The aim is to harmonize the different processes and move from the current silo-based structure consisting of 46 applications, to a structure of just 11 applications, and to a single point of entry for data input. In parallel, the French Navy is taking the radical step of moving towards the secure decentralization of payroll documentation, which will ultimately lead to a new and dedicated Navy payroll treatment system.

While aiming to provide ongoing support for the navy's global quality and shared resource initiative, Bull is to act as prime contractor for this project - which involves significant organizational and functional elements - from the development phase through to deployment (including on board ships, in French overseas territories and foreign countries). Similarly, Bull is to provide user support, and will participate in managing the change involved in introducing the new HR and payroll system.

This integration project - which will involve over 13,000 person days of work - concerns some 60,000 service men and women (both on active service and in reserve), 40 ships and three locations for development, production and disaster recovery activities.

Bull has defined an innovative, SAP-compliant infrastructure that reflects the French Navy's structure and organisation both functionally and geographically, and takes into account its specific objectives of availability, integrity and confidentiality. The infrastructure is to be hosted on up to 90 Bull NovaScale blade servers, the full complement of SAP databases being consolidated on a single Bull StoreWay storage bay.