OMV Gas & Power GmbH

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Vienna-based OMV is one of Austria’s largest listed industrial companies and the leading energy group in the European growth belt. Created in 1956, its exploration and production activities are distributed over 17 countries. With around 41,000 employees, OMV is a reliable partner for both its customers, who benefit from high supply security, and for Austria’s research and business activities. OMV has a network of more than 2,483 filling stations and operates five refineries. As an international, integrated energy group, OMV operates in the following business areas: Refining & Marketing(R&M), including petrochemicals, Exploration & Production (E&P) as well as Gas and Power (G&P).

The Challenge
OMV Gas & Power, with its three business areas - Gas Supply, Marketing & Trading, Gas Logistics & Power – along with the Central European gas hub, is one of the leading gas trading and logistics companies in Central Europe.

In 2007, OMV Gas & Power (G & P) decided to install a reporting and planning solution. Based on positive experience with IBM® Cognos® TM1 in other areas of the company, they decided to install this product as the new reporting tool. Prior to this implementation, Microsoft® Excel® was used to manage a wide range of tasks manually, and there was no automated reporting system. There was also no database. In implementing the new solution, OMV’s aim was to improve controlling efficiency by improving its reporting system and to create a consistent format for data storage. The company also wanted to automate report creation and analyses, along with consolidation and currency conversion.

Strategy followed
Work began on the multidimensional database for international controlling GAS (TM1) project in 2007. One year later, in the summer of 2008, the solution went live. The project was initially managed by Manfred Roger, then by Thomas Zolles. It included the creation of an IBM Cognos TM1 database to handle data imports from different front-end systems, as well as data exports to downstream systems. The data was sent from the SAP R/3 main data source to the TM1 database via SAP BW. Both metadata and data are transferred during the import routines, allowing the automatic updating of structures, hierarchies and attributes. Users can access the data via Excel add-ins or TM1 Web (Web front-end requiring no installation). The main features include automatic currency conversion and basic consolidation, with elimination of intercompany sales.

Benefits realised
Every month, controllers record profit and loss statements locally. OMV Gas & Power GmbH then forwards this data to the holding group. Other sites can easily access and use the application as well via IBM Cognos TM1 Web.

Around 40 controllers and accountants currently work with IBM Cognos TM1. Many users are working intensively with the solution and making suggestions for adaptations. Satisfaction levels are high levels among regular users of the system.

The solution’s strengths include great flexibility, high performance and scalability, as well as intuitive operation and transparency. It also has a single point of truth and powerful 64-bit technology.

The expectations OMW Gas & Power GmbH had of the solution have been fulfilled. It has already recorded time savings, but has not yet been able to measure the precise amount of the cost saving. On the basis of this positive experience with IBM Cognos TM1, plans are already in place to roll out the solution to the investment planning area. The solution was implemented by the long-standing IBM Cognos partner PANTA RHEI Informationstechnologie GmbH.

About IBM Cognos BI and Performance Management
IBM Cognos business intelligence (BI) and performance management solutions deliver world-leading enterprise planning, consolidation and BI software, support and services to help companies plan, understand and manage financial and operational performance. IBM Cognos solutions bring together technology, analytical applications, best practices, and a broad network of partners to give customers an open, adaptive and complete performance solution. Over 23,000 customers in more than 135 countries around the world choose IBM Cognos solutions.