Dubai eGovernment, a pioneering initiative in the region to provide government online services, has announced the launch of a major government resources planning (GRP) systems upgrade project.

Mahindra Satyam has been awarded the contract to upgrade the GRP system in phases, from its current version 11i to R12, the latest system provided by Oracle, said a statement from Dubai eGovernment.

The upgrade covers the seven main systems Dubai eGovernment provides to government entities: Human Resources, Payroll, Finance, Purchasing & Inventory and Assets Management, Employee Self-service Systems and the portal for eJob and eSupplier.

It includes many new features that fits the requirements of eGovernment in terms of streamlining processes, preparation, archiving and consolidating reports, said the statement.

Commenting on the launch, Ahmed Bin Humaidan, director general of Dubai eGovernment, said the upgrade of the GRP systems was important as they were crucial in the ongoing government integration in Dubai.

"The GRP systems provide a comprehensive network to connect, communicate and exchange information among government entities, while maintaining the privacy of each department."

"Moreover, these create an integrated infrastructure that helps government entities in managing basic resources efficiently, and to further advance eTransformation in the Dubai," he added.

The launch was held in the presence of officials from Dubai eGovernment, headed by Wissam Lootah, assistant director general, and Huda Al Hashimi, director of GRP Department; as well as representatives from 42 government entities.-TradeArabia News Service