Megabyte has successfully implemented an Oracle Human Resources suite at Air Malta, it announced last week. The deployment of Oracle HRM system integrated with Megabyte's Payroll and Time and Attendance System, and the running Oracle e-Business suite helps the national airline enhance the operational efficiency and agility, and better allocate and manage HR resources.

Air Malta deployed Oracle HRMS across its enterprise, helping the airline streamline business processes, reduce administrative costs and boost employee productivity by providing a single, accurate view for all HR-related information.

"With 1,600 employees, spread among multiple locations in Malta and overseas, our HR department was primarily structured around manual data entry processes, resulting in delays between employee change requests and when they were entered into the system," Mark Galea, human resources general manager at Air Malta, said.

"We required a centralised, automated system to help enhance visibility and ensure greater access to information, allowing us to streamline operations and better allocate resources."

Air Malta reduced administrative costs via self-service functionality in Oracle Self-Service HR, providing employees with Web-enabled rules-based access to personalised information and the capability to update employee-specific information online. The new system also enables managers to review and update employee job-related details.

All leave requests are channelled through self-service and updated into the Time and Attendance application and the Payroll system. As a next step, to extend its HR system further, Air Malta shall also enable online payslips and timecards.

Thanks to the solid relationship between Megabyte and Air Malta, this is another major Oracle/Megabyte project at Air Malta that follows the successful implementation of Oracle Financials and Route Profitability System.

"The airline has recognised ICT as a strategic enabler to its business transformation and survival," explained Luciano Anastasi, information systems strategist at Air Malta. "An Information Systems Strategic Plan was in fact produced in April 2006 to chart the course for current and future information system needs of Air Malta.

"The HR Management program is one of many IS initiatives aimed at increasing operational efficiencies across the enterprise by leveraging on integration and Web technologies. The system seamlessly integrates with the existing financial and crew management systems, and offers one-stop-shop Web-based services to the Airline's personnel.

"Oracle HRMS not only fits Air Malta's strategic needs, but also offers powerful, flexible features; a Web-based delivery model; self-service and workflow capabilities and tight integration with our Oracle Financials. Together, these applications provide a complete picture of Air Malta's employees and operations.

"Without doubt, our choice of Oracle and Megabyte was driven by these features and our recognition of the criticality of integration between our financial and HR applications."

This project was entrusted to Megabyte's Oracle Enterprise Solutions Business Unit, led by Mary Grace Busuttil. "Our consultants always provide value to customers, and are consistently cost effective. We deliver results under challenging conditions, within budget and on schedule. This achievement was only possible, through the collective synergies of both Air Malta and Megabyte teams involved in the execution of this project."

Continuing its phased implementation, Air Malta anticipates even greater gains when it launches further self-service capabilities and provides HR Intelligence, offering enhanced visibility of factors influencing workforce effectiveness.