Cox Communications Achieves 227% ROI with Financial Software from BlackLine Systems

Automates key financial processes, boosts employee productivity and
improves overall operations with payback in six months time

BOSTON – December 1, 2008 – Nucleus Research analysts have independently examined the deployment of BlackLine Systems Account Reconciliation and Task Management software at Cox Communications to find a rapid return on investment (ROI) of 227%.

Cox Communications is one of the largest telecommunications providers in the US offering advanced digital video, high-speed Internet and telephony products to six million residential customers over its own nationwide IP network. While Cox has an Oracle E-Business Suite 11i financials and PeopleSoft payroll ERP backbone across 18 different field locations, each office had developed its own processes and formulas to perform balance sheet account reconciliations for the company’s 30,000 accounts. This required manual extractions of data from different applications, such as accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll resulting in an inefficient monthly financial close process. Cox explored solutions that would streamline the process through standardization and automation.

Cox deployed BlackLine Systems Account Reconciliation and Task Management modules enterprise-wide to automate its reconciliation process and simplify the monthly financial close. This has resulted in multiple benefits, including improved productivity and less reliance on outside consultants, better data access and standardization with more insight into financial processes for a faster, more efficient month-end close. Further, Cox has experienced an increase in staff morale.

“The BlackLine solution at Cox Communications demonstrates how IT efficiencies bring business benefits well beyond automating core processes. Cox now has better data, more insight and a team that is more engaged with better morale. Combined with the 227% ROI, this is a solid case of how to implement IT solutions” said Rebecca Wettemann, VP of research, Nucleus Research.
The full case study is available at NucleusResearch.com All Nucleus Research ROI case studies are independent assessments, evaluating the costs and benefits from the IT deployment.

About Nucleus Research

Nucleus Research is a global provider of IT research and advisory services that provides CFOs, CIOs and their staffs with the real-world information they need to maximize the business returns from their technology investments, including successfully executing their IT deployments and determining the business value of their initiatives. For more information, visit NucleusResearch.com.