Comparex Africa is consolidating its presence in the African market, following a deal with Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (Zimbabwe) Limited. The company has replaced its entire mainframe-based financial system and moved to the newer client/server technology offered by SmartStream.
The application will streamline the company`s financial processes, reducing the organisation`s manpower requirements in line with its global IT strategy.
Following a record two-month implementation among 180 Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (Zimbabwe) Limited users, phase one of the system went live in July last year, while phase two was completed in October 2002.
"The organisation is already deriving the benefits of the investment," says Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (Zimbabwe) Limited Project Manager Kennias Hove.
Replacing previously fragmented systems, the new single system integrates transaction processing and decision support into a robust platform, a single environment that the Zimbabwean office can flexibly employ across all its departments.
Following a year of planning and tender presentations by six different candidates including Comparex Africa, Hove says SmartStream was chosen because it is based on best business practices, which augurs well for an organisation operating in the global environment. Functionality, cost, implementation time, support and technological know-how were among the stringent criteria met by SmartStream.
"This Old Mutual deal plays a crucial part in our drive to generate new business for SmartStream in Africa," says Clive van Rooyen, Executive Business Developer at Comparex Africa Mainstream.
"It underscores the success of SmartStream in Africa, following a recent contract signed with the Public Services Pensions Fund of Tanzania."
Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (Zimbabwe) Limited is not relying on local support - the Comparex Africa consultants and a special help desk remain available for technical support at all times, travelling between SA and Zimbabwe when necessary.
"The whole implementation went smoothly in a relatively short time as a result of the close working relationship between Comparex Africa Mainstream Division and Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (Zimbabwe) Limited," says Hove.
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Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (Zimbabwe) Limited is a financial services group with principal businesses that comprise life insurance, asset managers, unit trusts, short-term insurance and banking services. The Zimbabwean office has one of Old Mutual Group`s largest financial services distribution networks, with 243 full-time agents and arrangements with more than 28 brokers. The company is characterised by its strong growth in assets management.
Comparex Africa
Comparex Africa is the leading integrator of ICT-based business solutions that make its clients more successful. Based on a strong customer-centric approach, Comparex Africa delivers technology-business solutions from the full range of competencies within its group that align its clients` strategic and operational business needs.
Comparex Africa`s client-centric structure stems from its Systems Integration Model, a methodology that allows for flexibility and close client relationships. Offering business solutions that address all areas of its clients business, Comparex Africa services organisations within the corporate and large enterprise, government and parastatal markets as well as within the medium enterprise sector in all vertical markets. As an organisation with its roots firmly embedded in Africa, Comparex Africa reflects a cultural diversity, relying on the unique contribution of each of its skilled employees to succeed.
Transformation is an overriding business imperative for Comparex Africa and as such it has dedicated resources from across the organisation to drive employment equity, economic empowerment and social investment programmes.
For more information on Comparex Africa, visit www.comparexafrica.co.za.
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