National Air Services (NAS), Saudi Arabia’s only privately owned aviation provider, is deploying the Oracle E-Business Suite to centralize its financial and human resources operations. NAS, which has interests in fractional jet ownership, charter flights and aircraft maintenance, is streamlining its back-office functions in preparation for the launch of a competitive new domestic airline in 2004.
Currently operating both charter and corporate flights with a fleet of more than 20 aircraft, NAS will utilize the Oracle E-business Suite to improve the timeliness and accuracy of its financial data across the company’s related business units.
Maintaining an up-to-the-minute perspective of its finances will be vital to NAS while establishing the new domestic airline within the Kingdom, which is anticipated to have an initial capitalization of $100 million, funded by NAS and a consortium of mainly Saudi investors.
Deploying Oracle’s Human Resources Management System (HRMS) solution will enable NAS to increase the productivity and efficiency of employees in the Kingdom. NAS staff, from pilots to aircraft technicians, can access the human resources component of the Oracle E-Business Suite online to update flight logs and timesheets, submit expense reports and apply for leave and other company benefits from anywhere in the world. “We’re anticipating that our new Oracle E-Business Suite deployment will be especially beneficial to our NetJets fractional ownership program, which requires very rigorous accounting and scheduling to ensure maximum customer value,” said Ali Janbi, communications and IT Manager, NAS.
“Centralizing this information and making it accessible online will give NAS a clear perspective on which aircraft are available when, with all of the associated costs updated in real time, and having this information at our disposal should actually improve our level of service as well as NAS’s internal decision-making capabilities.”“Given the highly technical nature of our business, we have a growing base of skilled pilots and mechanics on board, all of whom keep records about the number of hours they log with us and the professional certifications they attain.
This information can now be stored and updated online through NAS’ Oracle-based human resources system, which will not only make the system more efficient, but will reduce human error and cut administrative costs as well,” added Janbi. “The extremely aggressive growth plans outlined by NAS — not only in its existing operations, but also in building a new domestic carrier to service the regional market with more than 20 additional aircraft — demand the support of a reliable, real-time financial and HR infrastructure.
Having the latest revenue figures and staff capabilities at the fingertips of its decision-makers will enable NAS to capitalize more quickly on business opportunities both in Saudi Arabia and around the region,” stated Husam Dajani, Oracle’s VP, Middle East.
— Arab News CompuNet 14 October 2003
