Commercial Union Employee Benefits has selected JSE-listed Ixchange, the Internet services and software development specialist, to develop a state-of-the-art administration application for retirement funds and internal risk and investment product management.
The application is designed to increase service levels significantly by simplifying access to information, in some cases down to individual members.
A majority-owned subsidiary of Commercial Union PLC (UK), the giant insurance and financial services corporation is in the process of addressing the challenges of the global economy.
"Because we`re part of an international group, we are constantly exposed to developments in the industry that may not necessarily be effected locally," says development manager Virgilio da Silva. "We must therefore look beyond the South African mould when preparing a strategy that will grow with our company and its clients."
Given the increasing sophistication of information systems, the accessibility of information has become a major roadblock to competitive advantage in the industry. "The issue is no longer about information volume," Da Silva adds. "It`s about information management."
To meet the company`s requirements, the application had to be written from scratch. "After extensive worldwide investigations, we came to the conclusion that there was no existing solution that matched the specs of the project out of the box," explains Da Silva. "Not only did we want to remodel our system, but we took the opportunity to remodel parts of our business to take advantage of the benefits we`re delivering."
According to IT manager Carlos Schleich, the development platform had to provide for flexibility, expandability and ease of access for the refinement and distribution of the product. "The client-server application was designed using Microsoft`s object-oriented DCOM architecture," he says. "Objects enable us to augment the features of the product without having to rewrite the application, and to distribute components of the product where customised solutions are called for anywhere in the world."
Object-orientation also helps the design team visualise the structure of the project more logically. "We can take the product and break it down into core components," says Schleich. "When it comes to developing a new component or adding a new feature, it becomes easier to understand how each component fits together.
"If legislation or market needs take an unexpected turn, for example, we can adapt the application quickly by adding or removing a component to the system," he adds. "Objects save us time and development costs, leveraging our existing skills in the process."
Before approaching Ixchange, the team surveyed all the major software development players in South Africa and abroad.
"To cater for our specific environment, we wanted a company experienced in the technology we were using, but more importantly, a company that understood the business challenges we were facing," says da Silva.
"Ixchange offered us an unmatched level of expertise and a track record second to none," he adds. "They expressed an interest in our business, and went out of their way to hire personnel with prior experience in our industry."
The result is an application that not only matches the project`s specifications, but also meets the company`s business goals.
"We can confidently offer our clients better value with more efficient, targeted products," says Da Silva. "Our clients can in turn be confident that the information they receive is accurate, cost-effective, and customised to their individual needs."
With the project as a stepping stone, Commercial Union hopes to consolidate its presence in the existing market.
"Our industry is undergoing major changes, forced by legislation on the one hand and market demand on the other," says Da Silva. "We intend to be leaders, not followers, and we believe this exercise will enable us to expand our services into market segments we haven`t yet explored."
The application will go live in the first quarter of 1999, development having begun in October last year. Test systems will be fully complete and operational by the end of this year.
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