Software Futures has provided the software behind a breakthrough achieved by UK-based document management, data capture and business process outsourcing specialist Graphic Data, with the design of Find and Retrieve Information Online (FARIO), a unique application that enables immediate online access to physically or electronically stored documentation from anywhere in the world.
FARIO was designed by Graphic Data, the UK division of South African document and records management specialist Metrofile, and developed and implemented by Software Futures UK for the company. The solution remains the intellectual property of Metrofile.
The tool is a scan-on-demand online data retrieval service that presents a single integrated interface with records irrespective of geographical location. It comprises a highly scalable and secure Web and Web services portal, electronic document and records management, and electronic access to the Graphic Data physical archive management system.
Currently able to support 100 000 users, 5 000 concurrently, it provides online storage, retrieval and manipulation of paper, electronic, microfiche, film and other forms of media archive.
As a system first in this field, FARIO has leveraged Graphic Data from a capital-intensive commodity bureau business to a strategic partner for large organisations. The company now offers an alternative business model with enabling technologies of image workflow, business process re-engineering and document management. It provides numerous business process outsourcing services, such as credit card application form processing, purchase order to invoice matching and fraud detection services.
"FARIO provides our customers with the means to manage their physical and electronic archives in a single, secure, easily accessible Web environment without having to invest in the infrastructure and personnel required," says David Saul, strategy and business development director at Graphic Data. "The FARIO offering is world-class in terms of scalability, security, accessibility and reliability. It has extremely tight security with three-tier architecture, firewalls between each layer, encrypted tier communications and databases; accessibility is 24x7 worldwide; reliability is high, based on HP Unix boxes with IBM WebSphere and Oracle software; and it operates in an accessible, robust environment."
More than 30 large organisations already subscribe to the FARIO service, including American Express, Prudential Insurance, Royal Bank of Scotland, Adepta and ABN.
"The sophistication of the FARIO technology offering makes it compelling for any organisation," says Volker Schaberg, UK and Europe regional general manager at Software Futures. "FARIO provides the platform that allows companies to outsource their archives and document management, without losing control of them, and at unprecedented service levels. The FARIO technology includes a sophisticated Web services interface which allows subscribed customers the option to access the system via the default secure Internet interface. The FARIO service can also be integrated into their existing line of business systems."
FARIO also provides an ideal mechanism for international companies to manage their processes more effectively. Document scanning is performed in the UK, Europe or elsewhere with business processes, enabled by the online documents, executed anywhere in the world, thereby facilitating the administration outsourcing initiatives.
"The creation of FARIO is a good example of the high level of South African IT knowledge and skills," says Paul Mullon, marketing director at Metrofile. "Through information sharing, local intellectual capital can be rolled out to the rest of the world rather than the traditional process of implementing internationally developed software and skills at greatly inflated prices."
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