The Company:A global Fortune 100 financial services company.

Challenge:This client had two objectives:

1. Improve the quality of their application development and maintenance functions.
2. Operate their systems more efficiently with predictable costs.

They needed an IT partner that could develop and maintain mainframe systems as well as create new technologies for implementation in a client/server environment. This partner would be responsible for the customer’s worldwide operations, spanning multiple business functions, cultures, languages, and time zones. Gantec was awarded the project.

The Solution:Gantec’s approach includes making intelligent decisions with the client. Gantec faced several challenges during the project transition phase. The first was the sheer magnitude of the customer’s operation, which consisted of millions of lines of code and programming operations in seven different locations.

Gantec used its knowledge-transfer process to ensure a smooth, manageable transition of key information between the customer and the Gantec team. This process helped the team to gather and analyze critical data on the client operation’s process, people, technology, and culture.

Results:Now in its second year, this applications outsourcing agreement has generated, and continues to produce significant benefits for this financial services customer.

·         Reduction in cost for the client by having outsourced the applications maintenance and development portion of their IT group to Gantec.

·         By putting production systems under one roof, Gantec was able to uncover several synergies that eliminate duplication and reduce errors.

·         In all, more than 25 enhancements have been logged from re-engineered processes that have improved performance to systems and processes.

·         Having acquired this customer’s specific application and business knowledge, Gantec is able to provide strategic assistance in business design, architectural planning, and application design and development.

Platforms:The customer’s technology environment includes IBM mainframes, AS-400, and a variety of client/server architectures. Languages include Visual Basic, DB2, CICS, IMS, VSAM, Windows NT, COBOL, MF COBOL, OS/2, Windows, BACHMAN Case Tools, SYBASE, Oracle, and Powerbuilder. The network environment is Novell LAN.