ABC...is easy with Parity
~ Parity signs deal with Audit Bureau of Circulations for online innovation and faster processing ~
October 2008
The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC), which delivers independent reports on circulation figures for the UK’s media industry, has selected Parity to update and upgrade its returns processing system. The system enables ABC to accurately process the data required to independently verify circulation figures for buyers and sellers of advertising space.
Parity, the business and IT solutions company, has developed a solution that will streamline operations and increase efficiency throughout ABC. Media owners submit their circulation figures online, and the new system will make it easier for ABC to digest and analyse data, reducing the time it takes to publish certificates of circulation. The application will also provide a platform for ABC to offer new services to the media industry, allowing it to adapt to the growing demands of the market.
"ABC collects and processes the data for thousands of publications, and is responsible for compiling information and verifying circulation numbers," said Simon Redlich, director of finance at ABC. "It is regarded as a key media trading currency and is a trusted source for industry information. As such, we need to maintain a reputation for quality, timeliness and accuracy."
"The platform for handling data and processing returns figures is central to the organisation’s operation," said Redlich. "However, the existing system was outdated and needed replacing."
Originally developed around Informix, the current system was becoming increasingly difficult to support, hard to maintain and struggled to meet emerging business needs. Having analysed the requirements of the business during an initial consultancy and business process reengineering phase, Parity is now building a new platform based on Microsoft Office .net Framework and SQL Server.
"As an independent authority within the rapidly evolving media industry, it’s vital that ABC’s systems are brought right up to date," said Simon Wayne, managing director at Parity Solutions. "It’s important that ABC is equipped with systems that are able to adapt easily to changing - and expanding - business demands."
Parity was selected amid strong competition to carry out the project thanks to its proven track record in building mission-critical data processing applications. Parity will also provide support and training once the system goes live.
About Parity
Parity is a business and IT solutions company. With over 40 years' industry experience, it delivers a range of recruitment, learning and business and IT solutions that contribute to the growth and organisational performance of private and public sector clients.
Parity has deep industry knowledge and expertise across a variety of sectors including commercial, central and local government, defence and commercial. It delivers people, skills and concepts for IT projects and programmes and has provided these services to a range of blue-chip clients, including BT, Ofgem, HBOS, The Cabinet Office, BAT and The Charity Commission.
The company operates as three divisions, Solutions, Resources and Training, all of which use people to solve business and IT issues. Parity designed and runs the largest graduate recruitment programme in the UK for The Cabinet Office, is responsible for creating the UK’s award winning eGovernment portal, eFire, ranks as the top supplier of IT and Programme and Project Management specialist contractors to the public sector through the Catalist framework and throughout its history, has delivered training to over 1 million people - more people than any other UK IT training provider.
Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Parity recorded a turnover of over £150m in 2007.
About ABC and ABCe
ABC is a non-profit distributing organisation owned by the media industry, tasked with promoting trust by providing robust currencies on which to trade media in the UK and Ireland. ABC certifies and provides audit services to verify the circulation figures of newspapers and magazines, attendance at exhibitions and performance data across a wide range of digital media (including websites and email) through ABCe.
ABC is governed by a Council of permanent and elected representatives including media owners, media buyers, advertisers and representatives from industry trade bodies. Any changes to Reporting Standards are instigated and agreed on by these industry representatives including ISBA, IPA, PPA, NS and NPA, to ensure the needs of the media industry are met.
ABCe’s role is to manage standards for the online industry through its work with JICWEBS, the Joint Industry Committee for Web Standards, and to provide credibility, comparability and transparency for digital media. www.jicwebs.org
ABC was first established in the UK in 1931, is a leading founder member of the International Federation of ABC’s (IFABC), and is one of the largest media audit bodies in the world. ABCe was established in 1996 and delivers global measurement standards for local markets through its work as Chair of the IFABC web standards group. www.ifabc.org
For further information please visit www.abc.org.uk or www.abce.org.uk
For further information, please contact:
Gemma Rowlan or Suzy Ferguson at LEWIS
gemmar@lewispr.com / suzyf@lewispr.com
+44 (0) 20 7802 2626/7
Internet: http://www.lewispr.com
