Alliance & Leicester is using technology from Thunderhead to automate the creation and assembly of new customer, personal loans and current account documentation in print and via multiple electronic channels.
The initial application of the XML-based Thunderhead platform is to produce all correspondence relating to customers new to the group, loans business and current account documentation (i.e. agreements, welcome letters, declines, follow-ups, and cheques) in print format. In personal loans, the system is being extended to offer customers electronic agreements over the Internet or print documents at their nearest branch.
Dawn Wood, Alliance & Leicester's development manager, business solutions describes the projects as a landmark in delivery of A&L's 'direct bank with a high street presence' strategy.
"Thunderhead will allow our branch, Internet and direct customers to access and print their loan and current account agreements," she says. "There has been excellent co-operation and hard work from a diverse team to achieve these positive results. It has been proved that a PDF can be viewed and printed in a test branch and over the Internet."
Ultimately, a customer will be able to make an application online, then view and print off the agreement for signing and return to the bank, says Wood. In the branch, loan agreements will be instantly available for review and signing on-the-spot.