RHODIA: RHODIA group rolls out ULYSSE Travel & Expenses worldwide over the internet

RDATE:17092008

London -- RHODIA, the multinational industrial group which delivers services, research and production activities within the field of speciality chemicals will expand its roll-out of ETAP-ON-LINE's ULYSSE Travel & Expenses from Europe into the US during 2008. The roll-out will replicate the successful roll-out formula already used across Europe. RHODIA also plans to extend this project to other countries in 2009 in order to standardise the Travel & Expenses process throughout the group.

RHODIA chose ULYSSE T&E to manage expense claims for its European businesses in 2001. The Group was impressed with the system's key advantages which provided centralised information, automated procedures and greater visibility. "We have used ULYSSE Travel & Expenses practically since it was created", says Yves Bosne, European Director for Shared Accounting Service Centres and Financial Director of RHODIA Operations. Originally, RHODIA and its information systems were decentralised and each company handled expense claims locally. "The group has been completely transformed since ULYSSE T&E was introduced in 2001 and the software has proved very adaptable over the years. One of the strengths of the ETAP-ON-LINE team is that they understand the needs and practices of different clients and incorporate them in the solution, making the application more adaptable," continued Bosne.

Since 2005, all RHODIA subsidiaries have been using the SAP ERP system. The group set up a Core System (RHODIA Core System, RCS) into which ULYSSE T&E was integrated in ASP mode. The solution was rolled out by RHODIA in Europe, starting in the UK, then Italy. It is also now being used by personnel in Spain. "The translated versions were available very quickly we began with the UK roll-out and then extended it across Europe. Each roll-out was tailored to correspond to the respective tax regulations of the different countries, and we encountered no difficulties. The ASP mode provides great flexibility whilst ensuring that costs are controlled" commented Bosne.

The RHODIA group has a Shared Service Centre in Europe, which manages the Accounting function for the UK, Italy, Spain and France. All of the data, both accounting and payment processing, generated via ULYSSE T&E from these countries is processed centrally and data management is undertaken by a single administrator, apart from in the UK where data management is handled by a local administrator.

With no fewer than 5,000 users across Europe, the Travel Request module enables employees to formalise their travel requests within the programme from any computer on the network. The hierarchy then approves these travel requests online negating the need for paper. The same applies to expense claims, which can be matched up to travel requests for auditing purposes.

The banks (Amex and Societe Generale) provide RHODIA with statement files which are directly integrated into ULYSSE T&E. Employees don't have to input anything, they just need to verify the expense claim automatically generated for approval by the head of the cost centre. Reimbursement is made extremely quickly: within 15 days of approval from the hierarchy. Users are extremely satisfied since they can regularly consult the tool for the approval status of their claims.

The hierarchy has also proved to be efficient in approving claims and overall the processes are very fluid. RHODIA has also introduced a worldwide travel policy via ULYSSE T&E, for example, it wanted to monitor international trips carefully and ETAP-ON-LINE was able to integrate an additional level of validation according to that specification. Thanks to the centralised and automated processes provided by ULYSSE T&E, managers can obtain comprehensive reporting. In addition, using these same reporting statements, purchasing departments have maximum visibility of spend, which is essential for supplier negotiations, especially with regard to car rentals.

"Quite simply, ULYSSE T&E has allowed us to greatly improve productivity with regard to managing travel expenses," concluded Yves Bosne.

About Rhodia

Rhodia is an international chemical company resolutely committed to sustainable development. As a leader in its businesses, the Group aims to improve its customers' performance through the pursuit of operational excellence and its ability to innovate. Structured around six Enterprises, Rhodia is the partner of major players in the automotive, tire, electronics, perfume, health & beauty and home care markets. The Group employs around 15,000 people worldwide and generated sales of EUR4.8 billion in 2007. Rhodia is listed on Euronext Paris.

About ETAP-ON-LINE

ETAP-ON-LINE, the European leader in the business travel and expenses management market, designs, develops and publishes ULYSSE Travel & Expenses, an automated solution for the complete management process from the travel request to the integration of the expense claims, for companies of all sizes from SMEs with 40 users to large international groups. Implemented in 15 countries in Europe, USA, and Asia ULYSSE T&E has over 720,000 users in Europe including 280,000 ASP users (www.ulyssetravel.com). ETAP-ON-LINE has 650 customers - including service and manufacturing organisations, public sector bodies and 12 companies quoted on the EURO STOXX 50 including AXA, BNP Paribas, CARREFOUR, CREDIT AGRICOLE SA, FRANCE TELECOM / ORANGE, LAFARGE, L'OREAL, LVMH, SAINT GOBAIN, SANOFI-AVENTIS,SUEZ, TOTAL. In 2007, ETAP-ON-LINE revenues were over 6.4 million Euros, the company has 60 employees and offices in France, UK and Canada.

CONTACT: Rhodia WWW: http://www.rhodia.com Madalene Whitson / Becky Maurice-Cohen, PRPR Tel: +44 (0)1442 245 030 e-mail: madalene@prpr.co.uk e-mail: becky@prpr.co.uk Laurence Berdeaux, ETAP-ON-LINE Tel: +33 (0)1 70 91 10 08 e-mail: lberdeaux@etaponline.fr WWW: http://www.etaponline.co.uk

((M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com)).