WestJet Selects IBM Workplace Software to Help Respond to Diverse Regulatory Requirements

IBM today announced that WestJet, Canada’s leading low-fare airline, joins the ranks of other customers who have chosen IBM Workplace for Business Controls and Reporting to address their internal audit controls requirements. Available now, IBM Workplace for Business Controls and Reporting 2.5 is designed to help companies reduce the total cost of compliance efforts by addressing a wide range of regulatory and business control-related issues.

“We had the opportunity to test the product before making our purchase decision, which was very important to us. At the end of that exercise, we were convinced that IBM Workplace for Business Controls and Reporting could help us meet the Canadian Multilateral Instrument 52-109/111 financial governance requirements,” said Corey Wells, WestJet’s Director, Audit & Advisory Services.

“Specifically, the product’s structure, flexibility and ease of use, along with IBM’s commitment to developing a world-class product were all key factors in our decision. Additionally, the product supports both the COSO and COBIT frameworks, allowing us to capture both financial and IT controls within one platform. Ultimately, we believe that this product will substantially reduce the complexity of our business controls management infrastructure, resulting in both time and cost savings,” said Wells.

Based on customer feedback and their diverse requirements, IBM’s latest release helps companies evolve from compliance efforts related to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to enterprise-wide control management. This integrated control environment gives companies a solid foundation to implement a complete enterprise risk management solution. In addition, IBM Workplace for Business Controls and Reporting team rooms and collaboration capabilities can also help organizations support financial reporting accuracy and real time disclosures.

“Since the compliance push behind the Sarbanes-Oxley act last year, many organizations are starting to take a far more holistic approach to internal controls versus a series of one-off propositions,” said Larry Bowden, vice president, IBM Workplace Software Solutions, IBM. “IBM is responding to this trend with a business controls and reporting product that delivers a way to help reduce the cost and complexity of managing different controls throughout an organization.”

More: ibm.com