Page 56 - SAMENA Trends - August 2019

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Sri Lankan Company Implements Cloud-Based Digital Strategy

With operations supported by a range of become one of Sri Lanka’s first and most Backup, including solutions for customer
Microsoft solutions, Capital Alliance Group innovative cloud-centric investment banks information classification, protection, real-
(CAL) recently featured in a Microsoft supported by Microsoft Azure, Office 365, time analytics, and identity management
client case study (published on their Dynamics 365 and Power BI. “Microsoft through Dynamics 365 and Power BI.
website) highlighting how customers at is one of the main partners in our digital “Power BI allows us to create our own
CAL benefit from a reliable and trusted transformation journey,” says Tharindra analytical reports and derive insights from
service, while employees enjoy a highly Kulasinghe, Chief Information Officer at existing ones. The integration between
collaborative and connected workplace CAL. “Cross-platform tools like Power BI, Dynamics 365 for managing client data
with the support of Microsoft solutions Dynamics 365 and Office 365 offer around- and Power BI gives us the capability to
and products. Capital Alliance Group the-clock availability and seamless personalize workspaces, while allowing
(CAL) is a full-service investment bank productivity gains.” A key transformation us to access the Power BI reports directly
offering a broad spectrum of integrated pillar at CAL is the importance of a from Dynamics 365,” notes Kulasinghe.
investment and capital market solutions reliable digital working environment for With Power BI as an option for analytical
to all investor categories including family employees. The bank purchased Office reporting in Dynamics 365, employees at
businesses and institutional clients. 365 licenses from globally recognized CAL experience great visual presentation
Commencing operations in 2000, the bank partner Microsoft partner H One for its of data in different mediums like graphs,
specializes in originating, trading and head office in 2017. By the end of 2018, the pie charts, etc. Users also have the ability
investing in debt and equity securities. bank had rolled out Office 365 across the to tweak the reports as needed and can
CAL is also a Primary Dealer registered entire organization. “Office 365 ensures easily analyze financial trends. Thanks to
with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, and that we always have the most up-to-date cloud-based technologies, communication
has been named ‘Best Investment Banking modern productivity tools from Microsoft,” and collaboration are simpler and more
Company Sri Lanka’, ‘Best Investment explains Kulasinghe. “Using Office 365, we powerful—not only for CAL but for other
Banking Solutions Provider Sri Lanka’, share daily operational notices, milestones financial services all around the world.
‘Best New Asset Management Company and other event updates with the company. Kulasinghe explains, “Microsoft’s tools
Sri Lanka’ and the ‘Fastest Growing Unit With Outlook, Skype for Business, have greatly increased our collaboration
Trust Manager Sri Lanka’ at the Global OneDrive and Microsoft Teams, our capability and capacity for data-driven
Banking and Finance Review Awards 2015. employees can now collaborate no matter intelligence. We have greatly reduced
In recent years, CAL has focused on using where they are or what device they are on our capital expenditures on physical
technology to help build more efficient 24/7.” Security is another key strategic technology, allowing us to improve the
capital markets, whilst maintaining a high pillar at CAL. The bank collaborated with return on investments and explore other
degree of operational stability. To do this, Jinasena Infotech to integrate Microsoft avenues for growth and success.”
and realize its strategic goals, CAL has Enterprise Mobility + Security and Azure

Idea to Harmonize Digital Policies in Africa Mooted

African leaders in the Information and Commu-
nication Technology (ICT) sector have proposed
an idea to harmonize digital policies to acceler-
ate the continent’s digital transformation. The
leaders are meeting in Kigali for the India-Africa
ICT Summit and Expo. Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s
Minister of ICT & Innovation, told participants
that there was a need to have inclusive poli-
cies. “We need to think about inclusive policies
because the levels of development, levels of
resources, as well as skills are not similar on the
continent,” she said. This, she argued, will facil-
itate the delivery of equitable opportunities for
the entire African population. Ingabire suggested
that policymakers ought to leverage on the con-
tent’s youthful population, which is agile and
adaptable to drive digital transformation. More
than ever, countries across the continent are

56 AUGUST 2019