system is ongoing, but there are no set timeframes for this project.Melnychuk described the process as 'evolutionary'. So far, the two systems have been integrated so that the B2 registers can be displayed in the CMS system. The next step is to enable the uploading of data from the CMS system into B2. Currently the bank has successfully launched a universal banking agreements project, simplifying document flow with customers and making a significant impact on static data quality improvement.
The bank's branches are working on terminals, 'so there are no staging servers and everything is running on the main machine at the head office'. The main servers have also been upgraded. CS offered to supply Volksbank hardware (the vendor offers 'turnkey' services to financial institutions: devising, building and supporting the entire IT infrastructure, including supplying server equipment, operational platform, database management servers and banking software), but the bank opted to do it under its own steam. It opted for Hewlett-Packard (HP) blade servers and a data storage solution based on the HP StorageWorks Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA). The stress-tests showed that the technology was sufficient for Volksbank's current needs, and scalable enough to support the bank's further growth.Melnychuk estimated that as a result of this undertaking the bank made a saving of nearly $1 million.
Melnychuk is satisfied with the project and the results. The technology modernisation was completed 'within a reasonably concise timeframe and on a sensible budget'. 'The architecture is a lot more transparent now.With B2 we've gained a sound base to expand and build on our customer service infrastructure. This was the goal from the start (and I have never kidded myself that we are getting anything more than the foundation) and this is exactly what's been achieved,' he summed up.
