NORDFaktor for NORD Bank Polska SA

This project carried out by Comarch for DnB Nord, was the software company’s first factoring system implementation with such a comprehensive scope. As such, it demanded detailed analysis and research to lay the base for designing a system, which would satisfy customer expectations and set a new standard of quality on theIT solution suppliers market for both the Polish and international factoring markets.

The greatest challenge faced by the designers of the Comarch Factoring system (the bank’s name for it is NORDFaktor) was the race against time. Factoring is becoming more and more popular on the Polish and international markets thanks to simplified procedures and resources, which clients can access to carry on the day-to- day business of their companies. At the same time factoring is one of the more advanced financial services and requires specialized knowledge as well as confident handling of complicated business processes. To meet these challenges Comarch designed and implemented the NORDFaktor factoring system.

A further expectation that system users have is that it should be able to grow and change as the factoring business grows and changes. The vibrant growth dynamic of factoring on the Polish market is a clear signal that a dedicated IT solution is required for this financial product. The system must ensure that its users – the banks – have a competitive advantage on the factoring services market. When choosing factoring service suppliers factoring clients place particular emphasis on the communication channels offered by the factor. With this in mind Comarch suggested innovative solutions in terms of integration with the factoring clients’ systems. This means that the involvement of factoring clients and bank employees in servicing the transaction is minimized.

The implementation of the NORDFaktor system was preceded by the implementation of Comarch’s NORDnet Internet banking system. Analytical work began on the 1st of March 2006. The Comarch design team, along with a dedicated team of specialists from the bank, worked together to find a way to implement the application. NORDFaktor is Comarch’s first comprehensive factoring solution. Analysis activities and implementation took seven months and on the 1st of October 2006, the bank’s employees began using the application.

The first stage of implementation involved getting the basic factoring functionalities running and integrating this solution with the NORDnet Internet banking system, the central Midas system, the Hades central user management system, and the ECOD electronic documentation center for e-invoices. The second stage involved extending the functionality of the system to include reverse factoring. The basic principle of the implementation design was to create a solution that would service factoring processes from beginning to end with maximum automization.