PNG DataCo accelerates business with automated contracts

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. 

Leading the charge in this vision is the Cloud and Data Centre department, which has a primary emphasis on automating processes and building integrated business support systems to advance the company's digital transformation.

From paperwork piles to digital prowess

When it comes to the day-to-day operations of providing internet services, prompt responses are paramount. Before integrating Docusign into their operations, PNG DataCo found that processes were laden with paperwork and manual tasks. Managing infrastructure operations involved excessive printing, tedious procedures, and challenges in obtaining physical signatures – especially when working with contractors. The inefficiencies were evident, prompting the need for a solution that could digitise and streamline workflows.

"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. Additionally, being a government-owned infrastructure company, PNG DataCo has the need to partner with a solution that offers robust security for its documents, which are compliant with government and international standards.

A commitment to continuous improvement

Driven by a commitment to digital transformation, DataCo actively sought solutions to address process bottlenecks. According to David, "Docusign stood out as the seamless choice, offering excellent support, despite being a premium service. The value for investment, ease of setup, connectivity, and tracking capabilities solidified our decision."

Today, PNG DataCo utilises Docusign’s eSignature services, and recently advanced to using Docusign’s Contract Lifecycle Management integrations. In fact it has moved from being a user and partner to being a reseller of Docusign’s services to sister companies.

With Docusign eSignature, approval processes that once took days – and even weeks for lower priority tasks – have undergone a positive transformation. Various offices and personnel in different locations can now seamlessly approve requisitions and asset processes, making DataCo a more mobile and agile company. Documents such as non-disclosure agreements, contracts, renewals, and service agreements are now swiftly tracked and addressed within hours and across multiple devices, leading to an overall efficiency improvement of 80%.

Mobile-first digitisation for more convenient signing

Docusign’s digital and mobile-first platform has had a profound impact both internally and externally for PNG DataCo. Previously, staff would be required to print and prepare paper-based contracts for customers in advance. This process also required extensive manual checks before the staff could input the information into the online system. With the help of Docusign, the internal processes have become much more streamlined, eliminating the intensive labour and challenges of physical paperwork, and ensuring tasks are treated uniformly. In fact, operational costs have seen a 10% reduction, and with time-to-savings, billing processes have accelerated, positively impacting revenue. 

On the other hand when dealing with customers and contractors, PNG DataCo can now ensure seamless tracking and eliminate the risk of documents going missing. "Bringing Docusign CLM has made tracking and updating quite easy and seamless. It has become a game-changer in terms of service delivery," David adds. 

Having seen resounding success with Docusign eSignature, PNG DataCo is now in the process of transitioning its other departments, such as HR, onto Docusign, and incorporating Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) into more of its processes.

"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." David concludes.