Part of the Crédit Agricole Group, Calyon is a leading corporate and investment bank with operations in 60 countries. Its Hong Kong regional headquarters oversees a 13-country Asian network.

Regionally, the bank has implemented electronic straight-through-processing solutions, including the Real-time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system to execute interbank funds transfers as they happen throughout the day, integrating with the SWIFT payment system. To further enhance local payments processing and compliance, Calyon Asia Pacific in Hong Kong wanted to integrate the RTGS system, which it runs on an IBM AS/400 server, with its UNIX-based backend infrastructure, and eliminate manual processes.

"We decided to select an RTGS automation solution based on its business value and not restrict ourselves to a UNIX solution," explains Fabrice Garambois, Chief Operating Officer of Calyon Asia Pacific.

Calyon Asia Pacific thus undertook a detailed comparison of available technologies, pitting a UNIX-based solution from a finance-dedicated technology supplier against a Windows-based solution from Microsoft.

The bank found that the Windows solution could effectively meet its integration needs and provide optimal security and reliability more cost-effectively than comparable UNIX-based solutions. Calyon Asia Pacific was also satisfied with the depth of Microsoft's experience in the financial services industry.

"We were initially hesitant about using a vendor that didn't specialize only in the financial services sector. However, I was surprised by how well Microsoft understood our business and also by how much more flexible it was than other suppliers we had worked with in the past," Michael Chan, IT Director of Calyon Asia Pacific, recalls.

"As we have mainly had a UNIX environment for critical Capital Markets applications, deploying the Windows platform is a breakthrough. With a low initial investment and rapid deployment, and its ease of use and administration, we have achieved return on investment very quickly," explains Garambois.

Automated processes
Prior to installing BizTalk Server, the bank's RTGS payment processes were manually checked. "By automating our RTGS processes with BizTalk Server, we are saving two or three hours a day on manual checking, reducing our reconciliation workload by 30%, and eliminating the possibility of mistakes due to human error. This helps to reduce penalties arising from delayed payment, and frees up staff for more value-added work," Garambois says.

Zero administration
"Using UNIX, managing the database and operating system can be a burden. With the user-friendly Windows interface, we have minimized administrative work, particularly for BizTalk Server, which has required zero administration," adds Chan.

In addition, the bank appreciates that it is easy to find qualified Windows network administrators and that BizTalk Server-specific training courses are readily available and comparatively low-cost.

Regulatory compliance
The BizTalk Server solution also helps Calyon Asia Pacific to improve its internal processes to help it more efficiently fulfil its obligations under the international capital adequacy standards known as Basel II. "We have more control over our processes and experience fewer delays, so have fewer penalties to report," Garambois concludes.