Sometimes it is the small things that create the most palaver and stress in our lives.
Recently we changed over to a brand spanking new online purchase order and expenses system. (Yes I know it is really boring but a massive part of our job to keep track of spending) It was supposed to make our lives easily but it is making them a lot harder.
For example the PO's are supposed to be send out electronically to companies and freelance staff so that they can invoice us with the correct PO number attached. This then triggers our accounts department to match the two and pay them.
They're not being sent out.
Ergo no one is getting paid.
And we're not receiving products we've ordered because they're not getting paid or even invoiced.
Now even that I can get around. I am just either screening my phone calls or begging forgiveness from Editors and Cameramen in the hopes they don't come and kill me.
However this I can not handle.
I needed to book a bike yesterday. Urgently. This is a very simple procedure where I phone our transport office, give them the details, they book it and give me a reference number and I charge it to our account for the show.
Miss M: Hi can I please book a bike
Transport: Do you have a PO number?
Miss M: PO number? What the fuck?
Transport: You can not book a bike without a PO number as we need one for every bike now.
Miss M: But this is urgent! It's going to take ages for it to get approved through my accountant and we need to get these clips to the Commissioner in about 20 minutes!
Transport: I'm sorry Miss M I can't do anything without the PO number
It's ok Miss M. Just breath.
So I went to raise a PO.
After about 15 minutes of battling my way through this unusable system this happens.
What's this, my programme number doesn't exist?
Miss M: Hi Accountant, I'm trying to raise a PO but my programme number doesn't exist anymore!
Accountant: Huh? What do you mean? It's there, I was just working on it earlier.
Miss M: Well it isn't now. And I need this PO for a bike urgently!
Accountant: For a bike? Why?
Miss M: New rules apparently!
Meanwhile time is ticking on and my Series Producer is freaking out cause we aren't getting the DVD to the Commissioner.
After going around in circles I eventually gave up and made one up.
I should have done that in the first place as transport accepted my made up PO number!
I corrected it today but MAN is this new system making my life a complete hell.
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Hitting my head against a brick wall
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10 comments:
Well after my day today... as far as I'm concerned "systems" are codswallop anyway and so anyway of making your life easier-do it... as long as it isn't morally problematic!
And if they complain... remind them that you work at a creative institution and that you should actually be rewarded for being creative (since there are plenty of people who are rewarded for nothing much!)
It's funny how new systems claim to make life easier, but the bugs are never corrected before implementation. This is almost the same scenario at the company I work for. After two years the bugs have finally been weeded out.
What a waste of time and money.
@shivs - systems are there to fuck with! and yes we were very creative :)
@pdx - oh man, don't say that! I couldn't cope with it again!!!!
Call me next time and I'll book a bike for you on my company account *grins wickedly*
@lopz - Dude will you book me a car home on your company account?!?!!?
Why on earth do we catch tubes home pissed out of our mind when we both have access to company car accounts???
how about imaginary PO numbers?... that could be fun :)
Ja, but what happens when they come to match them with the invoices? We're all going to be screwed.
Or we start a revolt by ALL giving the wrong PO numbers so NOONE can be matched up!
Oh. My. God. I am such a nerd. I'm actually thinking about these things
Sounds a bit like my company. The accounts department exists purely to prevent any money from being spent.
THEY DOOOOO!!!!
I think so too :)
"There's no business, like show business...." Go on...sing it with me!!
My boxing is getting really good now...lemme at em! :-) I'll sort them out for you!! x
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