Mentec in €2m Northern Ireland finance deal


7 Nov 2005

Dublin technology firm Mentec International has won the contract to deliver a financial management solution at Translink, one of Northern Ireland’s biggest public transport operators. The new technology will enable Translink to save more than €360k per annum.

The project will involve replacing the company’s legacy computer system with the Agresso solution, supplied by Mentec, at Translink head office and bus locations, along with the rollout of the new system to Northern Ireland Rail operations.

Mentec was selected to deliver the project after an extensive OJEU tendering process which attracted responses from all of the major solution providers.

Commenting on the decision, Linda Neilan, group accounting manager at Translink said: “We were especially impressed by the integration and configuration capabilities of the Agresso solution and Mentec’s track record of delivering large-scale financial management system projects of this type”.

The rollout of the system, encompassing more than 500 users, will be completed in 2006. The new Agresso system will provide real-time financial information across all of Translink’s operations, improving support for business strategy and enabling more effective decision-making.

The introduction of web-based requisitioning will allow the company to save some €360k per annum, while other cost reductions will be achieved by computerising many of the company’s paper-based processes.

In addition to overall financial management, the Agresso platform will also be used to develop a number of specialist line-of-business applications to support Translink’s private hire and parcel delivery services.

Chris Kinghan, Mentec regional manager for Northern Ireland, said: “This solution mirrors the integrated efficiency objectives of Translink’s transport operations and we are confident that it will support the company’s future growth and strategic development.”

Translink is one of Northern Ireland’s largest companies, with more than 3,800 employees and an average annual turnover in excess of €150m. It was established in 1995 as the brand for the integrated public transport network of Metro (formerly Citybus), Northern Ireland Railways and Ulsterbus, and carries some 75 million commuters every year.

By John Kennedy