Freda du Toit, executive director of JSE-AltX listed SilverBridge Holdings and SDT Financial Software Solutions, is to present at the Consumer Credit, Care and Communications conference to be hosted on 5 and 6 June in Sandton.
Organised by The Business Zone, the conference brings together leading consumer credit and related disciplines practitioners.
"My presentation will pose the question: Is IT an enabler or an obstacle in keeping abreast of market forces?" says Du Toit. "And I will offer an explanation by way of a long-term assurance case study.
"The long-term assurance market is exposed to legislative changes, changing consumer demands and new competitive entrants. Now more than ever, companies need to be able to react quickly, without massive expenditure. We will look at how to keep abreast of market demands, at how to best align your enterprise architecture and your IT solutions so as to position your company as a market leader.
"Pressure from government and changes in legislation are changing large assurance company views, so they are aware they need partners who are nimble and agile to help them move quickly.
"Handling these constant changes is one of the biggest challenges the industry faces. They face constant change in the customer base, the products they offer, how they offer them, how they communicate with consumers, and there is also pressure from government to service the previously 'unbanked' market."
"We have long understood the need for the insurance sector to redefine and reinvent itself," says Du Toit. "This is due to one simple observation: the sector's processes have made it inefficient, and it needs drastic process redefinition if it is to avoid a total crisis.
Du Toit will present on 6 June, the second day of the conference, at the FNB Conference Centre on Grayston Drive.
* Contact (021) 556 7274 or e-mail info@businesszone.co.za for further information.
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SDT provides world-class business solutions for financial services administration, with particular emphasis on life insurance, pensions and employee benefits. The company is a strategic supplier to a significant number of clients in South Africa and Africa.
SDT develops and implements innovative systems, models and processes to satisfy the growing needs of the financial services sector. This empowers its clients to respond to the challenges of this fast changing sector, enabling them to substantially reduce operating and administrative costs without compromising on product innovation, competitiveness or service quality.
The company is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and all its systems are based on Microsoft's development and operating environments. SDT transforms its clients' aspirations into reality, whether they are start-up organisations looking for guidance to enter the industry with minimal risk, or established players wanting to realise the inherent potential of their organisation.
SDT is a member of the SilverBridge Group, a leading supplier of niche business application solutions and related services to the financial services sector. SilverBridge is listed on the JSE Alternative Exchange (AltX).
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