Unisys launches Managed Commerce Services to boost communities

Unisys Africa has launched its Managed Commerce Services offering under its Global Outsource Infrastructure Services division, to boost community-based banking functionality, prepaid services, loyalty and customer relationship management, reservations and distribution of services across the country.

The Unisys Managed Commerce Services offering brings private label commercial solutions to typical South African closed community ecosystems. The full service solution enables electronic commerce that is aligned with the physical community needs, but without the overhead costs of expensive infrastructure. The community enjoys a safer, efficient and simplified commercial environment that is also an enabler for SMME business.

"The essence of our business philosophy is to create, enhance and deliver a fully integrated technology and collaborative platform that delivers value and innovation into an environment where the majority of players merely pay lip service to satisfying the objectives of the Financial Services Charter," says Geoff Tuck, sales director at Unisys Africa.

"The solution is built on a thorough understanding of the business processes, needs and dynamics of the community ecosystem. It embraces all stakeholders and supports their inter-dependencies and relationships in a non-invasive and holistic way."

Additional portfolio services include business consulting and business process engineering, custom system and Web development, system integration and mobile Internet services.

Managed Commerce Services will target rural communities and informal settlements where there are few or no formal financial services; commercial companies seeking innovative private label smart card, terminal and mobile solutions; and closed communities searching for private label solutions to streamline and automate existing business processes, drive efficiencies, increase controls, remove cash from the system, deliver enhanced value to all stakeholders, reduce financial services costs and deliver value added services to community members.

"Managed Commerce Services strives to remove the technological and related financial barriers faced by the majority of communities and which impede their ability to improve the lives of their members," Tuck says. "The services platform will deliver significant economy-of-scale benefits, remove current commercial and financial impediments and will provide a source of additional revenue to client-partners. The platform will be instrumental in growing and developing community and regional economies and will be a meaningful job creating catalyst in the areas reached."