The new version of Adviser Office has been developed in close conjunction with intermediaries, with the focus of the product on providing increased simplicity with an easier user experience based on greater automation and smooth workflow processes.
1st has also become the first adviser technology supplier to develop solutions based on the newest .Net technology – including a new extranet for its 11,000 adviser users.
Adviser Office 4: Accelerating E-Business – key features:
- Intelligent workflow - for effective activity management across adviser firms
- Norwich Union and Prudential contract enquiry - real-time updates and valuations of Norwich Union and Prudential policies from within client records
- Enhanced fee and time recording – to provide greatly improved analysis
- Defaqto product library - provides standardised data for providers and schemes
- Two-way Webline Integration – the first two-way portal integration, allowing information to be sent into the back office after quotes or new business activity
- Import of Asset Allocations - Based on Tillinghast Towers Perrin allocation classes. This allows for easy asset allocation modelling and stochastic modelling of funds
- Property Addition Wizard - this new wizard simplifies the input and editing of property and the associated asset, liability and expenditure. The property wizard links all the financial aspects of a property asset together in a step by step process
- Microsoft Word Client Reports - allowing users to produce branded and customised report packs of the most popular client reports from Microsoft Word
Incorporated within the new Adviser Office product is ‘1st Services’ - a new data and processing centre which delivers ecommerce services through a single, integrated point of contact, provided and managed by 1st. Already implemented is the ‘daily price and dividend service’, as well as the ‘unit prices lookup and download’ features of Adviser Office. 1st Services also delivers the new 1st client extranet, built using the latest .NET technology from Microsoft.
In 2006 further development with see the launch of Adviser Evolution, integrated with 1st Services. Also using the .NET platform, this will form the bridge between the adviser and the back office – not only providing seamless provision of standard data and services, but also using intelligent (smart client) technology to enable automatic system management.
Mik Cons, managing director of 1st, said:
“The past year has been one of the busiest and most progressive development periods in our company history, with huge investment having been made in future-proof .NET technology to ensure our users are in the best possible position to support their business going forward.
“The new version reworks many of the processes within Adviser Office to ensure our users are ideally placed to take advantage of the opportunities for A-day and beyond. Many areas are significantly easier to use and processes such as portfolio modelling can now be fully automated using the most comprehensive fund & product libraries available.
“Adviser Office is the only complete solution for professional adviser firms that fully supports the move to selling advice not product. Initial feedback from the hundreds of users we have shown already has been excellent. The product is live and users have been quick to take advantage of the new e-business links and asset allocation data. This release is another important step in our quest to create time for advice.”
‘Adviser Office 4: Accelerating E-Business’ is now being shipped to 1st users via a controlled roll-out, supported by regional roadshows and practical demonstrations. New training courses and consultancy are also being provided to give additional support.
