Contact:
Eveline Fitzinger
Phone: +43 (0)1 402 48 51-0
E-Mail: fitzinger@temmel-seywald.at
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Vienna (pts008/19.08.2003/10:18) - The Viennese SAP consulter CNT Management Consulting has developed together with Sandoz GmbH an SAP R/3 tool to support product launches into international markets. The new system will be utilized in the future by subsidiaries in more than 60 countries worldwide. The solution consists of a planning tool (Acyclic Forecast Request) for worldwide unification of sales prognoses for planned market launches and an administration tool (Product Request Form) for simplified processing of formalisms for product launches. The system enables corporate management a simplified marketing administration and controlling.
"We offer our products in approximately 120 countries on all continents. At the new introduction of a medication our marketing & sales manager worked with very different EDP applications, such as Lotus Notes databases or MS Excel. Therefore we have tried to implement a unified marketing tool and thus simplify the access and administration of the necessary data for headquarters through a single-point-of-entry," explained Sandoz project leader Bruno Haas. "In addition, the SAP R/3 application developed with CNT should provide more data security and in the medium-term decisively improve planning quality," said Haas. The marketing tool developed by Novartis and CNT is being implemented in a German version in Austria and in English for the international subsidiaries.
The integration of previously separately administrated data in a central system simplifies the supervision and control of planned market launches in individual markets. In addition, it is possible to aggregate information on a product or market level by pressing a button and thereby enable a better overview. The data are retrievable at any time and product portfolios in various countries can be more easily compared. Every country has access on-line 24 hours a day and across all time zones.
Acyclic Forecast Request for the better Overview
With "Acyclic Forecast Request" CNT developed a forecasting tool in order to be able to better plan and coordinate product launches and marketing activities. "Before the introduction of a new product in a country we need exact market data. Regionally specific particulars must be taken into consideration, the estimated quantities needed must be determined and predictions must be made as to which medications will be in greater demand in the future," named Haas the requirements. On the basis of this data existing products will be further developed or adapted for specific markets. "Through this new forecasting tool estimations of individual markets will be gathered consolidated and serve among many other facts also as a criteria for decision making," said the Sandoz project leader.
Every sales manager in the approx. 60 countries fills out the "Acyclic Forecast Requests" upon request of headquarters for certain active substances. The expected sales price and estimated sales quantities for planned finished product furnishings are entered, among other things. In the headquarters the incoming data are checked and authorized via electronic signature. As every single step must be electronically authorized, the new system provides more security and an improved control mechanism. Further advantages: The integrated monitoring function enables an overview at any time of the current processing status of individual procedures. By means of the reporting function the most important data regarding expected sales figures and planned product launches in the individual markets are summarized.
Product Request Form (PRF) to support the Launch Phase
On top of this, CNT programmed and implemented an administration tool in SAP R/3 to support the market launch of new medications and registration procedures. The preparation time for the introduction of a new medication amounts to several years. The responsible launch manager must ensure that necessary activities take place at certain points in time. The individual activities are documented by forms, which are individually sent through an approval circular. The required forms will be illustrated in the new administration tool PRF.
Necessary information will in part be entered into the PRF forms by hand and in part uploaded from other SAP applications (e.g. prognoses from the Acyclic Forecast Request). Certain guidelines are defined as to the deadline until when a form must be filled out. If no action is taken the SAP system automatically sends out a reminder email. An electronic signature supports the required approval circular for every form. The approvers will be informed via email that a signature is needed. A built-in reminder function reminds the approver after a certain period of time has passed that their signature is required. With a street light system it is very simple to check the status of individual forms. This monitoring function is an important feature in order to be able to track back the status across forms.
"The implementation of both systems PRF and aFC in the SAP R/3 system has a decisive advantage: Information is stored centrally in one system and can therefore be exchanged among one another. Time consuming re-entry of data from one system into another is minimized. In addition, the 'Single-Point-of-Entry' enables an optimal monitoring and controlling of processes," stated Haas. "If in the future still more complimentary SAP applications are developed, then the integrated exchange of data can be even more improved and fine tuned."
Photos from Mr. Haas available electronically under:
http://www.temmel-seywald.at/files/1060350705.jpg
Photo Mr. König available electronically under:
http://www.temmel-seywald.at/client/cnt/koenig/
Photos Sandoz available electronically under:
http://www.temmel-seywald.at/files/1060351493.jpg
Sandoz GmbH
Sandoz, a member of the Novartis Group, is a worldwide leading provider of generic pharmaceuticals and develops, produces and sells these medications as well as pharmaceutical and biotechnological active substances. Decades of expertise and profound know-how make Sandoz an internationally sought after partner in the areas of pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals and industrial products. Sandoz has a staff of approximately 11,500 employees and achieved in 2002 a revenue of USD 1.8 billion.
Sandoz is strongly represented in Austria. As of February 2003 the global headquarters was established in Vienna. Sandoz GmbH, with research and production locations in Kundl, Schaftenau and Vienna, employs more than 2500 people and is the leading pharmaceutical company in Austria. 98 % of the revenue is generated through export to over 120 countries.
http://www.sandoz.at
CNT Management Consulting GmbH
CNT Management Consulting GmbH, founded in 1999 in Vienna, is 100 percent in the possession of the five founders. The independent consulting company has specialized in consulting of business management standard software as well as its connection to new technologies - in particular the Internet, CAD, electronic commerce and other electronic media. CNT managed to rise to the top of the Austrian SAP-scene within a short period of time. The company currently employs 30 SAP consultants.
www.cnt-online.at
For more information:
Sandoz GmbH
Bruno Haas
Biochemiestraße 10, A-6250 Kundl
Tel: +43 (0)5338 200-0, E-mail: bruno.haas@gx.novartis.com
CNT Management Consulting GmbH
Hans König
Lassallestrasse 7b, A-1020 Vienna
Tel: +43 (0)1 2164 268-0, E-mail: koenig@cnt-online.at
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