Bringing Computers In Through Bankers Realm

Unless the Sacco Management has good business analysis skills, it is very rare to find a business expert who is also an expert in the business for which he is managing.

The Sacco management can contribute very positively to the effectiveness of computerisation if they have done what could be called a "Bottleneck Analysis' for their business - an analysis of where the shoe pinches the most. The Sacco Management needs to make themselves aware of the market forces, the critical success factors for their business, and the controllable and non-controllable parameters which affect the performance of their company. They should know which parameters when controlled or improved would yield the maximum results with minimum efforts. The Sacco Management not only needs to do such an analysis themselves, they also need to involve other members of staff on what is going own.

Computerisation Preparations

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail as such there are rules to each and every game, its either you don’t participate in that game by not following the rules or you are the master of the game by following the rules. Bankers realm computerisation project demands the Sacco management to have knowledge in the following areas

a) Infrastructure Upgrade – if you are planning to computerize you need to start planning to upgrade your infrastructure that is if you don’t have a good working Local area network. This is so because bankers realm application is a database driven software hence the need to make sure that all the computers are connected to each other. If you are planning to have branches this is also the best time to start doing the investigations if the remote branches have got presence of ISP’s and what method you are considering to deploy be it wireless or cabled connection like leased lines. Anti-virus installation is also a requirement if you are planning to computerize soon.

b) Power back-Up – The Sacco management need to take into account the availability of system at all times is very paramount if you are to maintain good relationship with the members. Power back-up would ensure that the system is available all the time and members are satisfied with the service the Sacco can deliver to them. Much as there are many methods which the Sacco management to adapt to address this problem of frequent power interruptions, Muscco is recommending that Sacco’s should be deploying Inventor technology. This is so because of the running costs of the other technologies like the Generators. And for the servers that are being used a 5 KVA would be enough to power the systems for a period of closer to 5 hours.

c) Recruitment of the IT officer – If the Sacco doesn’t have a permanent IT officer this is the time you start looking for one. It is recommended that system should have an expert who should be in charge of it. This person will be performing system administration tasks and resolving errors the system might be producing. This would also promote segregation of duties as others will be entrusted with the capturing of transactions while others will be entrusted with system administration tasks like taking back-ups, issuing user rights, etc.

d) Standardisation – It is recommended to maintain one type of platform when it comes to operating system. Bankers realm works well with Microsoft windows Xp professional so if your Sacco have higher versions of operating system it is good to downgrade them to windows Xp to maintain uniformity.

e) Costs implications – this is varying according to the assets of your Sacco. But the buying of the software is ranging from 1.5 Million Kwacha going above. For instance if your Sacco has assets of over 500 million kwacha, expect to part ways with not more than 10 million kwacha. The good news is that MUSCCO is offering software and hardware loans, to cater for this challenge being faced by Sacco’s. You may wish to talk to Mr. Jonathan Zainga MUSCCO’s Business development Officer on the possibility of accessing this credit facility. Those Sacco that have long term plans to computerize, this is the time to start investing towards this must be done noble exercise.

Benefits other Sacco’s have already started enjoying

After going through the 22 man working days of sleepless nights, the Sacco’s that have computerized are sharing the following benefits with prospective computerisation clients

1. Speed: Computerisation helps in processing the data placed in several data files in no time. This is possible due to the high speed of computers for processing data and CPU of the computer works at the speed of electricity which is the highest ever attainable speed.
2. Accuracy: The data processed by the computer are highly accurate. The programs written on the system checks and controls data before and during processing. It detects invalid data and ensures high degree of accuracy and reliability of output reports.
3. Flexibility: The modern digital computers can be used for a variety of purposes. E.g. online processing, multiprogramming etc.
4. Choice of Configuration: Wide ranges of peripherals are available for many computer systems, which allow business organization to select those which most suit its processing requirements.
5. Storage capacity: Large volumes of data can be conveniently stored, accessed and altered.
6. Management information: They can be used to provide useful information of management for control and decision making.
7. Data Processing: Computer has lifted the heavy data processing constraint with the manual system and has opened up new avenues for planning, control and data experimentation.
8. Volume: Computers can store volumes of data and can retrieve the desired information quickly. This is very useful in the areas like insurance, bank accounts etc where large number of documents is handled every day.
9. Database: Computer facilities the establishment of database. Such a database integrates data records and reduces data redundancy.
10. Reduction in paper work: The use of computers for data processing has helped the management of business organizations to cope with increasing problem of paper handling. The computers have speeded up the process and have eliminated the paper needs through the storage of data in elaborately constructed data bases and files.
11. Reduced cost: Though the initial investment for installing a computer is high, but it substantially reduces the cost of each of its transaction. Cost reduction occurs due to processing of huge data and record keeping.
12. Facilitates report preparation: Computer facilitates the preparation of various types of reports required by organizational executives for the purpose of decision making and control.
13. Reduce the space requirements: The use of computer for office activities reduces the requirements of office space which otherwise is required.
14. Reduces the manpower requirement: The number of persons required for performing various organizational activities will be reduced by using a computer system.
15. Increased ability to perform computations: Computers perform computations with a very high speed.
16. Diligence: Being a machine, it does not suffer from boredom, tiredness or lack of concentration, even if millions of computations are to be performed by a computer. It performs the calculations with same accuracy and speed.