Deutsche Post World Net - project facing, shared services intergration 

Client company & industry sector 

Deutsche Post World Net. Transport and Logistics sector

Scope of the assignment 

Deutsche Post World Net’s (“DPWN”) growth through acquisition created considerable opportunity to deliver benefits through synergies and economies of scale. In an attempt to focus on their core competencies, Project FACING (Financial Accounting Shared Service Centre Integration Germany) was given the task to migrate the financial processes of five multi-cultural organisations onto a single platform, to transfer the processes into a Shared Services Centre and to create a central finance function in Cologne.

Catalise key focus was on FACING Wave 1b, the integration of DHL Worldwide Express and the Deutsche Post Express businesses. Initially engaged to co-ordinate interfaces between DHL’s IT shared service centre in Prague and to ensure connectivity between these interfaces, Catalise’s role was extended to set up a help desk and support function for the FACING/Shared Service Centre’s Accounting systems.

Description of deliverables 

Project FACING started in January 2004 and Catalise became involved in July 2004 where challenges such as communication barriers and lack of transparency with regard to programme objectives were quickly identified. Acting in a co-ordinating role, Catalise soon discovered the complexity of the assignment, ranging from geographical, cultural, organisational and technical challenges that all had to be overcome in a radical change in approach in order to create a cohesive delivery team.

Approach used 

Through effective and direct communication, sound stakeholder management and strong co-ordination Catalise built bridges, institutionalized effective communication channels and created a cohesive team intent on delivering a solution.

Outcomes of the assignment 

Within an initial six week period, Catalise’s quick delivery of the FACING Wave1b design (Business Requirements Statement) put the programme back on a sure footing, thereby jump-starting the Business Requirements process while at the same time initiating essential team building activity. Building on that success, Catalise were placed at the centre of all information exchange and provided with the opportunity to review the longer term plans for the delivery of FACING Wave 1b. The review revealed that the proposed ‘go live’ date of April 2005 represented a high risk for the project. Catalise, therefore, developed a programme recovery plan, providing a firm and well-substantiated ‘go live’ date of July 2005.

Based on Catalise’s success in supporting the delivery of the design and development phase, Catalise was a natural choice to provide a robust framework for the new Shared Services Centre Accounting in Cologne. The FACING Wave1b project duly went ‘live’ on 1st July 2005 (the revised date advised by Catalise the summer before.) with a smooth transition to the new operating service.

Project FACING, hailed as a successful integration project arising from DPWN’s acquisition of DHL and Danzas, delivered the following success factors:

Catalise’s frank (almost “blunt”) communication, tight stakeholder management, realistic expectation setting and speed and timeliness of intervention proved to be pivotal to project FACING’s overall success.

Other relevant information 

Dietrich Franz, Project Manager FACING, Deutsche Post AG –

‘Catalise’s initial intervention and continued monitoring throughout the FACING Wave 1 b Project was instrumental to the smooth implementation of our finance functions within the SSC Accounting in Cologne.  The effective coordination led to the full integration of various groups and stakeholders vital to the successful go live of FACING at the SSC Accounting.  As a result, DPWN/DHL are using the extended capability of Catalise to develop support structures for the SSC Accounting within a complex geographical, technical and cultural environment.’


Ludo Menso, Project Manager FACING DHL Express, DHL Express – Client Testimonial:

‘Catalise’s involvement was fundamental to establishing the program at ITSC Prague Data Center and delivering the interfaces between legacy applications and SAP. From go-live onwards, this resulted in smooth data flows between the SAP environment hosted in Germany and legacy applications hosted in Prague.

In addition Catalise’s assignment delivering a Help Desk model for all users at various locations resulted in a solution meeting industry standards.

My experience with Catalise over many years is one of continuous successful delivery of assignments and has been proven once again.

Catalise’s project approach and thorough methodologies, combined communicative capabilities in extremely difficult cultural and political environments are – I believe – key to their series of success.

Last but not least Catalise resources’ relentless efforts, openness and positive can-do attitude are a key contributor to stakeholder management and stimulating the project teams at difficult times.’