Silica Financial Administration Solutions (Pty) Ltd, a leading retail investment software developer and third-party administration services provider, has contracted international secure electronic document delivery specialist Striata to provide a secure, SARS-compliant e-mail service to its clients.
Based in Johannesburg, Silica generates a variety of documents ranging from statements, client letters, commission reports and income distribution summaries to broker summaries, transaction statements, tax certificates and client packs.
Veronica Haupt, head of e-billing sales at the Johannesburg office of Striata, said Silica's existing solution could not provide SARS-compliant encryption and faced challenges with the validation of delivery reports and rejection of e-mails.
"Striata's international reach through its offices in London, New York and Sydney and its capability to provide detailed tracking and reporting statistics, including the percentage of e-mails delivered and reasons for non-delivery, were compelling factors for Silica," said Haupt.
"We are able to easily resend undelivered e-mails, update changed e-mail addresses and resend e-mails to customers who phone in to the customer call centre. Our longstanding relationship with many ISPs both locally and internationally ensures e-mails are not rejected as spam and that a very high overall percentage of e-mail delivery is achieved."
Haupt adds that through "white listing" and the tight control and management of "tarpitting" and other e-mail challenges, Striata maximises successful delivery of documents.
Silica will have access to the Striata online reporting tool to track all documents sent on its behalf. The solution will be hosted at Striata's Rosebank offices, where extensive Internet support and operational infrastructure is available.
"Our first project for Silica will be to generate and send monthly consolidated statements in PDF format for one of their major clients using Striata Secure PDF," added Haupt. "A number of other consolidated statement projects are scheduled to follow as well as a project through which certain of Silica's clients will be able to securely access and display statement information via a Web portal secure format."
As a specialist investment third-party administration and technology solutions business, Silica has a strong established brand and reputation for delivering fund administration solutions. It has a material share of the retail investment market in southern Africa and is fast making inroads into other markets.
"Secure, reliable and tax-compliant e-mail delivery that can be accurately tracked and monitored is critical to our operations," said Silica director Alan Raubenheimer. "To best service our clients, investors and brokers, we needed a technologically advanced solution from a company that has international experience and a solid track record. Striata delivers 25 million messages per month, has an eight-year history and provides detailed reporting on delivery and activity."
Share
Striata is passionate about reducing the challenges and costs associated with traditional communication. We understand the power and efficiency of electronic communication, from marketing and operational messages, to the delivery of confidential documents securely by e-mail. Striata specialises in the secure delivery and payment of bills, statements, payslips, invoices and all other confidential documents, via encrypted e-mail, and in maximising the adoption of electronic solutions.
Striata has been a provider of software and services in the electronic messaging arena since 1999 and has offices in New York, London, Sydney and Johannesburg. Visit www.striata.com for more information.
Editorial contacts