Customers will soon be able to access the Department of Labour's (DOL's) range of services electronically, it says.
Siemens, which has partnered with the department, says all systems are on track to deliver on the IT transformation project. The company says it has completed the implementation of new IT infrastructure for the department and is engaged in the application development process.
The organisations signed a 10-year contract, valued at R1.25 billion, in 2002. This contract deal was concluded under the umbrella of a public-private partnership (PPP) and was designed to help the DOL achieve its technology objectives.
In terms of the PPP agreement, Siemens assumed full responsibility and the risks associated with taking over DOL's IT resources, including hardware, software, support, maintenance and application development. The department was responsible for accurately defining business processes and requirements, while Siemens was tasked with system design, development and delivery.
The department says it's reaping the benefits of a more productive business environment and is now able to provide the public with better and more comprehensive services.
“Compared to the disparate computing environment that existed before, we have gone a long way towards achieving the goal of a fully integrated, strategic system that is cost-effectively maintained and supported to deliver real value and a meaningful service.”
Key applications
The agreement covers a host of applications, one of which is Siyaya, a system which has automated the administration of claims made at the Unemployment Insurance Fund. The DOL says waiting periods for claims have been reduced from 40 days to several hours. The department also manages the entire process.
Siemens has also developed eClaims, a claim processing system that deals with claims preparation, registration and adjudication, and approval or repudiation at the Compensation Fund. This system has been integrated with a financial application for reporting and payments can be made by cheque or electronic transfer.
Management information systems also allow for management and stakeholder reports to be generated at any point in time - a function the department says facilitates management and strategic decision-making.
Siemens has also developed Employee Services SA, a placement application portal, which will be announced in the next few months. Unemployed people can have their details captured at department offices, and the system records opportunities for work, looks at the individual's skills profile and matches it up to employment opportunities. The system has gone live, and staff training is currently under way.
Looking ahead
The department says its customers can look forward to improved and more efficient service offerings.
It says there will be digital linking of information systems with operational systems, along with self-service digital transactions between the department and its clients. Over time, the department will service clients via call centres and information kiosks on a 24-hour, seven days a week basis and online access will facilitate digital transactions.
The aim is to create a user-friendly and cost-effective service. Staff will be turned into knowledge workers and be provided with digital information tools to communicate with clients and manage relationships, the department states.
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