General Manager of TAV IT: Binnur GÜLERYÜZ ONARAN:
“We will take our place among the leading integrator companies of the world aviation sector”
TAV IT General Manager, shared her views about the structuring and targets of TAV IT, which has very specific experience and knowledge addressing IT needs in the field of airport operations, with NewsPORT readers.
What part does TAV IT play as a member of the TAV Family?
BINNUR GÜLERYÜZ ONARAN:
The development of TAV Group companies, which has increasingly expanded within the last 10 years, is a success story that could serve as the subject of a university thesis. Professional staff is able to observe this expanding sector and act proactively, who have made innovation their primary focus, adopted incorporation principles and continually developed themselves, are the foundation of this success–recognized both by sector leaders and in financial environment. As TAV IT, we see the TAV Family as the users to whom we provide continuous services and customers that are guiding us through the process of self-evaluation conducted at the end of IT implementations and directing us during development of our vision. With our software teams we are developing sector-specific products by very closely following the developments in information technologies. Lowering technological investment and operational costs within the group by implementing innovative technological approaches, as well as preparing platforms needed in parallel with the TAV Group’s expansion are among our most important responsibilities. Uninterrupted operation of all systems within the airports is critical for ensuring continuity of operations without fail and assuring customer satisfaction. Furthermore, as an organization open to the public, when providing a great variety of systems and applications support for the purpose of accurate and timely preparation of financial reports, with both our customers and business partners, we are ensuring maximum added value for TAV. As a result, we are an essential strategic element within the TAV Family.
The TAV IT team operating at Istanbul Atatürk Airport
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Can you tell us about the structure of TAV IT?
BINNUR GÜLERYÜZ ONARAN:
Following its establishment in 2005, TAV IT underwent a restructuring according to ITIL standards in 2008. Our headquarters is located at Atatürk Airport. At all sites we can apply help desk first level field support, second level central management support and third level service provider support services as applied by global IT companies in their operations. Our colleagues who provide first level support solve end user problems and ensure data center management in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Tiflis, Batumi, Skopje, Enfidha and Monastir. We provide support to users located throughout a dispersed geography through our newly restructured call center at a single location. Our software department ensures the development, support and optimization of products we have designed, such as Total Airport Management Suite (TAMS), FIDS (Flight Information Display System), Resource Management System (RMS), and CIP/VIP Reservation Suite. Along with the provision of services for a variety of IT integrations required within the airport, we also render development and consulting services with regard to other applications needed by TAV Airports Holding. The Oracle ERP system, which is used by enterprises and group affiliates within TAV as a means of corporate recourse planning, is one of the systems for which we provide consulting, support and project management in financial affairs, logistics, human resources, and financial reporting processes conducted within our company. By integrating various processes run by Oracle, we are providing business units with access to the information stored within a common database. As TAV IT, we aim to establish a standard service structure within all group companies. Our objective is to facilitate labor saving for users during operational processes and spare more time for control and reporting by expanding opportunities for integration between ERP systems, where the data serving as a base for aviation systems and financial reporting is stored.
We believe that by dint of newly structured units and by gaining more opportunities through TAV Construction and construction projects outside of TAV we will ensure that TAV IT will take its deserved position within the sector. Accordingly, in order to promote TAV IT we are trying to actively participate in relevant international fairs, exhibitions and informative events. We are introducing ourselves throughout the sector as an information division of the TAV brand that is recognized worldwide.
The TAV IT team operating at Ankara Esenboga Airport
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( Left to right) : Oguz DIKER / Ankara Operations IT Chief / Bilgin VARLI / IT Support Staff / Murat EKINCI / IT Support Staff / Hakan NOYAN / IT Support Staff / Çagri ILLEEZ / IT Team Leader / Berna AKDEMIR / IT Help-Desk Assistant / Sertug YILMAZ / IT Team Leader / Erhan ÇOPUR / IT Team Leader / Fatih ÇAKIR / IT Support Staff / Yasin KARAKAYA / IT Support Staff / Esra EMIR / IT Support Staff / Sakir ÇAKMAKÇI / IT Support Staff
You possess very valuable experience specific to the sector in which you operate. With regard to this, can you give us some information about the strategic importance of your organization?
BINNUR GÜLERYÜZ ONARAN:
The facilities operated by TAV Airports--which achieved the objective of managing 10 airports in 10 years--are very complex structures requiring simultaneous operation of a great number of organizations and systems. Fulfilling all the technological requirements of our widely dispersed enterprises with an international team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and providing our users with timely access to reliable information are among TAV IT’s primary responsibilities. We reflect the synergy developed by teams located in Tunisia, Georgia and Macedonia to the whole TAV Group. We introduce all TAV’s employees, i.e. end users with the latest innovations in the sector by optimizing advancing technology and information processes. With products that reduce external dependence, support provided 24/7, a call center, maintenance and repair center, car park solutions, and process consulting and application support with regard to logistics and financial processes run by ERP, TAV IT plays a very significant, strategic part within the TAV Group.
“We possess invaluable experience gained during the past 10 years. Sector expertise obtained through a global outlook is very valuable. We keep close track of the international market and continually strive to make our products competitive.”
Binnur GÜLERYÜZ ONARAN
TAV IT General Manager
The TAV IT Team operating at the International Terminal of Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport
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( Left to right) : Efe Atilla SAYKAM / IT Technician / Tufan TEKELIOGLU / IT Team Leader / Meltem GÜZELIRMAK YER / IT Technician / Alper DALKIRAN / IT Chief / Ali Riza KARAKURT / IT Team Leader / Kubilay Han KARACALI / IT Technician / Ismail BEYAZ / IT Intern
What is the importance of IT (Information Technologies) capabilities for an airport? Can you tell us about the trends occurring in the world right now? What transitions are happening in IT at the moment?
BINNUR GÜLERYÜZ ONARAN:
Airports are organisms which are inseparable from advanced technology; where automation, electronics and IT systems operate in a wholly integrated way. IT plays an active part at all levels of this complex organism, from infrastructure to communications. Integrated and simultaneous operation of a considerable number of diverse mechanical, electronic and aviation systems demonstrates the strength of an organization’s IT capabilities.
Among the IT trends in the world aviation sector we can list smart kiosks, self check-in applications such as CUSS, Sitatex, baggage tracking and tracing systems transferred to the internet environment, baggage automation traced by radio frequency, as well as applications combining operational, passenger and ground services on a single platform. The sector is generally experiencing a rapid transformation towards closed networks, safe internet environments and mobile communication.
The TAV IT team at Enfidha Zine El Abidine Ben Ali International Airport in Tunisia
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( Left to right): Oussama EL OUNI / Backoffice Responsible / Refka ABOUDA / Traniee / Mohamed Akram YOUSSEF / Traniee / Houssemeddine FEKIH / Applications Administrator / Salim DALY / Network Administrator / Korhan SAYIMCI / IT Nw Supervisor / Naceur BEN ABDALLAH / IT Technician / Fetiha BRAHEM / Helpdesk Agent / Kais HAMDI / Shift Team Leader / Mohamed JRAD / Shift Team Leader / Atef JABALLAH / Shift Team Leader / Samir SMITI / Accounting Specialist
How are you integrating these developments into your organization? What are your objectives?
BINNUR GÜLERYÜZ ONARAN:
We are keeping close track of these tendencies and trying to adopt them in our applications, systems and processes. In parallel to transformations in the world and within the sector, our organization has begun a restructuring process. Our goal is to ensure that TAV IT will take its position among the leading integrator companies of the sector. Accordingly, we are planning to create design and material lists (BOQ) of infrastructure and all terminal aviation systems within our own structure and ensure procurement of materials via purchases made directly from our business partners.
What is the significance of “communication” and “teamwork” in the field where an analytical approach such as in IT has reached the highest level?
BINNUR GÜLERYÜZ ONARAN:
Teamwork is important for all sectors and units. It is an approach within corporate culture that we continuously implement. Thereby we are finding opportunities for easy realization of operational support and projects as well as new technology analysis. Our team’s most important feature is that it consists of members that know each other well and are aware of each other’s skills and abilities. Thus we are able to make more rapid decisions on new projects and solutions. The IT world is changing very quickly. Command of new technologies is made possible through being in continuous contact and sharing information with a significant number of different specializations. Each of our managerial colleagues in TAV IT are the persons with the first level responsibility to ensure an atmosphere of concordance, trust and communication. This responsibility is not limited by the extent of their own teams.
After all, technology is only a means. We should appreciate the human factor producing creative and innovative solutions according to requirements. I believe that the cooperation established within TAV IT has also been achieved with other TAV Group affiliates, with which we are in continuous interaction.
The TAV IT team in Georgia
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(Left to right): Iason Oniani / IT Technician / Zaur Kevkhishvili / IT Shift Engineer / Levent Akdag / IT Manager / Alexander Shonvadze / IT Shift Engineer / Alexander Gabrichidze / IT System Engineer / Koba Gigineishvili / IT Chief / Malkhaz Obgaidze / IT Engineer / Dimitri Papatishvili / IT Shift Engineer / Giorgi Dolidze / IT Shift Engineer / Tengiz Nadibaidze / IT Technician / Koba Kobiashvili / IT Technician / Soso Shaishmelashvili / IT System Engineer
What are the duties of IT companies in the field of innovation and sustainable development?
BINNUR GÜLERYÜZ ONARAN:
TAV IT is an organization that believes in innovation and sustainable development and which has made them a priority. Our innovative approach can be seen in our processes and projects. With an ongoing process of virtualization, approved worldwide and begun in 2009, we are among the first companies in Turkey that have implemented disaster recovery, IT Service Management (ITSM), and Unified Communications (OCS) projects.
As in all sectors, cash management is an important part of the aviation sector. Our TAV Group affiliates are among the limited number of companies in Turkey using the ERP application, which provides daily cash management integration with 10 banks.
Once again, thanks to advanced technologies, we are ensuring increase of speed and informational safety through the management of work flow and running authorization processes in an electronic environment. We aim to facilitate the highest level of efficiency through the automation of procurement, bidding and human resources processes with ERP applications.
Furthermore, we are managing the process of Project Management Office (PMO) structuring within the framework of PMI standards. Thanks to our quality specialists, which have provided support in all our projects, ISO, CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration) and ITSM (IT Service Management) processes conducted under the PMO structure, we have ensured central management of all quality and occupational health and safety issues. In order to ensure sustainability of the innovative spirit ongoing within the TAV Family, TAV IT is working on the projects designed to facilitate integration of airline companies, ground service enterprises and terminal aviation systems within our airports. Academic research and development requirements needed for applications are met in cooperation with universities.
The TAV IT team at Monastir Habib Bourguiba International Airport in Tunisia
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( Left to right): Ridha GHADDAB / Shift Technician / Korhan SAYIMCI / IT Nw Supervisor / Omar BAROUNI / Backoffice Responsible / Mounir MINALLAH / Younes SAAD / Shift Technician / Yassine HABIB / Shift Technician / Fethi ACHOUR / IT Engineer
Can you give us some information about current projects for which TAV IT has placed a bid?
BINNUR GÜLERYÜZ ONARAN:
We possess invaluable experience gained during the past 10 years. Sector expertise obtained through a global outlook is very valuable. We keep close track of the international market and continually strive to make our products competitive.
We are using products such as TAMS (AODB and IX), RMS and FIDS in projects, in which we take part with TAV Construction. In 2010 we are planning to setup (ULV) low current systems and the TAV IT FIDS system at Batman Airport and install CUTE, FIDS, and BRS systems at Erzincan Airport. Apart from these, completion of the projects including modification and upgrading of web sites belonging to TAV Group affiliates, central data center systems, information management system applications, modification of passport and FIDS systems, and the restructuring of Ankara – Izmir SITA routes are among the targets set for 2010. Furthermore, we will ensure setup of the network infrastructure and terminal systems of the new Macedonian Airport to be operated by TAV Airports Holding in 2011.
The Macedonian TAV IT team
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(Left to right): Bosevski Dimitar/ Technical Shift Leader / Tasevski Marjan / Technical Specialist / Kuvendzieva Slavica / IT Manager / Negrioski Rubinco / Chief Software Developer / Hristovski Vladimir / System Engineer
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