[Technology]

EPIC Lanka ready to export reputed solutions

By Gamini Warushamana

[email protected]

EPIC Lanka, a leading technology company who is aspiring to build Sri Lankan software brands and take them to the global market celebrated its tenth anniversary last Friday. The company is now ready to export its reputed solutions.

The company has undertaken contracts in Malaysia, Australia and Singapore after a decade of experience in four domains, as well as being the market leader in Sri Lanka.

General Manager, EPIC Lanka Viraj Mudalige said that the strategy of his company is building real domain expertise and building its own brands and taking them globally.

EPIC Lanka, set up in 1998 with four software engineers has grown fast and today the number has increased to 70. The company has focused on four domains namely Secure electronic payments, information system security, mobile enterprise automation and secure document automation.

From the inception we focused on these four domains. Separate engineering teams were deployed to each domain and they were responsible from information gatherings, system developing and implementation. In this way we produced real expert software engineers in each field Mudalige said.

This strategy is vital to face the challenges in this technology industry. We can undertake overseas projects and write codes for a range of businesses as most of the outsourcing companies do. However, this is not a sustainable business. Our strategy can resist external shocks and over the last ten years we have proved that we can build global brands and EPIC Lanka has done it, he said.

Branded products

We have three strong branded products that can compete globally. Epic posBank was developed for the HSBC and the bank is now using it for its rural banking operations. Dial a Bank solution was developed for the Nations Trust Bank and we have also developed a product for the NSB called Postal, school and Mobile Bank.

EPIC Lanka is the leader in the secure electronic payment business and has the country’s biggest payment processing network. All electronic payment operations and almost all banks in the country use our payment network and pos terminals said, Vice President (Corporate Communications) Shantha R Yapa.

The birth of EPIC posBank is interesting. We used POS terminals of the Verifone, a US company, in our payment processing network. We saw that there was much unused capacity and potential in this terminal.

The terminal is like a computer but it was used for debit and credit card payments. In 2006 we developed a software to use this additional capacity and converted it to a mini bank. Today HSBC uses posBank to reach the rural population through the post office network.

At present most of the banks in the region are seeking this solution. PosBank can be used for money deposit and withdrawal, cheque deposit, balance inquiry, loan settlements and many other banking transactions.

It has also been considered for micro finance projects in Africa.

Low cost solution

Since this is a low cost solution that can be connected through a telephone connection, it is becoming popular, Yapa said.

In 2007 EPIC Lanka won the NBQSA award from the BCS for posBank and it was recognised as the best banking product of the year. In the information security system domain EPIC Lanka is the only company that supplies locally developed Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) information security systems.

We provide security systems for large organisations and SLT and the Department of Immigration and Emigration are our customers. This solution is also an awarded product and it has been developed to international standards, Yapa said.

hSenid-principal sponsor of National HR Conference 2008

hSenid Business Solutions, the No. 1 HRIS solutions provider in Sri Lanka is the principal sponsor for the second consecutive year of the pre Conference at the national HR Conference and Service Providers exhibition 2008.

It is organised by the Institute of Personal Management (IPM) and will take place from June 2-3 at the BMICH. hSenid and IPM have maintained an extremely cordial and close relationship over the years and has supported the institute whilst also taking part in all events organised.

The National HR Conference which is held annually has become the premier HR event for knowledge sharing between the cream of HR professionals in Sri Lanka. Like last year the conference is based on the theme, “People Drive Business”.

The conference will focus on the best HR practices to meet business challenges, HR value creation, meeting the expectations of stakeholders, the importance of HRM and the need to strategise HRM and develop the competencies of its practitioners.

The conference together with the “HR Service Providers Exhibition” will create and array of opportunities for those in the HR industry, and those who have not yet ventured into it.

‘We are proud to be the main sponsor in the pre conference for the past consecutive years and we hope this year too will help the HR profession in Sri Lanka to reach new heights’ said Director/General Manager hSenid Business Solutions Sampath Jayasundara.

hSenid is in its 11th year of excellence and is one of the main exhibitors at the service providers exhibition in booth number 15 and 16 showcasing their award winning HRIS solution as well as a range of new and innovative products and services.

Suntel provides full fledged data solution for Excel Global Holdings

Suntel and Excel Global Holdings signed for the new agreement for the IP VPN data network to connect all the locations of the Excel Global Holdings.

With the new agreement, Excel Global Holdings will have integrated data and voice solution from Suntel.

Excel Global Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd. is a business conglomerate with diversified interests such as Apparel, Software, Trading and Leisure Sector operating ‘Excel World’ the popular entertainment and food court at Darley Road in Colombo.

The company plans aggressive investments in and around Colombo providing entertainment for the urban population.

Apart from its contribution to the economy in the leisure sector the company has also invested in rural areas in Sri Lanka with Apparel factories catering to global markets. Among others the company exports its products to popular apparel brand names around the globe.

Director Marketing and Sales - Suntel, Hasitha Abeywardena said, “the business relationship with Excel Global Holdings started in 2000 with voice services and we want to serve Excel Global Holdings with improved technologies that Suntel has implemented with developments in IT.

This IP network would definitely enable Excel Global of quick response times and efficient business processes.”

At present the average Sri Lankan manufacturer has a lead time of 90 days which is high when compared to competitors within the region, an efficient network will aid in reducing this lead time thereby increasing overall competitiveness, making communication and technological upgrades a must for local manufactures.

Chairman/Managing Director, Fracis Chokatte said, “Excel Global Holdings has been with Suntel from 2000 and in addition to the voice services they also provide the best after sales services which means they have understood the criticality of the voice communication in our business.

Our experience with them has been very positive in terms of their flexibility, reliability and service levels.

BOI signs agreement with Norwegian software company

The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) signed an agreement with Exilesoft Ltd. Members of the Board Channa Palansuriya and Upali Samaraweera signed the agreement on behalf of the BOI and presented the investor with the BOI Certificate of Registrations.

The agreement signed with Exilesoft is for a project to develop software for foreign clients and provide outsourcing services. The venture will also provide re-engineering and consultancy services. Exilesoft will mainly focus on providing software solutions for European clients.

Their outsourcing model is based on supporting their clients with a comprehensive development process, years of experience and sound skills.

The venture will develop Microsoft based software for Financial Services, Human Resources and Customer Relationship Management sectors. They will also develop software solutions for mobile devices and hand held devices.

The US $ 400,000 project will create 50 employment opportunities. The venture will be in Colombo. The company is in the process of setting up its infrastructure and is expected to commence commercial operations.

Finn Worm Petersen (CEO) signed the agreement on behalf of the company.

SunGard to launch Ambit in Lanka Unveils new banking software strategy

SunGard (http://www.sungard.com) said that Ambit, a new brand and a new software strategy for its solutions for retail, commercial and private banks, will become available in Sri Lanka in June.

SunGard’s Ambit brings together the technology of a range of SunGard solutions and the experience of a global team of industry experts that already serve more than 800 banks in 70 countries, including 41 of the world’s top 50 banks.

Ambit provides banking professionals with software solutions that support front, middle and back office operations, as well as solutions for financial management, risk and compliance.

President of SunGard’s banks and corporations business, Ken Dummitt said: “Banks in Sri Lanka are transforming their core business models to adapt to new industry drivers.

Intensifying competition due to increased regulation and globalisation has led them to adopt international best practices and enhance their business agility. Moreover, they need to understand and meet the needs of an increasingly demanding customer base - or risk losing out to competitors.”

SunGard’s Ambit helps banks to deploy the most appropriate business services for their customers across multiple channels.

Providing a single view of the customer across the whole enterprise, SunGard’s Ambit also facilitates integrated customer communications and marketing campaigns that are driven by user-configurable business process flows and rules.

Ambit Customer Service Manager helps to enable the smooth transition of customer service from sales to origination and fulfillment.

SunGard’s extensive customer base in banking has helped it to understand banks’ common requirements as they try to build the bank of the future. Inflexible legacy systems, competition from new entrants, and new demands from customers to access their data anytime, anyhow are driving banks to look for new, strategic technology initiatives to help them renew and upgrade their core banking systems.

Toshiba launches three notebook computers

Toshiba launched three new series of notebook computers, Satellite L310 and L300, Satellite M300 and A300 and Portege M800 in Sri Lanka last week.

The Satellite L310 and L300 is targeted at the budget conscious consumer while M300 and A300 with cutting edge industrial design with sophisticated entertainment features targets at design conscious consumers.

Portege M800 series will deliver maximum efficiency and mobility combined with more reliable and secure computing experience and targets business users who are always on the move.

These notebook PCs have all features that consumers will need, such as a high brightness, high resolution Clear SuperView TFT display, DVD SuperMulti Double Layer Drive (DVD ñ RW/RAM), 5-in-1 Card Reader, built-in Webcam, USB Sleep and Charge ports, Bluetooth v2.1 with Enhanced Data Rate (EDR), Wireless LAN (802.11b/g) and 10/100 Ethernet LAN.