Contact:Chad Morris
Smallworldwide plc
+1 (303) 779 6980
Chad.Morris@Smallworld-us.com
Josh Nova
212.213.7482
jnova@mslpr.com
GPU Energy goes live with Smallworld's PowerOn
Integration with SAP's R/3 links business, spatial data
Denver (March 1, 2000) - DENVER (March 1, 2000) - Smallworld (Nasdaq: SWLDY), today announced that GPU Energy, an electric utility serving more than 2 million customers in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, has completed its implementation of PowerOnTM, Smallworld's unique power outage management system. At the same time, GPU Energy completed its implementation of SAP's R/3 enterprise-wide business software. Together, the systems link GPU Energy's customer care functions, work and plant management, as well as financial data to the spatial data of its network.
Smallworld PowerOn is a highly scalable, full-function product for outage and distribution management that dramatically reduces the time and resources necessary for electric utility companies to analyze service information. The product provides a visual representation of the operational state of the utility's network, which helps the utility automate its network management process. Tight integration between PowerOn and the underlying Smallworld technology, which is used to maintain the data, delivers major advantages over traditional outage management systems. Smallworld was one of the first companies to develop a SAP-certified Geographic Information Systems (GIS) interface to SAP's R/3 software.
"Integrating PowerOn with SAP's enterprise solution enables GPU Energy to link its entire outage management process, from customer service representatives fielding calls to dispatching work crews to the field," said Peter Britnell, president of Smallworld's Utility & Public Systems division. "Ultimately, the whole system will enable GPU Energy to provide a higher level of service to customers, while significantly streamlining its business processes and helping the company attain an edge in the competitive utilities marketplace."
Implementation of the joint SAP/Smallworld project began in late 1997. To accomplish the joint implementation, GPU Energy worked with systems integrators at GeoIT and Deloitte & Touche, and developed its own software to integrate SAP's Customer Care Service module with PowerOn.
Additionally, GPU Energy linked Smallworld's GIS database, which runs under PowerOn, to other SAP modules to improve network design, work order management and job costing processes, as well as to optimize work crew scheduling.
"GPU Energy is still in the early stages of the implementation of the PowerOn technology, and continues to respond to issues as they arise," said Chuck Nifenecker, GPU Energy implementation manager - work management. "Thanks to the hard work of everyone involved, we believe we've set the tone for utility enterprise systems in the future."
GPU Energy is the trade name for the three domestic electric utility subsidiaries of GPU, Inc. The GPU Energy companies (Jersey Central Power & Light Company, Metropolitan Edison Company and Pennsylvania Electric Company) serve more than two million electric customers and operate the largest electric distribution system across Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Smallworld (www.swldy.com) creates, markets and delivers network software products to the Utility & Public Systems and Communications markets globally. Its Utility & Public Systems product suite includes PowerOn and iCity. PowerOn combines outage management, network management, crew management and customer care functions for utilities. iCity, a unique spatial solution for cities, counties and other public organizations, delivers comprehensive data integration tools to create a seamless database that can be accessed by everyone throughout an organization via corporate intranet.
Smallworld is based at Elizabeth House, 1 High Street, Chesterton, Cambridge CB4 1WR, England; Telephone, +44 (0) 1223.301144, and in the United States at 5600 Greenwood Plaza Dr., Englewood, CO 80111, +1.303.779.6980.
Please note that some statements contained within this report may be of a forward-looking nature and may involve risks and uncertainties. Actual future results and outcomes may differ materially from those discussed. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to, management of growth, market acceptance of the Company's product and services, risks associated with new product versions, dependence on third party relationships and the activities of competitors. For a more detailed discussion of the risks associated with the Company's business, please see the Company's Form 20-F on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
# # #
