The difficult overall economic situation was also a particular challenge for the information technology segment with its comprehensive integration into the Group’s business and production processes. Activities around the variabilization of IT costs, which have been stepped up in the last few years, have made an important contribution, especially in these economically challenging phases. This has made it possible to reduce IT expenses in the last business year alone by 12.6%.
Despite consistent management of investments and costs in the individual Group companies, strategically and structurally important projects have been pursued, with some already being completed. The projects have included the following:
- Within the scope of the “Future” project (Steel Division), processes, many of which have been recently developed, and the control functions that are applied throughout the division are being mapped on the basis of a new and fully integrated IT architecture. This new IT landscape will be implemented beginning with the business year 2011/12.
- The technical integration of the companies of the Special Steel Division, acquired in 2007, into the IT structure of the Group as a whole has been largely completed. Currently, as a result of Group-wide reorganizational measures, system relocations/separations are being carried out.
- The “Genesis” project (Railway Systems Division) is ensuring an integrated quantity and value flow along the division’s value chain. The new system structure is already being implemented in rail production as of the beginning of the business year 2010/11; implementation for the steel mill and wire production is planned for late 2010/11.
- Experience gained from the “business process integration” project (Profilform Division) —highly integrated sales and production planning systems that are being deployed at the Austrian site in Krems—is providing a starting point for a launch at other (including international) divisional locations.
- The new IT target architecture of the Automotive Division is being consistently implemented on the basis of the current structure of the business units.
Moreover, in the business year 2009/10, the Group’s IT service company, voestalpine group IT GmbH, brought in a strategic partner for the operation of IT services and data centers. This step will ensure additional flexibility in providing these services.
