BRISTOW WORLD

CIO Talk: Information Technology’scritical role in Bristow’s successSteve SidneySteve Sidney arrived as chief information officerin July 2011. We asked Steve for an update onthe company’s Information Technology strategyimplementation and why it’s important for Bristow.Q: Steve, how have the first six monthsat Bristow gone?A: It has been great. Bristow has been verywelcoming at all levels, and people seem genuinelypleased that we are addressing the information technology needs of thecompany. I have met most of the senior managers and even had a chanceto discuss information technology with our board of directors. I could notask for a more supportive senior management team.The opportunities are exciting. There is a lot of talk aboutstandardization, getting more efficient and adding value for our clients.This is music to the ears of someone in my role – a modern InformationTechnology organization helps enable all these objectives, so the roadahead is already paved. Consequently, we have been able to rapidly buildupon the initial Information Technology strategy approved just before Ijoined and take it to the next level.Q: What role does INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY play inBristow’s ability to compete and succeed?A: The value of IT is really measured in three major categories: itscontribution to the top-line growth of the company, improvements inefficiency and risk management.To improve top-line growth, we need innovative applications that helpus collaborate and share information with our clients and suppliers. TheClient Promise is an example where we need to be able to provide moreinformation about our performance. Many of the interfaces between us andour clients and suppliers today are paper-driven. IT can play a major role instreamlining those interfaces.On efficiency, standardization and reducing complexity are the key.Today, a lot of processes are nonstandard, with different applicationsperforming essentially the same thing in different regions. Standardizing theway we work will put all the complexity in one place where it can be bettermanaged, instead of distributing it all around the company. Over time,standardization of our business processes and applications will make workeasier to perform and will support a lot of efficiencies in the company.“This effort will lead to more efficiency,greater competitiveness and moreprofitability.”In the area of risk management, we’re looking at safety, security andcompliance. IT provides the safety information systems, the informationsecurity framework and the automated controls that enable us to stay incompliance with regulations. Capturing our key risk indicators (KRIs) tohelp us improve should be automatic.Q: What is the scope of Bristow’s new InformationTechnology strategy in terms of its objectives and thetimeline to achieve them?A: It is focused on three areas: applications, infrastructure andorganization. The infrastructure is the foundation, and so we have focusedon that area first. Infrastructure encompasses our global networks, datacenter consolidation, the desktop and mobile environment, help deskservices, etc.The timing was to make some major decisions before the end of 2011and start implementing new infrastructure solutions in 2012. I’d say wemostly met that schedule and are very actively moving forward. We’veredesigned the global network, have agreements in place for data centerconsolidation and selected the software we’ll use for help desk services.Now we’re moving into the implementation phases.We have also moved forward on applications. Besides people, ourapplication systems are the principal vehicles we use to capture anddistribute knowledge and we have divided them into three major groups –flight operations systems, knowledge systems and business systems. Wehave initiated programs in each of these areas.We have also added strength to our IT organization by bringing inmore business process expertise, like Larry Strykowski from ContinentalAirlines with deep knowledge of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO),supply chain and flight operations, and Mark Long with deep knowledge offinancial and reporting processes.Q: What’s on your ‘to-do’ list for 2012?A: It is going to be quite a busy year as we begin implementing programsto improve the core infrastructures and applications I mentioned. In flightoperations, we’re engaging a partner and are already defining what thefuture platform needs to look like. We’ll see the completion of that design in2012 and possibly early implementation in some business units.In business systems, we are building five-year capability roadmaps forsupply chain, finance and MRO. The plan is to make a decision by mid-yearabout our enterprise technology platform for those functions and then startbuilding the implementation plan.In knowledge systems, we are looking at our directory services asa first step, so that we can find people easily and enable collaborationand knowledge sharing. Today our human resource systems and otherapplications are not connected, which creates obstacles to the futureintegration we envision.6 Bristow 6 Bristow World 2008 World / Issue 2012 II / Issue 1