Heathrow Airport has transformed its HR and finance functions with the implementation of Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications, with Capgemini and Oracle Consulting combining their resources to overcome the challenges of the pandemic and deliver the programme at pace.
Said to be the largest business transformation in its 75-year history, the transformation programme is a core component of Heathrow’s strategy to modernise key operations, digitise its 20-year-old infrastructure, and support efficient growth through recovery from the pandemic.
The centrepiece of the programme is the implementation of Oracle Fusion Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion Cloud Human Capital Management (HCM) and Oracle Integration Cloud (OIC) to modernise and automate the finance, HR, revenue, service, and asset management functions. Oracle Billing Revenue Management (BRM) was also chosen to support Heathrow’s high volume aeronautical billing transactions with the airlines.
Stephen Williams, transformation programme director at Heathrow, said: “Our industry has been severely impacted by the pandemic. We’ve had severe disruption, loss of resources, and of course a personal toll on so many colleagues; but through it all we still had a business-critical deadline to meet. Our programme adjustments to the pandemic made our delivery twice as fast and efficient as we were before the pandemic began. Now we’re in a strong position to realise the fantastic capabilities and benefits the new Oracle Cloud platform can provide.”
Oracle Cloud HCM and Oracle Cloud ERP work together to provide an integrated set of business processes across all HR and finance functions. Everything from the employee life cycle, to procurement, and revenue generation are all brought together into one unified experience, allowing the airport to benefit from automation, improved decision making and increased operational efficiencies.
Cormac Watters, executive vice president of applications at Oracle EMEA, said: “Heathrow has a culture of progressiveness and innovation that has made it one of the frontrunners of the industry in Europe and globally, and with Oracle Cloud Applications it now has an integrated platform, powered by the latest emerging technologies, to support its current and future needs.”
Heathrow’s long-term objectives through the pandemic recovery include eventually reclaiming the 80 million passengers per year it had pre-pandemic in 2019. Heathrow’s investment in Oracle Cloud will help support the company’s effort in supporting its passengers and will provide the platform to meet future growth.
Steve Baldwin, account director at Capgemini, added: “The transition to the cloud is a significant undertaking. It is a testament to the strong and collaborative partnership that has been built between Capgemini and Heathrow that we were able to modernise such a complex IT estate so seamlessly during a period of significant change for the aviation industry. Since the programme went live, Heathrow has already attained significant benefits through IT optimisations, including being able to deliver an improved user experience for its employees.”
