Now dependent for some 50% of its UK business on banks and building societies, Unisys Ltd has decided to develop a new range of software products, targeted at the deregulated financial services market. The company’s Financial Systems Division yesterday announced details of a new software system designed to enable fund-based institutions to build fully integrated databases from existing customer records. The core of the product, written in the Unisys applications generator Linc, and designed to run across A series mainframe range, was developed over a 12 month period in conjunction with the Skipton Building Society. Called the Unisys Financial Services System, the package reorganises and collates separate items of customer data to create a central database, which unifies all customer records under a single name. Unisys argues that with a database of this kind, banks and building societies will be able to target new schemes and services with greater accuracy, speed and efficiency; the Skipton claims to have sold over UKP2m worth of new products and ventures since its system became operational one year ago. Unisys says that the core product, combined with two mortgage and secure lending investment packages, will be available to existing customers in October, with prices ranging from UKP50,000 to UKP250,000. Customers new to Unisys can buy the product as a turnkey system at entry price, including A1 computer, of UKP100,000. Future plans include the development of unsecured lending and independent insurance broking modules, for release early next year. Professional tailoring of the system to match individual customer requirements will be provided by Berkhamstead-based systems consultants, FI Group, signed by Unisys to do installation, support and maintenance.
