The program, “i-Supplier Portal,” connects SWCC real-time with all its suppliers inside and outside the Kingdom. It automates some of SWCC’s core and supporting business processes to allow the organization to provide faster services and better products. The scope of e-TP’s implementation covers the entire organization.

Launched in 2007, the program covers all of SWCC’s needs in terms of technical infrastructure, enterprise resource management, employees’ self-services, human resource management, financial systems and integration with local and worldwide suppliers.

Speaking to reporters, Al-Shareef said the e-TP program started four years ago to prepare the corporation for a post-privatization era. Today, it enters its third phase with a remarkable success. “The electronic transformation program reflects the strategic decision taken by SWCC board to implement the latest in IT technology. Today’s launch speaks of the great contributions of the program in improving the quality of work, performance and productivity, and makes it a successful example to follow,” the governor said.

Abdullah Al-Khedher, who is in charge of the project gave the green light to initiate a live video conferencing link between V-Line in Hanover Germany, SWCC’s largest supplier, and the work team at the venue of the launch.

SWCC is considered to be the largest desalination corporation in the world. It generates more than 3.5 million cubic meters of drinking water every day, and more than 20 percent of the Kingdom’s electricity needs, with more than 10,000 employees working at 36 water desalination plants all around the Kingdom and managing more than 4.200 km of transmission pipelines.

The e-TP has received several awards, such as Infor’s Award for Largest Implementation in Enterprise Asset Management in the Middle East in 2008. It was twice awarded the best application in Energy and Utility Implementation Award in 2010; an award that is usually given to pioneers in the IT industry in the Arab region by Arabian Computer News magazine in recognition of best achievements in the IT industry.

Detlev Daues, founder and chief executive officer of V-Line, who flew in from Germany to attend the event, said: “V-Line and SWCC partnership started 30 years before the opening of SWCC central procurement department in Riyadh.”