The objective being to create a fully integrated Point of Sale solution across all product areas and channels.
The next stage in the development of the vision is now underway; this will provide a browser-based solution to support the provision of financial planning advice through its Financial Planning Managers. Initially, N4 will support face-to-face and call centre sales, although the solution is capable of supporting fully integrated channel distribution going forward.
The system covers all the associated need areas, from Life Protection through to Estate Planning - from initial appraisal to detailed need analysis and solution shaping. The N4 product is fully integrated with Marlborough Stirling’s Officeweb and Exweb quotation portal and the implementation also includes comprehensive disconnected laptop operations allowing complete mobile support for Portman’s Financial Planning Managers.
N4 has already implemented its mortgage Point of Sale system at the Portman, to meet the deadline for Mortgage Day compliance. The solution has been deployed within the branches and the call centre to some 250 advisers across the Portman Building Society.
Commenting on the project, the Portman’s Group Operations Director, Tony Prestedge, said, “We chose the N4 system because it is a proven out of the box product compared to rival products, and takes us where we need to be to realise our vision of fully integrated distribution. N4 ensured we comfortably met the deadline for the new mortgage regulations on 1 November 2004, achieving this from a standing start within just six months. The next stage of the Mortgage development is also underway and will further increase our ability to transact Mortgage business simply and securely over the web with both consumers and intermediaries. The breadth of their offering across Mortgage, Insurance and Financial Planning makes N4 a genuine strategic partner.”
Portman’s Chief Information Officer, Phil McCabe, added, “ Being able to integrate the various elements of the strategic solution with our existing, back-end systems is a huge advantage, as this protects our existing investment while adding value for our staff and, more importantly, for our customers and intermediaries. The underlying architecture of the N4 product set means we have a genuine strategic partner not just in business function terms but also in technology terms. They demonstrate genuine expertise in both areas.”
Referring to the Portman partnership, Steve Jones, Chief Executive of N4Solutions said “We are very pleased to be the Point of Sale partner for the Portman. They have well thought through plans to further their distribution capability in terms of service and channels, and we very much look forward to working with them to realise those ambitions. They are making full use of the N4 Mortgage product set and we are delighted to be implementing the Financial Planning components in support of their multi-tie proposition.”
