In a strategic two-year partnership worth an initial R12 million, Net business solutions provider Novell has delivered an Internet client service solution to Absa.
Absa`s prior infrastructure that provided basic Internet access services has been replaced with a next-generation Novell solution that includes new value-add services and also caters for additional deployments to be rolled out in the future as part of the new premium value Internet access service offering that makes Internet banking and access to the Web a reality at an affordable monthly subscription.
"This project forms an integral part of Absa`s e-business strategy to improve service offerings to their existing Internet access subscribers as well as future ones, the best that technology has to offer in a cost-effective manner," says Novell enterprise account manager Justin Foxcroft. "By delivering on this requirement, we have enabled Absa to integrate their Internet service offerings."
The new enterprise solution leverages Novell eDirectory. Providing online registration, identity management, and an enhanced Web interface, as well as collaboration e-mail and shared calendaring functions.
According to Novell strategic business development manager James Thomas, this brings together a unique set of skills and tools that is currently unmatched by other vendors. "The Web interface provides users with e-mail access from any location in the world, and enables them to share their electronic calendar with other parties online. Additionally, because this information is presented in Web format, it can be synchronised with their cellphone, PDA or desktop.
"Owing to the confidential nature of the online financial service Absa provides to its customers, a high premium was placed on security and reliability," he continues. "Consequently, the mail calendaring, Web hosting and authentication systems are all deployed on cluster technology and a storage area networking hardware infrastructure. Additionally, an anti-virus agent provides complete e-mail protection, while an anti-spam agent allows the blocking of certain sites based on administrator selection."
Migration to the new infrastructure had to be done within a three-month time span and with minimal impact on the customer. "The Absa and Novell project teams jointly developed customised software tools to facilitate this process and ensure all user content remained intact," says Thomas. "Consequently, the project was completed on time and within budget."
"The success of this project is largely owing to the joint approach adopted by the Novell and Absa teams," says associate business consultant Marius Agenbag, director Services.
"Throughout its duration, a high degree of team work was displayed by all role players, from the top executives, through to the lowest-level technicians," says Dave Donkin, Group Executive: eBusiness and Information Management.
Since Absa first introduced its free Internet access solution around 18 months ago, other financial institutions have begun offering similar service sets to the market. Novell`s new generation solution, which was successfully developed and deployed in an extremely short time, will enable Absa to once again raise the bar over its competitors.
Share
Editorial contacts