Top Lessons Learned from PNG DataCo while Digitising

In the dynamic landscape of Papua New Guinea's information and communication industry, PNG DataCo, a state-owned private enterprise, embraced a transformative journey with Docusign. David Mba, the General Manager of ICT & Cloud Services, sheds light on how this partnership broadened their horizons on how deeply transformation changes a company.

Established in 2014, PNG DataCo is a state-owned enterprise dedicated to offering wholesale services to Papua New Guinea (PNG)'s Information and Communication industry. Guided by the values of development and growth for the country, PNG DataCo aims to enhance affordable internet access through the National Transmission Network. 

Before integrating Docusign, PNG DataCo faced operational challenges with manual processes, excessive printing, complexities of obtaining physical signatures from contractors and difficulties in keeping all documents in check.

Yet, when it comes to the day-to-day operations of providing internet services, prompt responses are paramount. "As a company whose services are highly sensitive to an entire nation’s needs, we needed a partner who could bring a lot of efficiency to our operations," says David Mba, General Manager ICT & Cloud Services, PNG DataCo Ltd. Being a government-owned organisation, it was also crucial for PNG DataCo to partner a platform that upheld robust, international security standards.

The Cloud and Data Centre department quickly saw the need for a solution that could digitise and streamline workflows. Here is what they found as they made the move to digitise.

The knock-on effect of productivity and efficiency

Docusign emerged as a catalyst, facilitating on-the-go approvals for requisitions, asset processes, and contracts, while reducing the heavy reliance on physical papers. 

The newfound agility on Docusign’s digital- and mobile-first platform empowered internal staff, alleviating their operational burden, as well as external customers, who could receive a more seamless service from PNG DataCo. 

This has led to significant time reductions – tasks which were once time-consuming, are now trackable and treatable within hours. This allowed productivity to skyrocket, which has knock-on effects like accelerating billing processes to drive revenue growth up by 80%. 

Saving both the environment and time

Docusign’s positive impact extends beyond efficiency gains. While there was naturally a drastic reduction in costs related to printing and stationery, great value was also seen in documents being stored in a single digital repository, garnering positive HR feedback for both increased convenience and security.

Previously, paper processes often meant that documents were prone to going missing, and made tracking hard and opaque for team members to see which stages contracts and signatures were at. The digital nature of the Docusign platform managed to promptly solve both of these problems at once. "With Docusign, we can seamlessly track internal and external activities without documents going missing," highlights David.

In digitising with Docusign, PNG DataCo not only contributed towards environmental conservation, it also found a seamless way to pinpoint roadblocks in paperwork. This saved the company the trouble of having to manually investigate cold trails, immediately identifying who to contact to move processes along.

Icing on the cake

Reflecting on the transformative journey, David said, "Digital transformation is not complete without services from a company like Docusign. It is an integral part of the venture, like adding the icing to the cake when it comes to digital transformation." The success of Docusign in PNG DataCo positions the company at the forefront of digital innovation, poised for future growth and excellence.

PNG DataCo's story with Docusign is a testament to the transformative power of digital solutions, bringing efficiency to day-to-day processes and positioning the company for sustained success in the evolving digital landscape.