The contract includes the development of an online solution to enable HoC to recruit, register and support new mortgage advisers for the network.
Focus was also commissioned to deliver a number of additional applications including a full sales support system for the provision of product information, management of the regulated sales cycle, and a complex commission processing system.
The new solution was built using Focus’ MCA for Mortgages approach, with Focus’ XML toolkit, “goal:technology”, integrated with BEA’s WebLogic™ to provide the workflow framework.
As a new start up organisation, speed of development and deployment were key criteria to the success of the HoC business. The timescales for the project were particularly challenging and the first phase of the project was delivered to HoC within just six weeks. The online recruitment solution went live in July 2005 and a substantial number of advisers have already been recruited and are trading effectively.
Keith Baldwin, chief executive at Home of Choice, commented: “Technology plays a key role in the development of our new mortgage network and we see its application as a key differentiator in enabling us to recruit advisers and support the sales process electronically. We selected Focus to develop the new HoC solution based on a combination of their record of proven delivery in the mortgage marketplace, robust technology and industry knowledge.”
Manjit Rana, director of mortgage solutions at Focus Business Solutions added: “Using our MCA for Mortgages approach we were able to reduce risk and rapidly develop and deploy a solution for HoC within very short timescales. Since 'M-Day' there has been a need across all mortgage organisations to operate in a fully compliant manner in line with FSA guidelines. The new regime has caused great pressure on the market to ensure internal systems and sales processes alike meet the regulator’s requirements and Focus is well positioned to help companies fulfil these obligations.”
