Billing and revenue Automation

Introduction

The B&R Automation for Advertisement project was launched to address inefficiencies in financial processes, improve data quality, and enhance operational workflows across 37 offices worldwide. The primary objective was to automate manual journal voucher (JV) processes, reduce reconciliation efforts, and create a single source of truth for financial data using Oracle systems. By implementing a scalable and automated solution, the project aimed to achieve higher productivity, better decision-making, and significant cost savings.

Challenges

1. Disposition of External Developers: Ensuring continuity with external developers throughout the project posed a risk, requiring contingency plans for internal support.

2. Diverse Revenue Recognition Mechanisms: Different revenue recognition practices across regions needed to be standardized to align with automation goals.

3. Data Duplication and Aging: Legacy systems and outdated practices resulted in duplicate data and job records, which had to be addressed during the transition.

4. Complex Deployment Scope: Coordinating deployment across multiple offices with varying workflows, excluding specific regions like Turkey, required tailored strategies.

5. Tight Timeline: Balancing the project’s ambitious scope within strict deadlines presented planning and execution challenges.

Solution

The project delivered a robust automation framework with key initiatives including:

1. Automation of Journal Vouchers (JVs):

   • Replaced manual JV processes with an automated system, achieving a 95% reduction in manual reconciliation efforts.

   • Integrated validation checks to ensure data accuracy.

2. Centralized Financial Data:

   • Established Oracle as the single source of truth, eliminating reliance on disparate systems.

   • Enhanced reconciliation between Admod and Oracle data for better financial visibility.

3. Optimized Reporting Tools:

   • Introduced reporting via MCNbi for sub-ledger visibility, financial controls, and scenario-based outputs.

   • Streamlined financial dashboards for quick access to profitability metrics, aging reports, and utilization rates.

4. Gradual Deployment Strategy:

   • Implemented a phased rollout, starting with pilot scenarios and specific offices, followed by scaling to all regions.

   • Conducted dry runs to identify and address issues before full-scale deployment.

5. User Training and Engagement:

   • Developed user manuals and conducted UAT sessions with business and controlling teams to ensure smooth adoption.

My Role

As the Product Manager leading this project, my responsibilities included:

• Project Planning: Defined scope, timelines, and deliverables for automation and data integration efforts.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Collaborated with financial leads, technical teams, and external vendors to gather requirements and ensure alignment with business goals.

• Team Coordination: Managed cross-functional teams, including internal developers, finance leads, and external consultants.

• Risk Mitigation: Identified potential risks (e.g., staffing bottlenecks, regional variations) and implemented strategies to address them.

• Governance and Reporting: Facilitated daily standups, fortnightly reviews, and status updates to ensure transparency and accountability.