Flexible Systems Boost P&O Ferries’ Business Resilience
Customer Company Size
Large Corporate
Region
- Europe
Country
- United Kingdom
- Belgium
- France
- Ireland
- Netherlands
Product
- webMethods Integration Platform
- Software AG consulting
Tech Stack
- SAP Hybris
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Revenue Growth
- Customer Satisfaction
- Productivity Improvements
Technology Category
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - API Integration & Management
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
Applicable Industries
- Transportation
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases
- Supply Chain Visibility
- Fleet Management
Services
- System Integration
- Software Design & Engineering Services
About The Customer
P&O Ferries Holdings Limited (P&O Ferries) is a division of Dubai World and the leading ferry company in the UK. The company provides award-winning services that link the UK with France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Ireland. P&O Ferries carries close to 9 million passengers every year, along with 2 million freight and 1.7 million tourist vehicles. The company's heritage dates back 175 years, and it is a Top 10 most recognized travel brand in the UK today. P&O Ferries employs more than 4,000 people and differentiates itself by the quality of service it provides.
The Challenge
P&O Ferries, a leading ferry company in the UK, operates in a highly competitive market where consistent quality of service is crucial. The company's strategic pillars include smart growth, competitiveness, and customer-centricity. However, changing regulations, such as the EU Sulphur Directive, significantly impact P&O Ferries’ overall costs and squeeze operating margins. The company was looking for ways to increase business agility and resilience, reduce dependency on legacy IT systems, and realize new revenue opportunities. On the retail side, P&O Ferries wanted to diversify its offers to accommodate continental European customers’ tastes and provide more value-added services. On the freight side, the company needed to cater to the needs of its customers who operate in a very price-sensitive market and require real-time data exchange and support for digital business services.
The Solution
P&O Ferries implemented the webMethods Integration Platform and engaged Software AG consulting to mentor and guide the team. The software enabled the company to handle online freight notifications more efficiently, providing better service to its freight customers. On the retail side, the company used the platform to increase the visibility of value-added services on its e-commerce platform on SAP Hybris. The platform also facilitated the implementation of the passport exit checks project, which required the company to scan and send all passport data to the Home Office border agency without delay. The webMethods platform provided the flexibility to make radical changes if needed, add new functionalities without increasing legacy dependencies, and migrate core systems stepwise to prevent customer disruptions.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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