IT upgrade targets £8.6m annual savings

Council-wide change and efficiency programme prompts new system for better value and improved customer focus

Dorset council staff will be able to request holidays through the ERP system

Dorset County Council is upgrading its IT platform as part of an organisation-wide transformation programme aimed at saving £8.6m a year.

IT services group Capgemini will implement and run the new infrastructure which will streamline business processes and improve customer focus.

The SAP-based system will give managers more accessible, up-to-date and accurate information on human resources issues, budgets, and learning materials, while staff will be able to update their own information simply and quickly online, including holiday requests and expenses claims.

The system will pay for itself by streamlining operations, reducing duplications and generating efficiencies, said Elaine Taylor, director for corporate resources.

"The enterprise resource planning system is the backbone of our change and efficiency programme and will drive us to improve how we work," she said.

"The ERP will replace our HR, payroll, procurement and finance systems and will enable us to reduce duplication and streamline processes, delivering major savings and repaying the investment cost."

"It is part of a three-year programme to save £8.6m each year. A number of other county councils are taking, or are about to take, this route."