Annual Report 1998

34
Information Technology – IT
CUSTOMER ORIENTATION AND Y2K FOCUS
SCA is developing new IT solutions that will improve service to both Group customers and the capital market.
An extensive program will ensure that SCA’s systems will be Y2K compliant.
Share trading via the SCA website
The SCA website (www.sca.se) contains information on Group
operations including links to most business areas. The Group’s
financial reports are available here, provided by an extensive
Investor Relations service for shareholders and other elements
of the capital market. Interim reports and other financial data
can be obtained in electronic or printed form. Student graduate
projects as well as vacant positions, are also posted on the SCA
website. More than three million “hits” were recorded on the
website during 1998.
Trading in the SCA share via the Internet and the SCA website
was launched in 1998. The trading is administrated by asset
manager Nordnet, for a commission of only 0.08 percent,
or minimum of SEK 60. The trading setup via the SCA website
is probably the first of its kind in the world.
IT security
The Internet and the SCA intranet are becoming increasingly
integrated in the Group’s operations. An enormous amount of
information is exchanged daily, externally and internally.
Therefore, SCA prioritizes high IT security. During the year, IT
security at hundreds of Group units has been inspected and
SCA Packaging’s new IT -based sales and design
program, Midas, was developed internally within
SCA. This system makes it possible to develop a
packaging that is totally adapted to the customer’s
needs and specifications.
personnel have been trained. A new and more detailed security
policy was established, with a focus on security in the SCA
computer network. The Group has also joined the European
Security Forum, which develops new and better methods to enhance
IT security.
Customer service by IT
Recently, SCA has invested increasingly more resources in improving
its marketing and customer service by means of
modern IT systems.
SCA has developed systems that improve the Company’s
cooperation with distributors and customers: Efficient Consumer
Response systems. These systems enhance the efficiency
of both goods distribution and handling of the company’s own
product range. It also allows SCA to follow up and evaluate
product launches and other marketing activities.
Moreover, IT and multimedia (Midas, see page 21) systems
are used in the design of corrugated cardboard packaging, to
enable SCA and the customer to jointly design the final product
directly on screen and reduce the cost of the customer’s
goods handling.