Interview with the Chief information officer of Vozrozhdeniye bank Alexey Ivanov

Alexey Ivanov

TAdviser: Alexey, tell, please, about the IT strategy of Vozrozhdeniye bank. What its key directions?

Alexey Ivanov: Our IT strategy completely corresponds to the strategy of bank in the current realities of the market. Its crucial elements are the most effective use of information technologies and stability of work of the critical systems. The Vozrozhdeniye bank is known as the reliable and stable partner, we follow the same principle also in IT. Whatever complex works regarding IT were carried out, we try that they had no impact on users and on client service. Special attention is paid to it.

IT strategy assumes increase in level of technological effectiveness of bank. We use in the most optimal way of means, existing in the market, in support of business which is guided by the point, high-quality customer service delivery now. The big emphasis is placed on remote links of service. Besides, the strategy of bank assumes optimization of all its internal processes in total with automation and obtaining finally effect of reduction of staff and other expenses.

In the existing conditions IT strategy is calculated for the term of no more than one year as also the external environment is quite often and cardinally interchanged the position. It, in turn, imposes certain requirements to "turning ability" of IT and requires the correct organization of work of specialists and competent use of the automation equipment.

TAdviser: How IT infrastructure of your bank is arranged? What systems in it are used for automation of the primary and operating activities?

Alexey Ivanov: Concerning solutions which are used I can tell that we try to apply the most modern technologies, and at the same time we have no big nomenclature sheet, a so-called "zoo of systems". We give preference to development of systems which are already available for us with optimal use of internal and external resources.

In the hardware we completely switched to servers of standard architecture based on operating systems Windows and Linux. It gave big flexibility and independence of suppliers of hardware and also decrease in operating costs, unlike solutions on the basis of RISC architecture. The bank is actively used technology virtualizations and terminal access. This approach substantially increases flexibility and speed of reaction of IT to external conditions and requirements of business.

In total we have more than 4 thousand users of key banking systems.

TAdviser: Due to the arisen risks of use of the western technologies whether you consider options of application of some alternative solutions?

Alexey Ivanov: When choosing these or those technologies first of all the analysis of the means and producers existing in bank is carried out, further preference is given to the Russian producers, and in the absence of "worthy" domestic solutions the western technologies with experience of similar implementations in Russia are selected. Such approach is caused by quite tough license policy, a high price category and also "sanctions" risks of use of the western products which appeared recently. In addition, the convenience in terms of proximity of direct developers of business systems is important. Close partner contact with them in many respects determines the speed of changes in systems.

If to speak about replacement of the western systems which are already available in bank, then use of the Russian products based on Open Source instead of expensive is interesting DBMS Oracle and Microsoft. For example PostgreSQL. Many companies began to think of it, and perspectives in this direction are also interesting to us, but we considered that it is better to look narrowly at results of "pioneers" at first.

As for business applications, at this level we are not going to replace products yet.

TAdviser: Tell, please, about the largest projects implemented in Vozrozhdeniye bank in 2014.

Alexey Ivanov: At the beginning of the 2014th year we booked serious audit of IT infrastructure based on which we created the plan of its upgrade. Within its implementation today the IT command of bank implements 4 strategic projects.

In an engineering part the network of the guaranteed power supply is globally upgraded. The project on server virtualization is finished. Now about 60-70% of the server park at us are virtualized.

In the current year the most critical projects mentioning basic processes of bank are complete: upgrade of network and platforms of the accounting systems. It should be noted that implementation of these projects assumed short-term suspension of work of systems and services at night, however in general did not bring significant interruptions in activity of bank and implementation of business projects. Besides, the basic budget of bank did not undergo significant increase as the project assumed reduction in cost of use of systems in the infrastructure: for example, standardization, replacement expensive in hardware maintenance on new, more effective which provided significant savings of the electric power was made.

Regarding business applications last year a number of significant projects was initiated, among which became main: reaching the new technology level of remote service of natural persons and also expansion of functionality for clients in mobile and Internet banking. The unique technology of management of collection is implemented: monitoring and planning using cartography and monitoring of traffic using GPRS. Providing service of the online order of collection with an opportunity to manage the order from the mobile phone is implemented.

One more new project – use of barcodes at collection – considerably optimized internal processes. Besides, the Customs card technology which will allow them to pay customs payments far off will be available to legal entities now.

Regarding internal processes of corporate business in 2014 the module "Factoring" is implemented. This also quite difficult solution which allowed to optimize back office functions. Considerable results are achieved due to integration of the module of the fraud-analysis on payments of clients legal persons that cardinally reduced the probability of passing of fraudulent transactions.

In retail business we implemented campaign-management based on the solution IBM Unica. It significantly expanded our opportunities, namely, allowed to use targeted approach to clients, provided an opportunity to work with segments of clients, to create special programs of sales and to automate channels of communication.

Regarding operating activities electronic document management and archive was implemented and also the module of the centralized personnel records and payroll is installed. Ensuring strategically important process of centralization of operational functions of bank became one more innovation.

TAdviser: What plans of bank for the IT direction for 2015?

Alexey Ivanov: This year the large-scale implementation project of corporate CRM on the basis of Microsoft CRM is put into commercial operation in bank. Based on this system retail CRM, in further plans – integration and implementation of the uniform concept which will allow to manage data on clients in one space of operational CRM was created.

Also development of remote banking of clients legal entities is planned. We intend to expand functionality of this tool, to make it more convenient.

In general, considering a difficult economic situation, we are going to complete earlier begun projects in 2015 and to organize "rollout" on all points of presence. Treat these projects, including, system implementation of electronic document management, electronic archive "File of the Client", electronic interaction with Federal Bailiff Service. Projects have large-scale character and are connected with centralization of operational functions, optimization of internal processes of bank and also household expenses and staff expenses.

TAdviser: How the IT department of Vozrozhdeniye bank is arranged?

Alexey Ivanov: The IT structure includes three large departments: support department where both IT infrastructure, and user support, and an engineering part, the second department – development department of banking technologies enters, and the third is an "internal" project office IT which coordinates large activities regarding IT, including controls the budget and internal processes.

Specialists of development department of technologies are engaged in development of special applications by the different directions of business which the divisions servicing corporate and retail blocks and also the stock markets treat. Support department includes the block connected with "iron" and operating systems, and everything that is connected with user support and business systems.

The IT state includes own developers. Not to increase quantity of systems and not "encumber" architecture of applications to meet requirements of business divisions, the IT including conducts own development and gives, whenever possible, on support to partners. Work of the IT state is based on the principles of documentation and independence of one personnel. It is more likely a compulsory measure at the present stage of relationship with the companies. Such approach is applied reasonably along with the general concept of use supported by the industrial decision maker.