[Ottawa, CANADA]- Houston-based National Oilwell launched “Customer Connect”, an online purchasing
analysis service powered by Web-based business intelligence software from Cognos. National Oilwell customers
can access and analyze purchasing data with the Cognos-enabled extranet portal, and gain insights into their buying activity.
More than 20 companies are initially accessing “Customer Connect” via National Oilwell’s site. Customers perform analysis and reporting of purchasing
data by specific attributes such as date, product category, company division, well, rig, lease, project number, and buyer.
Insights from Cognos will solidify National Oilwell customers’understanding of how to plan and forecast expenditures, manage maintenance, repair, and
operating (MRO) activities, validate billings, and identify standardization opportunities.
The solution for National Oilwell includes the extraction of purchasing data from a SAP R/3 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and consolidation
of the data into a SQL database. National Oilwell employees and customers interface with “Customer Connect” through Cognos’ customizable Upfront
portal.
Cognos Web-based business intelligence solutions give people throughout an enterprise access to information via intranet and extranet Web networks.
Enterprises can share information with customers, suppliers, and partners across the world over secure external Web networks.
National Oilwell designs, manufactures and sells comprehensive systems and components used in oil and gas drilling and production, as well as in providing
supply chain integration services to the upstream oil and gas industry.
Founded in 1969, Cognos does business with 14,000 customers in more than 60 countries around the world. Its business intelligence solutions and services
are also available from more than 2,800 worldwide partners and resellers.