KAS Bank NV, supplier of investment management, custody, clearing and settlement services, today said at Sibos 2007 that it chose Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 and Microsoft BizTalk Accelerator for SWIFT to provide SWIFT connectivity.
The implementation of BizTalk Server and BizTalk Accelerator for SWIFT comes as KAS Bank transitions its entire operations platform off the mainframe and onto the Microsoft Windows platform, eliminating the need for multiple connectivity applications.
“SWIFT connectivity forms such a large part of our own and our customers’ business processes that it was vital for KAS Bank to have technology that could facilitate the scalability and flexibility required to rapidly respond to client demands in this area,” says Pim van der Horst, CIO of KAS Bank. “After conducting strenuous benchmark testing, SWIFTAlliance Access and SWIFTAlliance Gateway in combination with BizTalk Server and BizTalk Accelerator for SWIFT were clearly the most robust choices.”
BizTalk Accelerator for SWIFT is a set of software components that enables the sending and receiving of messages over the SWIFT network with the support of BizTalk Server, Microsoft’s business process management server.
“Microsoft is always eager to support its customers by developing competitive solutions to help them expand their businesses,” says Sheida Hadji-Ashrafi, Worldwide industry manager payments at Microsoft. “KAS Bank recognises the value of the wide range of functionality that SWIFT offers its customers through SWIFTNet, and this implementation of our BizTalk Server and the accompanying accelerator will allow them to leverage the economies of scale that Microsoft technologies can provide, and redirect resources back into their business to improve the customer experience.”
The KAS Bank implementation is currently undergoing a managed migration toward the Microsoft platforms. The full transition is due to be completed in 2010.