World Firsts For Jade At Uk Financial Leader
Skipton, England. – Jade Software Corporation has achieved several world firsts in its roll out of a new 80-site, $NZD3
million branch automation system for Skipton Building Society.
The Castle system, which is connected to the Society's core information system, enables more than 400 tellers at 80
branches throughout the United Kingdom to manage customer transactions.
Castle replaces a Windows-based branch automation product from Unisys Corporation.
Jade's Director of Sales and Marketing, Peter Helms, said the project was pioneering in several respects, "We believe it
is the world's first branch banking system based on a single software technology, the first to run on an object database
and the first to be deployed using thin clients."
"By using JADE's native Smart Thin Client, the Building Society can centrally manage all aspects of the branch network,
with software upgrades handled at a centrally run JADE application server.
"Castle only requires one technology skill set in order to manage all aspects of branch automation. This saves on staff
overhead, increases speed, flexibility, reliability and cost," said Mr Helms.
SOCIETY SOLVES BUSINESS ISSUES
Skipton Building Society's Operations Director David Cutter said Castle had solved some key business issues. "Products
and compliance requirements are constantly evolving in our business, so we needed a system at the coal-face with the
tellers that could be easily and cost-effectively changed.
"We also wanted to exercise real-time central control over the branch system, so we could for example run auditing logs
to investigate discrepancies.
"All of this had to be achieved while minimising the impact on our computer hardware spending." Mr Cutter said it was
great to go from an expensive and inflexible system to one that changes with their business. "It is also saving us
money."
Castle was rolled out several weeks ago, said Mr Cutter. "It has been very well received by users and I'm delighted to
say that it has met its objectives and exceeded my expectations."
Training was quite straightforward, said Mr Cutter. "In fact one branch, who had missed the training course, were very
proud when after just thirty minutes using the system they were ready to face the customers."
The system uses the Building Society’s existing 166Mhz PCs, printers, screens, data communication lines, servers and
Microsoft NT Operating System. "It was a major benefit that Jade enabled us to use our existing infrastructure without
having to do the usual expensive and complex infrastructure upgrade," said David Cutter.
EXISTING RELATIONSHIP
Skipton already use JADE-based mortgage application and customer relationship management systems, and signed a major
deal in early 2002 to convert all of their LINC-based customer information and transaction systems to Jade's technology
platform. This includes HomeLoan Management Limited, a member of the Skipton Group, the largest third party mortgage
processing organisation in the UK. The HML client base of 35 mortgage providers will also be processing through JADE
systems by the end of 2003.
Skipton also runs a bureau for three other building societies in the UK, who are also using the Castle branch automation
system.
"As a significant player the Society is looked up to as an innovator in the UK financial sector," said Mr Helms. "That
they are building their information technology strategy around JADE's single technology approach is very significant."
"In the dynamic and competitive market they operate in, the traditional best of breed technology approach to building
information systems is too cumbersome for the Society to protect their leadership position, particularly in the area of
superior customer service."
JADE CAPABILITY
Castle has been a great proof of Jade's advanced programming technology and its capability in the financial sector, says
Mr Helms. "This complex system was built by a team of five developers in a matter of months, with most of the
development done by the core team in Christchurch, New Zealand."
Mr Helms said JADE's development technology allowed the team to work very closely with the customer to iteratively build
a system that neatly fitted their needs. "We also delivered some innovative user interface deployment along the way,
delivering the same system connecting to the same back-end but offering different screen branding for the different
building societies.
With a 15-year background in banking technology, Mr Helms said he understood how complex systems for the sector could
be. "JADE simply makes it much easier, by breaking down this complexity while providing the technology to support all
aspects of running a bank. That's important to banks that want to save time and money while providing leadership and
differentiation. This is one of the reasons I originally joined Jade Software Corporation."
Castle had wide potential in banking sector, and Jade were considering its release in the Australasian and the US
financial sectors in the near future, said Mr Helms.
"It may be a bit to advanced for the local branch automation market which is currently held together with #8 fencing
wire and ever changing, best of breed, client server PC technologies, and given that saving lots of money doesn’t appear
to be as high a competitive priority for many banks in Australia and New Zealand".
ABOUT SKIPTON BUILDING SOCIETY Skipton, the UK’s 6th largest building society, is one of the nations established
financial services providers. Founded in 1853, Skipton Building Society continues to offer a range of attractive
mortgage and investment products and is dynamic in its approach to growing its business. In particular, Skipton has
embarked upon a successful diversification strategy, leading the way in "modern mutuality", benefiting members not only
through group activities, but through product and services enhancements. Over the years the Society’s customer base has
grown to accommodate the needs of many thousands of people, with 80 branches across the UK, and Skipton Group is now
comprised of 16 businesses including the Society.
ABOUT JADE Established in 1978, Jade is an enterprise software company. It produces an enterprise application
development environment called JADE, solutions for healthcare, higher education, ports and shipping, and provides custom
development services. Jade employs 350 people in New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. The
company's founder and Chief Executive is Sir Gil Simpson.
For more information visit www.jadeworld.com