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Discovery Communications: IT & Business Alignment Award Winner
Technology Category
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - API Integration & Management
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Middleware, SDKs & Libraries
Applicable Functions
- Business Operation
- Sales & Marketing
Services
- Software Design & Engineering Services
- System Integration
The Challenge
Discovery Communications, a global nonfiction media company, was facing challenges with its high-volume process of managing, reviewing, and renewing thousands of contracts a year. The process was previously based on email and spreadsheets, varied by region, and offered minimal opportunity for oversight, governance, and data mining. Management wanted greater visibility into the process to optimize revenue and ensure opportunities were not missed. The process had to be accessible and reliable for international and mobile sales as well as senior-level executives.
About The Customer
Discovery Communications is the world’s #1 nonfiction media company, reaching more than two billion subscribers in 223 countries and territories in 45 languages. Its 162 worldwide networks include Discovery Channel – the world’s most recognized TV brand, TLC and Animal Planet and joint-venture networks such as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. The company has 4,500 employees in 50+ offices worldwide. In 2012, revenues were $4.487 billion, a significant portion coming from contracts with several thousand distributors.
The Solution
Discovery developed an automated international contracts management process called DORS—the Distributed Online Request System—using Software AG’s webMethods BPMS. DORS enables the necessary data entry and then automatically routes requests to the distribution operations team for review. Business rules are used to determine if and when additional routing to other Discovery groups is necessary. DORS has become a governance mechanism to enforce the new business process, policies and standards while supporting organizational change and user adoption. Built-in escalation measures ensure timely, accurate and complete processing.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
