Avant Consulting Solutions was fully responsible for the program
governance of APS’ largest business transformation program to modernize
their current Customer Information System with the Oracle Customer Care
and Billing System (CC&B). Avant consultants developed the right sized
program governance approach to create weekly, monthly and quarterly
cadence to ensure all risks and issues are identified and handled in a
timely manner to not impact schedule or budget. Avant Consulting
Solutions also provided extensive support to Executive Program Sponsors,
Executive Steering Committee and Oversight Quality Assurance vendor by
creating various reporting dashboards to drive program critical tasks
and timelines. By developing this right sized governance approach every
milestone was met and the project was delivered on time, with quality,
under budget by $10M and received two awards: CS Week 2017 Best CIS
Implementation in Large Utility Category and Oracle Award in 2017 for
Excellence in Customer Service.
Avant Consulting Solutions was overall responsible to lead Southwest
Gas’ largest transformation program to modernize their current Customer
Information System with a hybrid SAP cloud and on-premise solution. Our
consultants played a lead role in every phase of the project from pre
planning activities through stabilization over a period of 3 years. We
developed the approach to drive the right platform decision as well as
the most qualified partners which included going with a best in breed
multi-vendor approach. Avant Consulting Solutions also developed the
right size approach and governance for this project in addition to
administering budget, negotiating over 40 contracts and being fully
responsible for vendor management, business readiness, change management
and team morale. Avant’s Lead Consultant reported directly to Executive
Program Sponsors and worked extensively with Executive Board, Executive
Steering Committee, Oversight Quality Assurance Partner and Program
Leadership. The project was delivered on the date that was originally
set in the System Integrator contract meeting every milestone on time
with quality and overall came under budget by $12M. The project was
given high marks by the Southwest Gas’ external auditor. Project Horizon
received two SAP awards in 2021 for the Best Run Project and Excellence
in Customer Service.