National Data Systems (NDS) has announced the launch of SAMRAS DB4, the flagship offering of the SAMRAS (South African Municipal Resource Administration System) suite of software applications that caters specifically for the diverse accounting and financial needs of local authorities.
Developed as a result of vast changes within local authorities and through extensive local market research, including the formation of a Local Authority Representatives Committee, SAMRAS DB4 conforms to regulations for control measures set by both the Receiver of Revenue and the Auditor General, and is set to become the market leader in its field.
"Since its inception into the market place in 1979, the SAMRAS product has gained both in maturity and market acceptance and is currently installed at over 80 municipal authorities country-wide," says Ralph Rossel, General Manager, Local Government Business Unit, NDS.
"If a product becomes too old, it becomes difficult and resource intensive to support, expensive to maintain, as well as difficult to adjust to the changing needs of the market. As a result of this, NDS took the initiative 3 years ago and decided to re-design and develop the SAMRAS product from scratch. The result is SAMRAS DB4, a fully integrated and open systems compliant product. This has given us a leading edge over our competitors and we are now able to offer our customers a state-of-the art product," says an enthusiastic Rossel.
SAMRAS DB4 offers a wide range of sophisticated user friendly accounting modules including payroll, income and expenditure. The system is fully integrated and flexible and caters for the individual and changing needs of local authorities. Transactions do not need to be handled more than once and this creates an error free environment in which all the relevant portions of the system are updated simultaneously, saving both in time and money. The software is open systems compliant and offers a choice of operating systems and database engines.
Fully Year 2000 compliant in line with the Government's recently launched campaign, SAMRAS DB4 affords rate payers peace of mind regarding account payments, continuation of essential services as well as continued levels of customer service. The product is also ISO 9000 compliant.
SAMRAS DB4 also supports third party payments enabling municipal accounts to be paid at Post Offices and supermarkets, thereby reducing the need to stand in endless queues at month end. As a result, cash flow is enhanced and more improved customer relations and service levels emanate.
"The benefits of these features are countless," says Rossel.
SAMRAS DB4 not only assists local authorities to manage their financial accounting and administration procedures more effectively but the system also enables the council to serve their constituencies and rate payers more efficiently by providing accurate and timeous information, for example, monthly statements. This enables the local authorities to exercise more efficient credit control and debt collection. The system also provides councillors with accurate up to date information to better serve the ratepayers of their various wards.
"The product consists of one standard set which, through parameterisation, can be tailored to meet the needs of individual municipalities. This allows for the users themselves to make changes to meet their day-to-day requirements without having to call on the expertise of highly skilled engineers," says Rossel.
"This is not only a time and cost saver, but also a peace of mind attribute in having such a user friendly product as part of one's accounting system."
Despite this, there are not numerous versions of the software out in the field that need supporting, thus making support of the SAMRAS DB4 a non-support intensive product.
"We have a very effective remote support system which operates on the 'Virtual Office Concept'," says Rossel.
This includes a fully trained team of support and implementation specialists who also offer extensive consultancy, product training and ongoing support.
"Our support team is equipped with cell phones and laptop systems which enables them to support a customer from anywhere in the country at any time. For example, if a support engineer receives a call when he or she is away from the office, via their cell phone and their laptop, they can dial into the customer's system and address the problem," says Rossel.
"SAMRAS DB4 is set to take the market by storm and it is only a matter of time before such an installation is a pre-requisite in running an effective and profitable municipality," concludes Rossel.
Editors Note
About National Data Systems (NDS)
NDS is a division of the listed Fintech Group of Companies. NDS has been successful in various business and market sectors where their motto is to provide solutions that enable their customers to better understand and service their customers. NDS is very active in the financial industry where 75% of the installed base of ATM's in South Africa, has been installed by NDS. The NCR/NDS retail Point-of-Sale and Back Office solutions are installed in several of the retailers in South Africa.
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