National Department of Transport: Systems Integration

The Department of Transport chose Accenture as its partner to create a National Transport Register to integrate information on taxi registrations, permit data from the local road and transportation boards, and bus subsidy information. The new world-class integrated, Web-enabled system dramatically improved the quality of information on which decisions are made.

The Department of Transport, responsible for overseeing a dynamic and robust industry, has implemented a procedure of continual process improvement and change initiatives.

One of these was to establish a National Transport Register to integrate information on taxi registrations, permit data from the local road and transportation boards, and bus subsidy information.

Challenges facing this integration included:

• All the data existing in disparate systems with no common interfaces
• Extensive data duplication resulting in data integrity problems
• Inflexible reporting outputs for transport management
• Unfriendly graphical user interface and different operating systems
• Lack of integration with back-end systems
• Inadequate information system security
• Insufficient staff skills to extract information from the systems

In November 2001, Accenture, with its proven international track record of project managing major transformations of information systems, won the tender to establish the National Transport Register.

Accenture recognised the winning potential of developing a Web-based solution which involved rewriting existing systems using Web technologies, consolidating all the data into a central national and provincial database, which could be accessed via an integrated Web-based system.

This ensured that affordable industry-standard technology was quickly accessible to a wide variety of users of different skills levels, straightforward to implement, simple to maintain and easily adaptable to dynamic needs in an emergent society.

Essentially, the solution is compatible with modern Internet applications and aimed at leveraging the benefits of the internet-enabled world.

Accenture tackled the project in four phases:

• Conceptual design—a high-level business process involved stakeholders at various levels to ensure buy-in by all levels
• Detailed design—collaboration with existing system user groups added substance to the conceptual design. Significantly, the energy poured into this phase ensured Accenture completed all detailed designs—and secured client signoff—within one month
• Development and Testing—this intensive phase involved 15 developers working on five separate but integrated systems and reports. Accenture's experience in grappling with complexities of translating separate business functions and systems into an integrated business unit with a common database came to the fore at this time. Harnessing the skills of four sub-contractors—Accenture Technology Solutions, AfriGIS, Software Consulting Services and Makwedini Technologies—ensured that all systems were fully developed and tested within the three-month timeframe
• Acceptance Test, Pilot, Training and Rollout—Collaboration with the client to get user feedback on solutions was paramount at this stage. Accenture managed this process through its testing methodology-based scripts. The pilot site was satisfied with training delivered and confident that the system would support their needs.

Client representatives on the steering committee were involved in all stages of the project lifecycle, contributing ideas and ensuring that all stages of the development met expectations.

Working to a very tight schedule Accenture completed all re-engineering and development phases within its deadlines. Rolling out the National Transport Register to all levels is scheduled to commence in mid-October and should be completed in mid-November 2002. Client feedback indicates a high level of anticipation among staff.

The National Department of Transport has in place a new, world-class integrated Web-enabled system that will integrate, and dramatically improve the quality of information on which decisions are made and which will help regulate the land transport industry. Main benefits include:

• Central data repository of transport routes and permits issued gives local authorities accurate and relevant information they need for better transport planning
• Integration with the National Traffic Information System helps law enforcement around South Africa
• Bus subsidy management and claims verification will ensure accuracy and security
• Ongoing skills training and system maintenance ensures efficient and effective use of the system.