Scotiabank Launches Security-Enhanced Global Social Networking Initiative to Help Increase Employee-Driven Innovation
Canada's largest international bank uses wikis and blogs to create "community without borders" based on Microsoft SharePoint software
MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO – March 31, 2008 - Microsoft Canada Co. today announced that Scotiabank has launched a new internal global social networking solution to help encourage more information sharing and collaboration among employees. The Scotiabank solution, the first of its kind in the Canadian financial services industry, is based on Microsoft® Office SharePoint® Server 2007 and is designed to help transform how workers share knowledge and best practices.
"At Scotiabank, we are always looking for innovative ideas to promote information sharing and collaboration in across the enterprise," said Robert Fournier, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Architecture & Methodology, Scotiabank. "By leveraging the knowledge and experience of the Scotiabank team with a business focused social networking platform, we are enabling staff to better serve customers by sharing best practices and identifying experts and skill sets regardless of geographic and organizational boundaries."
The Scotiabank solution is currently being piloted with the Bank's International Banking Division. As part of the new initiative Scotiabank will create online user profiles for Scotiabank employees. It will also provide employees with new ways to share, store, organize, search, and manage information, including user-driven blogs and wikis, through a familiar and easy-to-use Scotiabank-branded interface.
"The success of social networking in the financial services industry will rely on three factors: ease of use, security and functionality," said Dan Bloch, Director, Financial Services, Microsoft Canada. "SharePoint includes native support for wikis, blogs and RSS feeds as well as privacy and security mechanisms so that employees can connect and share knowledge via a customizable and security-enhanced interface. It's impressive to see how Scotiabank is finding new ways to enhance the employee experience."
About Microsoft Canada
Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has 10 regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. Visit Microsoft Canada's web site at www.microsoft.ca.
About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is one of North America's premier financial institutions and Canada's most international bank. With more than 60,000 employees, Scotiabank Group and its affiliates serve approximately 12.5 million customers in some 50 countries around the world. Scotiabank offers a diverse range of products and services including personal, commercial, corporate and investment banking. With $449 billion in assets (as at January 31, 2008), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS). For more information please visit www.scotiabank.com.
