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Burnaby's controversial SAP system named Portal of the Year

The City of Burnaby received the Portal of the Year Award from the Americas' SAP Users' Group for its Systems Applications and Products software, also known as SAP.

The City of Burnaby received the Portal of the Year Award from the Americas' SAP Users' Group for its Systems Applications and Products software, also known as SAP.

Burnaby launched its SAP system in 2007, with the focus on using a single technology for business applications.

"Our goal was to streamline service delivery," said Pat Tennant, the city's project sponsor, in a press release. "SAP has enabled us to maximize the efficiency of our internal service-delivery processes. Along with the Virtual City Hall which we are currently developing, in future, SAP will also enable easy access, via the City's website, to information and e-business services for citizens."

Mayor Derek Corrigan called the award "a significant honour."

Tennant and Bindu Tailor, manager of ERP training for the city, presented the award at the June 27 council meeting.

"It recognizes that the City of Burnaby is doing an exemplary job of maximizing the value of its SAP system through its innovative application of the technology," Corrigan said. "It speaks to that fact that we are achieving our goal of maximizing service-delivery efficiency for Burnaby citizens."

But the portal was not without controversy, as Telus backed out of its contract to install it in 2006, costing the city more than expected for the installation, independent assessment and legal fees.

While the last estimate for the installation had increased from $3.9 million in 2005 to $19.8 million by 2008, there were additional costs such as an independent assessment on the project by APT Business Sciences Inc, for $106,000.

Telus settled with the city in 2010, with compensation and savings that could exceed $8 million, according to a press release from the city last spring.

The portal is the central gateway to key city systems such as finance, purchasing, human resources, payroll and maintenance management.

The group that gave the award is a 100,000-member, professional association of North and South American business and technology professionals.

The award followed a week of peer reviews by members on two continents, according to the city's press release.

Other finalists for the award included Moen Inc. and Colgate- Palmolive.

In addition to receiving the Portal of the Year Award, the city received honorable mention in the 2011 education best practices category in the SAP Awards.