Purchase Processes Ready for the FutureHow a large utility keeps its Accounts Payable flexible with Cognizant Catalyst.

Cognizant Case Study

cognizant case study | july 2016

Adapting to the changing energy industry has been the strategy for success for one of the U.S.’s largest regulated utilities. The utility ensures its finance and accounting processes stay equally responsive with Cognizant’s Catalyst Accounts Payable (AP) platform.

Like our client, Catalyst is flexible. Catalyst allows the Midwest-based utility to not only centralize AP and offer visibility to client users and their vendors, but also to tailor purchase processes to its growing needs. So AP financial management is always ready to support the company’s savvy, widely praised business moves.

Financial Management for an Industry Leader The client has relied on Catalyst for its AP financial management since 2008. It utilizes Catalyst as a workflow for all purchase order (PO) invoices. Catalyst processes all invoices, and it houses approvals, invoice images, history and reporting. Our Document Center in College Station, TX, enables mailing of invoices to a single location. Catalyst is also a workflow for the approval process for non-PO invoices. It interfaces with the client’s ERP systems.

In addition to handling purchase invoice process-ing, Cognizant provides AP customer service and call center support according to the client’s guide-lines.

Cognizant regularly customizes Catalyst to accommodate process and system changes. Our teams maintain constant contact with the utility’s organization and collaborate continuously on projects to improve process efficiencies.

End-to-end Visibility and Reporting With Catalyst, the utility manages its AP function with one comprehensive system that offers visibility to client users and their vendors. Reporting is available for all client users, and their vendors as well.

How does Catalyst support the utility’s corporate strategy? For one thing, Catalyst’s easy custom-ization makes it a good fit for the organization’s changing needs and helps it provide top service to its millions of natural gas and electric customers.

For another, Catalyst’s ability to exchange data with multiple ERP systems is a key feature for the utility. In addition, Catalyst accepts electronic invoices via EDI.

About CognizantCognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is a leading provider of information technology, consulting, and business process services, dedicated to helping the world’s leading companies build stronger businesses. Headquartered in Teaneck, New Jer-sey (U.S.), Cognizant combines a passion for client satisfaction, technology innovation, deep industry and business process expertise, and a global, collaborative workforce that embodies the future of work. With over 100 development and delivery centers worldwide and approximately 233,000 employees as of March 31, 2016, Cognizant is a member of the NASDAQ-100, the S&P 500, the Forbes Global 2000, and the Fortune 500 and is ranked among the top performing and fastest growing companies in the world. Visit us online at www.cognizant.com or follow us on Twitter: Cognizant.

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Together with our client, we partner continuous-ly to improve processes and find more effective ways to streamline efficiencies. We also help the utility execute its vision for serving customers and delivering on its commitments.

Flexibility is at the heart of the utility’s strategy. Catalyst AP platform helps ensure it succeeds.

Catalyst Platform: Cloud-based, Secure, Integrated Tools

Invoice # Requestor LOB Description Date Quantity Amount32423 Smith 10 Pencils 4/1/2007 10 25.00$ 34344 Jones 12 Reclining Chairs 4/2/2007 11 15,000.00$ 12123 Busch 10 Michigan State Football Jerseys 4/3/2007 12 2,000.00$ 87478 Bush 11 Flags 4/4/2007 13 560.00$ 25622 Reiff 14 Office supplies 4/5/2007 14 32,345.00$ 56777 Kelly 12 Staplers 4/6/2007 15 10.00$ 34134 Uthoff 10 Shelving 4/7/2007 16 25.00$ 12534 Smith 15 File cabinets 4/8/2007 23 15,000.00$ 32423 Jones 10 Pencils 4/9/2007 24 2,000.00$ 34344 Busch 12 Reclining Chairs 4/10/2007 25 560.00$ 12123 Bush 10 Office supplies 4/11/2007 26 32,345.00$ 87478 Reiff 11 Flags 4/12/2007 27 10.00$ 25622 Kelly 14 Office supplies 4/13/2007 28 25.00$ 56777 Uthoff 12 Staplers 4/14/2007 29 15,000.00$ 34134 Fritz 10 Shelving 4/15/2007 30 2,000.00$ 12534 Smith 15 File cabinets 4/16/2007 31 560.00$

• Enforces business policy • Routes digital invoices and data to the right

person in the right order at the right time • Monitors timeliness of process • Audit trail for actions, updates, approvals, etc. • Refund Processing

• Register for e-commerce • Enter invoices • Collaborate on disputes • Inquire of status – reduce calls by 70% • Dynamic discounting

Reduce cost from paper by 60% • EDI • Spreadsheet upload • Web entry • Image upload • PO ‘flip’

Information is power • Cash Forecast • Open exceptions • Vendor spend • Accruals • Audit research

• Checks • ACH • Card • Wires • Foreign payments

• Automated data capture – 80% • Standard compliance

• Invoices • Contracts • Special documents • Spreadsheets

VENDOR PORTAL

EIPP

REPORTING INQUIRY MGMT

PAYMENTS ENGINE

IMAGING

IDR WORKFLOW

Catalyst