After already spending R24.5 million on IT infrastructure this year, the Department of Transport (DOT) says it will continue to invest in IT architecture.
In response to a parliamentary question last week, transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele said the investment was made specifically to replace the aged backbone of computer servers and other hardware, and in preparation for the roll-out of new software within the Road Accident Fund (RAF).
“This investment was made in conjunction with the in-sourcing of skills from a specialist service provider to manage and monitor IT platforms to ensure stability and high availability rates to RAF staff and customers.”
He added that in the longer term, a decision will be taken on whether to have the backbone of the IT platforms hosted with professional, secure hosting companies, or outsourced, depending on the RAF's analysis of the risks and benefits.
“Irrespective of the decision, further investment in the IT architecture and platform will be made over the next few years.”
Multimillion move
The new systems within the RAF will capture and process road accident claims.
“The RAF has continued to modernise its systems and processes to ensure it is able to deliver a service of superior quality to its customers and service providers,” says the minister.
He also says the systems and processes are designed to cater for any model that the country may choose for victims of motor vehicle accidents, be it the current fault-based compensation system, or a new no-fault benefit scheme.
The RAF aims to move away from paper-intensive, manual systems and processes into a paperless, business-rule-driven environment with a strong IT infrastructure as an enabler and support mechanism.
Ndebele said the development cost of the new claims system was R32.1 million and the installation cost was R26.6 million.
Tracking claims
The minister also highlighted a SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution at the RAF that cost R43 million.
“In a period of five months, a multitude of disparate legacy systems were replaced with a world-class fully integrated ERP solution. The modules rolled out represented the core of the system. Other modules of SAP will be rolled out in the new financial year.”
Ndebele said the benefits of an integrated ERP solution include tightening of controls, commencement of a paperless business environment, seamless transfer of information, and a single co-ordinated view of activities in an organisation.
“When all elements are in place, the RAF's customers will be able to track the progress of their claim, with the tools to be provided to them, anywhere in the organisation without having to be referred from one department to another.”
Independent auditing company KPMG was procured at a cost of R2.3 million to manage the tender process for the new systems.
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