracle Applications addressed specific needs for SiteStuff.

To meet the requirements of the second technology project, selected suppliers were connected to Oracle Applications. This step was key to the project’s success, radically improving the system’s efficiency and accuracy.

The third technology project - the e-commerce web site - was the cornerstone of SiteStuff’s business plan. Project management activities included elements like resource management and status reporting, change and risk management, scope management and technology support. Specific phases included Mobilise, Design, Build, Test, Transition and Post-Live Support.

The fully featured e-commerce web site was live in three months of project start date, with development for Oracle Applications achieved in a mere seven weeks.

Value Delivered

Management at SiteStuff quantify a number of benefits from the successful partnership with Capgemini. Key benefits can be summarized as:

• fully automated order from customers to suppliers
• order status accessible by clients on the Internet
• supplier catalogue management
• customer account status linked to customer-facing systems
• full real-time pricing on the Internet
• fully automated supplier shipment information and resultant invoicing.

SiteStuff now has a model that epitomizes how current trends in technology can work for customers and suppliers alike. Customers can now:

• leverage the buying power of a mutual portfolio, SiteStuff’s as well as their own
• gain better understanding of property expenditure
• reduce transaction costs by consolidating invoices and using personal shopping lists for repeat purchases.

A benchmarking report by Deloitte Consulting on procurement in the real estate industry found that the SiteStuff solution can decrease transaction costs for commercial property management companies by up to 71 percent, or from $77 to $22 per order.