AFA Systems plc is a financial software group listed on the London Stock Exchange. The company`s South African subsidiary, AFA Systems SA (AFA) is the leading developer and provider of software for investment management with a market share of around 40% and an impressive list of big name clients. The company currently has in excess of R600 billion managed through its product suite.
AFA attributes its success not only to having the best technology and financial markets skills but also to building strong partnerships with its customers. Integral to this is a customer-centric knowledge management strategy developed around Common Knowledge, the breakthrough Enterprise Memory solution from NeuraTech.
Launched earlier this year, Common Knowledge captures the masses of information, both structured and unstructured, which exists in today`s organisations and presents it in a single, coherent view. The software is designed to enhance organisational efficiency, productivity and responsiveness through the protection, discovery and optimal use of intellectual capital. Central collation and retention of information eliminates duplication and loss of vital knowledge while ease and speed of access and navigation save time, effort and money.
According to AFA, Common Knowledge provides it with a holistic view of its clients, crucial for developing and expanding its valued and profitable customer base. This has resulted is a marked improvement in client management and servicing leading to greater business opportunities, more satisfied customers and ultimately, it is anticipated, a positive impact on top and bottom line performance
Explains JB Maree, business development director at AFA Systems SA: "AFA`s total offering spans a number of different departments, including consulting, sales and services. Each of these is dealing with the same customer organisations but on different levels. Previously, each team had its own idea of what was happening at a client, but it was clearly advantageous for everyone to understand the bigger picture and the wider needs of the client. This could only be achieved through meetings which are tremendously time-consuming and in any event don`t generally cover all the interactions that have taken place.
"Before we implemented Common Knowledge we - like most organisations - had lots of files all over place with information pertaining to clients. Besides not being able to find information when you needed it, which meant wasting precious time, there was inevitable duplication. Most people also had their own contact list because no one knew where to find an up-to-date one."
The solution for AFA was to create a central access point to all information which would allow employees to collaborate and share knowledge and thereby present a seamless front to the outside world. This was addressed by Common Knowledge Version 3.1 into which were fed all client files, contact details, information from personal folders, public folder client contract information and details of all past interactions with clients.
Says Maree: "Common Knowledge has a unique neural approach to the storage and retrieval of unstructured information. It works like the human mind, using an object and relationship approach which allows you to easily relate information that is relevant without data duplication. This in turn makes it easier to share the information and assimilate this information into knowledge." AFA is now using Common Knowledge to keep track of its sales pipeline, of what software modules clients have, what proposals have been sent to them and of all communications around each of these occurrences. Within specific divisions, it is also being used to manage development projects.
"Common Knowledge has facilitated the collaboration and consolidation of AFA`s knowledge resources for real business benefit. We believe that successful relationships drive successful business. By providing a complete view of our customers, Common Knowledge empowers us to continue adding value to our clients through proactive service offerings and superlative support which helps them to flourish and sets us apart as leaders in our field."
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NeuraTech develops, markets and supports Common Knowledge, an Enterprise Memory solution that is the only holistic information management system for knowledge management and collaboration.
With Common Knowledge, NeuraTech has solved enterprise collaboration issues by approaching information storage and retrieval as the human mind does, in contrast to the conventional rows, columns and folders approach which technology dictates. Common Knowledge brings together structured and unstructured data in the enterprise, utilising an object and relationship approach to collate data into information.
Common Knowledge is designed to enhance organisational efficiency, productivity and responsiveness through the protection, discovery and optimal use of intellectual capital. Central collation and retention of information eliminates duplication and loss of vital knowledge while ease and speed of access and navigation save time, effort and money.
Common Knowledge is marketed to customers from all industry sectors through an Authorised Common Knowledge Business Partner channel.
Established in 1998, NeuraTech is headquartered in Cape Town. For further information on NeuraTech and Common Knowledge, visit www.neuratech.com
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