update: THE financial crisis has failed to put a dampener on Superpartners` bid to overhaul its computer systems, setting aside $70 million on the project to fulfil a target of going paperless in three years.Australia`s largest administrator for industry superannuation funds today named Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Synchronised Software as key partners for the transformation program, with more suppliers to be revealed in future.
A Superpartners spokeswoman declined to provide a breakdown of the contract. However the expenditure will cover new systems, processes and operational improvements.
The company went to market for three areas: administration, enterprise resource planning (ERP) and IT infrastructure managed services.
For the administration segment TCS will provide systems integrations services while Synchronised Software`s CapitalX application will replace a mish-mash of programs, in particular, R2, an in-house developed application.
The new administration platform is slated to be ready in January 2010.
The business transformation project would be underpinned by a new ERP application to replace its Landmark product, she said.
German software giant SAP is largely tipped to be chosen as the ERP vendor but the Superpartners spokeswoman said an announcement would be made by Christmas.
A systems integrator for the ERP implementation will be revealed at a later date.
Superpartners will move to the new ERP system by July 2009.
An IT infrastructure managed services partner was expected to be named soon, the company said.
Superpartners chief executive officer , said the upgrade was required in order to better serve its growing base of customers.
"Superpartners has doubled in size over the past five years, reflecting the growth of Industry Super. We now serve approximately six million members and 700,000 employers," Mr Camm said.
"This growth is destined to continue as Industry Funds grow on the back of their lower costs and superior returns. We need to be able to keep up with their growth in size and sophistication," he said.
Mr Camm said the new systems would bring significant benefits and deliver a platform for streamlined employer transactions, coupled with a simplified structure for individual members to access account information.
"Superpartners processes about $1 billion in superannuation contributions every month and over 80 per cent of these are paper based."
He said Superpartners aimed to be fully electronic by 2011.
"We receive about 80 tonnes of paper mail every year, and by promoting online contributions we’ll make an impact beyond just efficiency for its own sake."
