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| Pay Easily with Virtual Money |
E-business |
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| Project Profile |
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Project: Card ordering system
Industry: Financial Services
Business area: Payment and transactions |
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Year/Duration: 2007 / 10 weeks
Resources: Team of 3 programmers and project manager
Technology: Java 1.5, Spring (Application server), Struts (Web application framework),
PostgreSQL database, ClieOP MT940 (Banking protocols) |
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| “Since I started working with Execom, the first thing that struck me was
the natural and healthy way of teaming up with Chess. Even though we're different companies and cultures,
Chess-staff considers Execom as 'colleagues abroad'. Next to excellent partnering, Execom has the high level
skills and quality standards that Chess requires for teaming-up and developing successful business-critical
solutions for our fortune-100 clients.” |
| Eric van der Staaij, Project Manager, Chess ibusiness |
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 Customer
Chess is a leading developer and producer of ICT innovations for electronic products, microelectronics,
embedded software, and ICT applications. The company delivers solutions on the basis of the managed chain
concept - an integrated solution in which various components collaborate without interfaces in a network
situation. Chess specializes in innovative technical systems and business-critical solutions and develops
sophisticated solutions for electronic systems, transactions & electronic payments, Machine to Machine
(M2M) systems, sensor applications and digital multimedia. Chess takes responsibility for production and
delivers its products and services on a project basis. The company participates actively in R&D networks
as well as partnerships with its customers.
Project overview
As an established financial services provider, Chess was already in the possession of VAS – Virtual
Account System, a solution that provides facilities for payment and loyalty transactions and the clearing,
and settlement of these transactions. VAS guarantees low cost payments via multiple transaction channels
such as the Internet, the point of sale and mobile devices. It can be coupled to many systems including
internet shops, ticketing and entrance control, gaming, services, marketplaces, loyalty and gift card
programs, etc.
In spite of system’s complexity, it needed an upgrade of functionalities. Regarding all the benefits
and the significance of the project, realization was trusted to EXECOM, a proven outsourcing company. The
guiding project idea was to create a user-friendly solution that could improve and customize the existing
VAS application. EXECOM’s main task was to deploy a system for ordering loyalty/debit cards that enable
card owners to pay different kind of services, receive discounts and possibility to gain 10% discount for
each purchase (loyalty).
A solution had to be developed in order to fulfil the request for four ordering channels with different interfaces:
- Web site
- Cendris call centre
- Post Office
- Retailer interface
Order of a card through these disparate channels had to end with the same result – newly owned card with
virtual account that enables user to gain discounts and payment facilities.
Execom solution
Following the aspects of required project outcome EXECOM had to organize knowledge transfer for team members.
With great help and complaisance of Chess’ engineers the first problem was solved - software development
team had a clear cognition of application that needed to be created and systems that had to be customized.
After deep analysis decision was clear - solution had to imply three tier configuration, consisting of BL
(business layer), DB (database), four interfaces (web site GUI, post office API, call centre API, retailer API)
and VAS customization. Knowing that web site and VAS are web applications, post office and call centre are back
office applications and retailer is a web service, it was possible to set up 1 server for all ordering channels.
Besides the basic configuration the system needed to include component that communicates with PURE ROUTER - Chess
product for managing secure online payments through web interface. Using PURE ROUTER interface and users have
insight in their virtual accounts and perform transactions. Therefore, after the deployment of four channels for
ordering cards, communication with VAS and BL needed to be rationalized in order to complete the process. According
to the fact that in VAS system card number and email address of the customer are equivalent to login names user may
use any of them to log in. once the logging is done user is able to have insight in his virtual account,
perform transactions and even transfer spared amounts of money to his bank account.
The whole project demanded great flexibility of EXECOM team and was delivered on time, with minimum time
constraints. It was low cost and performed with maximum professionalism of both sides.
Benefits
In the world of outsourcing fulfilling client’s expectations and requirements can sometimes be tough.
However, this was not the case for EXECOM and Chess. Two companies have understood each other from the very
begging of project development and it has resulted in:
- Very strong partnership which continued to grow new projects;
- Latest technologies sharing;
- Knowledge transfer between employees;
- Chess had learned a valuable lesson that outsourcing can be very tempting and profitable;
- EXECOM had implemented a reliable and high-quality system;
- But, foremost are customers’ benefits: fast and confidant services and lower costs of daily
activities available all over Netherlands by easy-to-use system.
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