The content management division of The IQ Business Group has completed the first successful implementation of FileNet`s Magnetic Storage Array (MSAR) at the Liberty Group. This development, believed to be the first in Africa, is expected to revolutionise document processes at the insurance giant, and contribute to a more efficient and streamlined business.
In late 2002, Liberty consultant for Group Architecture Services, Peter Sklair identified several areas for improvement to the business`s document storage system. While Sklair found the Optical Storage Array (OSAR) technology adequate for storing documents, he felt the company could benefit from some system enhancements.
As a South African ValueNET Partner for FileNet, The IQ Business Group suggested that Liberty consider the brand new MSAR technology, which is inherent to the FileNet solution. This next-generation storage technology effectively updates the OSAR system.
Business development manager for the Content Management division of The IQ Business Group, Steven Lauter says that where writing documents optically was a breakthrough for storage, magnetic storage revolutionises the way in which they can be used.
According to Sklair, the benefits of MSAR technology for Liberty are vast.
"The magnetic storage technology has reduced the cost of storage. The speed of committal, retrieval and backup is also much faster," he says.
"Ease of data access is one of its greatest advantages. Previously, using OSAR technology only, when a document was stored offline it had to first be uploaded from optical disc before it could be transmitted -- a process which took about 50 seconds to complete.
"Now using MSAR technology, users can access documents within five seconds, enabling employees to increase their performance and provide better customer service," he adds.
Using MSAR, the risk of losing documents en route to an offsite storage centre is eliminated, and the flexibility in managing the recovery of information in the event of a disaster is greatly improved. Reliability is also greatly increased, as the system does not operate mechanically, and information is written to more than one disk.
"Storing information using the magnetic disks is more cost-effective than optical storage, since they`re cheaper and re-usable," Sklair says.
Commenting on the impact of the new system at the Liberty Group, Sklair says the smooth transition testifies to its success: " Users are happy with the fact that they can access archived documents 10 times faster. And in general, the greater performance, decreased costs and ability to cope with Liberty`s volume requirements, make the new system perfect for the group`s needs."
Testimony to the solution`s success is that Liberty wants much of its data already stored only on optical disc, to be converted to MSAR for easier access.
Lauter believes the outstanding performance of the MSAR technology in the application of document storage will see its rapid adoption in all industries with a high volume of documentation, particularly in the insurance, banking, utilities and government sectors.
"The MSAR concept has put The IQ Business Group in a position with FileNet to extend the benefits that clients receive from the imaging technology. This is possible through the constant re-innovation of the solution which results in a streamlined, more efficient and price-effective product," concludes Lauter.
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The IQ Business Group is a thought leadership organisation, focusing on the holistic design, implementation and management of business process solutions. The company has grown in four years to a professional services leader that is regarded as one of SA`s premier unlisted business process and technology players.
Starting with a core of 19 professionals in 1998, IQ`s staff complement has grown to 600, most of which are university graduates with skills in commerce and information systems. In addition, IQ sports a set of industry-focused development and operational outsourcing teams focused in the financial services, healthcare, and supply chain industries.
IQ has grown its business by partnering with leading players in niche sectors that see information technology as strategic to their growth objectives. These partners include Investec, Reunert, NSP Buck (Australia) and Nedcor.
The IQ Group has operations in Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, Boston and Atlanta in the US and in London in the UK.
FileNet
FileNet Corporation helps organisations make better decisions by managing the content and processes that drive their business. FileNet`s Enterprise Content Management (ECM) solutions allow customers to build and sustain competitive advantage by managing content throughout their organisations, automating and streamlining their business processes, and providing the full-spectrum of connectivity needed to simplify their critical and everyday decision making.
FileNet ECM solutions deliver a comprehensive set of capabilities that integrate with existing information systems to provide cost-effective solutions that solve real-world business problems.
Since the company`s founding in 1982, 3 800 organisations, including 80 of the Fortune 100, have taken advantage of FileNet solutions for help in managing their mission-critical content and processes.
Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, the company markets its innovative ECM solutions in more than 90 countries through its own global sales, professional services and support organisations, as well as via its ValueNet Partner network of resellers, system integrators and application developers.
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