Abacus International
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For example, with operations in 24 markets throughout the Asia-Pacific region, one of Abacus' challenges has been to provide highly reliable connectivity to the host reservation system located in North America. Thanks to the new network, Abacus is now able to better roll out a wide range of IP applications, including Internet booking, and has gained the flexibility to build multi-tier backup data centers throughout the region.
For Abacus, every IT project must be justifiable either in terms of cost reduction, enabling new business or improving performance and efficiency. Project scope and deliverables are well defined from the start for quantitative measurement. Qualitative measurement is based on key performance indicators such as system uptime, network round-trip delay and service delivery lead time.
The benefits of the new network, which is regarded as one of Abacus' most significant IT projects in 2005, are undoubtedly huge. Abacus estimates that the network is able to achieve a minimum 99.7 percent availability, compared to the average 99 percent with the legacy network.
There is also improved system performance. With the TCP/IP network, Abacus can now enable pro-active monitoring of performance and take preventative action to avoid network congestion. It has also significantly improved response time and consistency, and incident reports have been reduced by up to 20 percent.
Other benefits include improved system reliability. Abacus estimates that travel agents that are connected to the Abacus system now enjoy a higher level of system availability than before. System uptime has improved by at least 0.5 percentage points.
Communication costs have also dropped. Abacus estimates savings of up to 35 percent on its communications spending.
Commenting on making the ZDNet Asia Smart50 list, John Lim, IT director for Abacus International, said: "It is encouraging to know that our strategy is aligned with industrial best practices, and we are honored to be recognized by ZDNet Asia as one of Asia' best users of IT.
"It is our corporate strategy to ensure that all our IT projects support corporate objectives and derive strategic business benefit for Abacus, our shareholders and our customers," he added.
Lim acknowledged the contribution of the entire company to every project's success. "Abacus is a company built on its technology and services, and it wouldn't be where it is today if it wasn't for both our dedicated staff in IT and our committed business departments," he said.
At Abacus, every IT project that is rolled out requires constant engagement, collaboration and cooperation between the IT staff, as well as the need to work closely with their business counterparts throughout the entire project lifecycle.
"Such engagements are necessary to communicate changes in advance and obtain feedback so that concerns are being addressed appropriately and at the earliest stages of the project," Lim said.
"Our staff from both the IT and business departments are well trained and understand the importance of such practices to ensure a smooth delivery and upgrades of services."
On the company's future IT plans, Lim said Abacus will continue to support the business strategy of securing and engaging customers. "Our focus for the remainder of 2006 and into 2007 is to ensure the provision of reliable and responsive systems, continuous improvement of business efficiency and effectively help our customers manage their costs," he said.