allgaeuer zeitung

Standardised Data
Warehouse System
Allgäuer Zeitung Media Group
In cost control management, individual Excel evaluations and data maintenance lead to time-consuming planning
processes and complex work procedures that unnecessarily hinder day-to-day operations. If a logical authorisation
concept is also lacking, the question arises sooner or later as to who has access to the data and to what extent. A
data warehouse system can address this issue, since it provides a common database and a standardised authorisation concept. A media company in Allgäu, Germany chose to adopt such a solution and found a reliable partner
who was always available during project implementation and continuing project development.
The Allgäuer Zeitung Media Group, headquartered in Bavarian Kempten, is the leading media company in the Allgäu region with the highest coverage of print, radio and TV channels. The regional newspaper ‚Allgäuer Zeitung‘
has been in circulation since 1848, and now provides more than 250,000 readers with local news. The enterprise
is firmly anchored in the region and succeeds in upholding its traditions while using a variety of cross-media.
With twelve individual companies, cost control management can prove nerve-wracking. Andreas Barmettler is
Manager of Controlling at the Allgäuer Zeitung Media Group and remembers, „We used to do our evaluations in
Excel – a unified database simply didn‘t exist.“ Increasingly, the origin of the figures appeared questionable. A
timesaving alternative for manually coordinated evaluations and time-consuming planning carried out using Excel
was needed.
The Allgäuer Zeitung Media
Group, headquartered in Bavarian Kempten, is the leading media
company in the Allgäu region with
Precise requirements, comprehensive system. The specifications to be fulfilled by the new solution were clear.
the highest coverage of print, radio
„The planning procedures for twelve individual companies had to be coordinated and standardised,“ says Barmett-
and TV channels. The regional
ler. „We also required a practical authorisation concept.“ The search for a project partner who would assume an
newspaper ‚Allgäuer Zeitung‘ has
advisory capacity as well as providing support during the implementation stage ended with the appointment of Ac-
been in circulation since 1848, and
tinium Consulting GmbH following a selection process between four companies. Founded in 1999, this consulting
now provides more than 250,000
company with offices in Lindau, Germany (head office), Dortmund, Vienna and Singapore specialises in business
readers with local news.
processes, business integration and business intelligence. „The regional daily newspaper ‚Augsburger Allgemeine‘
had already had positive experience of this consulting company’s services, but we wanted to take a closer look
at the market for ourselves,“ Barmettler explains, „We wanted a standard technology to retrieve data quickly and
easily. Actinium‘s application sounded promising and eventually convinced us.“ The project was started at the end
of 2009.
„We wanted a standard technology
to retrieve data quickly and easily. Actinium‘s application sounded
promising and eventually con-
The current situation at the media company was subjected to common scrutiny, and then the decision was taken
vinced us.“
to use a data warehouse based on MS SQL Server 2008 R2 in combination with arcplan Enterprise BI Software.
Andreas Barmettler remembers the implementation phase, „It was completed within three months and everything
went according to plan.“ Key users attended an initial training course before taking part in on-the-job training which
was supported by the consulting company. The data warehouse solution is now deployed within the entire financial division. It includes reporting, bookkeeping, fiscal consolidation and planning for cost control management.
„Especially in cost control, we have noticed that evaluations are less time-consuming than before,“ says a clearly
satisfied Andreas Barmettler. „One of the things I like best is that planning has become so simple. That was the
most important aspect for me.“
Continual development. Since implementing the new solution, the data
warehouse has been subjected to continual development. „In day-to-day
operations, there is a constant stream of new requirements that we have
to address. In such cases, we approach Actinium knowing that these issues will be resolved rapidly,“ reports Barmettler. „We have already been
able to provide access to the invoice document from the data warehouse.“
This is one of the highlights for Barmettler. „Having an overview of the
figures at any one time – right down to the lowest level, the invoice document – has facilitated digital invoicing.“ This used to be a manual proce-
Andreas Barmettler,
Leiter Controlling
dure: request a file with the original invoice from the accounting department and work through it. Now we can do this directly on the computer
screen. „In addition to having easy access to sales figures, the desired
authorisation concept has also been implemented. We can now access
reports directly, whereas Excel required different access passwords. After logging in, we can now start planning straight away.“
With regard to the satisfactory solution and reliable support, the Allgäuer
Zeitung Media Group is very pleased with the result. Andreas Barmettler
noted another important aspect in the course of collaboration, „Actinium
not only managed to keep to the schedule, but actually completed the
project ahead of time. I haven‘t experienced that many times before.“
Contact
Tel: +49-8382-277278-0
Fax: +49-8382-277278-3
[email protected]
Actinium Consulting GmbH
Robert-Bosch-Str. 28
88131 Lindau
www.actinium.eu