A local PeopleSoft customer believes the mobile architecture being launched by the vendor should appeal to companies in the finance industry.
PeopleSoft unveiled a new mobile computing enterprise architecture, code-named “Voyager”, and a slew of new product lines this week at its PeopleSoft Connect 2001 user show in Atlanta. Voyager will be used to support PeopleSoft applications that can be accessed from anywhere online. PeopleSoft has partnered with IBM to embed DB2 Everyplace in Voyager and with Research In Motion to use its wireless workflow for two-way access to services. The first applications for Voyager — sales force automation, field service and time and expense — should be available in the fourth quarter.
Tower Insurance general manager of development David Callender says Voyager, which he has yet to hear about, “has to be interesting” to organisations such as insurance companies and banks using PeopleSoft, particularly to enable mobile representatives to market to customers more complex financial services such as mortgages.
PeopleSoft will also be rolling out a new enterprise services automation suite and a new recruiting solution at the show. The services automation suite will include human capital management, project management, time management and services procurement products.
Callender says these are “here and now” concerns for companies like Tower, though his organisation is currently busy with other implementation projects, including portable application developments. He says the key issues when considering any new product is how easily it is to implement, which is usually a question of integration with current technology and how well supported the product is. Support quality and choice is vital in a small country like New Zealand, he says.
PeopleSoft will also be releasing new customer management and supply chain products aimed at customers with revenue less than $US500 million, which would include almost all New Zealand customers.
New customer-facing solutions include a call centre support application and a sales and marketing application.