Quadrant Software’s IntelliChief Helps Wheelabrator Technologies Clean Up Its Act

Paperless Processing Gives Wheelabrator An Edge, Reduces Costs
A wholly owned subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc. of Houston, Texas, Wheelabrator Technologies Inc. is tackling some nasty paper problems with the help from Quadrant Software and their IntelliChief solution for Paperless Process Management. The focus areas for this project are: Purchasing, Accounts Payable, and Legal.

The ROI of Trashing the Paper
The total annual return on investment (ROI) from the Paperless Process Management project with Quadrant Software is expected to be over $200K, giving Wheelabrator a ROI of less than 1 year.

In addition, the following benefits were also identified:

• Increased turnaround times on critical processes
• Improved response rates to customers and vendors
• Enhanced employee productivity
• Immediate savings related to reduction of paper and storage

Part of the expected savings of this project have to do with the elimination of pre-printed forms by using Formtastic to design professional looking forms. The forms are automatically merged with JD Edwards’ spool files to create a document that can be emailed, faxed, printed and saved into IntelliChief’s archival database for later retrieval. Other savings will come from:

• Increased speed and accuracy for 2-way and 3-way matching of documents
• Reduction of costs associated with paper, photocopies and related supplies
• Elimination of costs associated with pre-printed forms and fax machines

Reducing the Paper Waste
Wheelabrator’s goal is to reduce their reliance on paper and to gain better visibility into their processes and streamline operations. The whole solution is focused on leveraging their JDE World installation in conjunction with their other systems like AssetPoint's Tabware and OMS to provide users with electronic versions of transactional documents such as Purchase Orders, Invoices, Acknowledgements, Expense Reports, Journal Entry reports, among others. By having everything electronic, Wheelabrator will gain significant process improvements including:

• Quick retrieval of documents directly from JD Edwards screens
• Easily provide documentation for audits in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) in the required timeframe
• Availability of order history online without having to manually research and spend time locating interrelated documents and notes
  
• Ability to follow up on resolution status for Journal Entries

In order to speed up critical tasks like invoice approvals and purchase requisitions, IntelliChief’s workflow engine will be used to keep the electronic document flow moving, escalating activities when needed, generating alerts and automatically forwarding pending documents to the appropriate person. This will lead to:

• Better visibility of approval routing and use of escalation procedures, ensuring timely processing of critical information
• Elimination of the need for manual signatures on paper forms, shortening the time for cutting P.O.s and paying invoices
• Leveraging vendor early payment terms and avoiding late fees on lagging invoice payments awaiting approval

A bonus for employees that routinely use spreadsheets, word processors and other PC-based documents is the ability to transform them into an imaged file with indexes. The imaged file can then be attached to a process or an existing document and made available in the system in case they are needed at a later date. The process is made possible with IntelliChief’s Print Capture Driver and is as simple as a typical ‘file-print’ command.

Nothing Goes to Waste
As the project nears its end, the benefits of operating a paperless environment are becoming more prominent. The centralization of invoice processing, the use of digital images instead of paper files, and the speed in which users can retrieve documents are now becoming part of their routine operating procedures. That’s part of the beauty of paperless projects; they tend to improve the way you do business without getting in the way of how you do it. The implementation is expected to be completed sometime in the first quarter of 2008.

About Quadrant Software
Quadrant Software, an IBM Business Partner, has over a decade of experience providing Paperless Process Management (PPM) solutions. Started as a pioneer in fax server technology, today Quadrant Software provides enterprise-class PPM applications to Global 2000 companies world-wide and in a variety of industries. This includes document management, electronic forms, fax servers, MICR checks, barcode labels, imaging and workflow products. Over the years, they have helped companies reduce expenses, increase productivity, and improve communication. Quadrant Software has offices in Massachusetts, Florida, and the U.K.

About Wheelabrator Technologies
Wheelabrator Technologies Inc. (www.wheelabratortechnologies.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc., is one of the nation's largest and most successful developers, owners, and operators of commercial waste-to-energy projects. Since the early 1970s, Wheelabrator has led the development and application of successful environmental control technologies. Wheelabrator's pioneering vision continues to make a difference. Over more than 30 years, Wheelabrator has converted more than 150 million tons of non-hazardous municipal solid waste into more than 78 billion kilowatt-hours of clean, renewable, reliable electric power. Through Wheelabrator's efforts, each day tens of thousands of tons of solid waste are turned into clean, renewable electricity for our nation's households and businesses.