The additional training Doornkop carers recently received has certainly paid off and inspired new thinking. Mmamonamodi Jacobeth Lesito, Project Manager has introduced age specific learning plans for the children, classroom timetables and a menu of balanced meals for each day of the week.

Educational wall charts now cover the walls and recent donations have enabled the provision of a fantasy corner/play area for the children including new tables and chairs and play items such as a tea set, alphabet blocks, baby dolls – basic items to stimulate learning and interaction.

Wendy Jeavons, Managing Director of eg South Africa said “It is fantastic to see the crèche go from strength to strength in terms of the facilities, ongoing education and the welfare of the children.  The latest fundraising activities by the eg pink panthers competing in the London Triathlon has raised over £700, which will go a long way to further improve the facilities and the children’s educational development”.

Thank you to everyone for their continued support of The Doornkop Needy Children’s Centre over the last year.  If you would like more information about the work the Centre undertakes, or would like to make a donation, email ask@eguk.co.uk.

The ‘eg pink panthers’ who competed in the London Triathlon to raise money for Doornkop Creche can be seen below with the presentation cheque.

Pictured left to right Jonathan Hayward, Mark Cooper & John Moss

These are all topics that will be covered at Credit Today’s networking event for the collections and debt purchase sectors on Thursday 18 November 2010 at The Nottingham Belfry.

Over 250 senior level professionals from all the major debt purchase and debt collection agencies were in attendance last year and are expected to return this year to hear about the key issues during the dual-track programme.

eg will be on hand in the exhibition area to share case studies with you, offer demonstrations on how their operational intelligence suite can improve performance – guaranteed, or you can sign up for our free site survey.

Debt Management Case Study Summary…

eg helped The Co-operative Financial Services, Debt Recovery Department, improve their operational capability.  They were then able to increase the volume of work with existing staff to clear backlogs, improve customer service and quality and cut costs, delivering a cost benefit of 29% to the department.  Read the full case study.

Secure your place at this forward thinking event for just £399 by calling Credit Today on 0844 477 4740 or email events@credittoday.co.uk.

Alternatively you can download the full programme and booking form here.

Intelligent Operations Management

Blog by Mark Smith, CEO & EVP Research August 26, 2010

The market for operational intelligence (OI) has grown as organizations realize the importance of having information in real time and in the right context. To accomplish this requires that operational data is processed as it happens, commonly by being packaged into what are called events and made available through technologies for complex event processing or event monitoring. Operational intelligence has long been part of our research focus. In benchmark research on it, we found that optimizing business processes and reducing time to respond drive more than 70 percent of organizations to invest in OI and that utilization of events for managing risk and complying with regulations is important to more than half of organizations today.

One technology vendor I came across about a year ago is eg solutions, whose tools help business professionals in operational roles gain rapid insight about their organization’s processes. The company has 20 years of experience in providing tools for customers mostly in the United Kingdom and South Africa. In 2009 eg’s customer Legal & General won the Ventana Research Leadership Award for Operational Intelligence. This year the vendor acquired XTAQ, which developed tools for real-time data capture that can help in the processing of events for operational intelligence. I recently received an update on the company’s progress.

The product suite is called eg operational intelligence, and its tools work together in measuring, managing, improving and optimizing operational activities. The acquisition of XTAQ contributed a product called Nuqleus 3D for capturing events, beginning the measurement process and creating metrics. This acquisition was important as my research shows that an incomplete view of event information is the top dissatisfaction of organizations with OI technology today. A tool called eg work manager provides the ability to allocate and schedule work, then track and manage it in real time as input for determining future plans and forecasts. As well as real-time or historical information, eg operational intelligence can provide a predictive view. Its reports and methods of exporting data provide a means to improve performance through various metrics ranging from volumes and service to productivity and skills. These capabilities are part of a transformation from applications and tools built on a foundation of data and databases foundation to a foundation of events and event processing – the key difference is that the new technology operates at the pace of actions triggered across a network or the Internet.

Operational intelligence and the tools eg solutions provides can complement a range of other business systems, such as CRM, customer experience and interaction systems or workforce and operational process management systems. This platform and set of tools can be applied to business processes in the back or front office. The vendor promotes a short-time-to-value implementation model and guarantees that customers will see tangible improvements within 20 weeks of deployment. The business reasons for investment into operational intelligence, from improved customer experience to data quality and compliance, along with cost reduction can soon cover the cost of taking on a new business technology project. As outlined in my 2010 perspective (See: “Using Innovative and Disruptive Technology in 2010”), operational intelligence is one of the key technology areas in which companies can gain not just a competitive advantage but material improvements to their organizational effectiveness.

Let me know your thoughtsor come and collaborate with me on Facebook,LinkedInand Twitter

Regards,

Mark Smith – CEO & EVP Research

The aim of the survey is to understand how the back office contributes to overall customer service, which processes are currently in place for back office planning and management and what areas of improvement are being considered by companies to optimise it.

If you complete the short survey you will be able to access the results at the end of the survey which will provide an up-to-date view of the industry, unravelling the latest trends and concerns in managing and planning for the back office environment.

Learn more about the Back Office forum and access the survey here.

On the topic of Back Office Optimisation, Bloor Research have published an InDetail white paper on Optimising Back Office Performance.  The report was produced in conjunction with eg solutions, building on the Bloor Spotlight paper ‘Operations Management for the Services Sector’ which looked at operational management solutions for the Service Sector.  This latest InDetail release looks at eg solutions operational management solution, including technical architecture and client case studies and is a must read for anyone interested in improving operations management and optimising back office performance.

Here’s an excerpt…..

Bloor Research identified that there were a number of solutions that organisations may have already purchased or are thinking of purchasing to solve the issues involved in gaining control of operations management.  Bloor identified that there were two key approaches of IT solutions built to support operations management.  The first is based around Business Intelligence which requires significant effort to tailor an appropriate solution.  The second approach involves the use of specialised applications consisting of a variety of automated components, including workforce management, capacity management, customer management, process management.

If you would like to receive a copy this paper please email ask@eguk.co.uk

During the period, having established a strong platform for growth, eg has continued to expand profitably as well as making further progress with the strategic development of the Company. A key development during the period was the acquisition in March and subsequent successful integration of XTAQ Limited, a developer and supplier of business performance measurement software.

The financial performance for the period was in line with the Board’s expectations, with revenues up 15 per cent. on the same period last year to £2.41 million (H1 2009: £2.09 million) and profit before tax and acquisition costs ahead of last year. The growth in underlying profitability resulted in an increase in net cash to £0.7 million at 31 July 2010 (31 July 2009 : £0.6 million).

Overall, 71 per cent of anticipated revenues for the full year are under contract.

Growth in revenue reflects the efforts made to broaden and deepen existing customer relationships, as well as the result of new customer wins, with a significant benefit to recurring revenues.  The Company’s achievements during the first half include:

• a contract extension with one of the largest bancassurance groups in the Nordic region, for the use of the eg operational intelligence^® suite in its Customer Services division, following the successful implementation of an initial project in the Claims Areas of the same group during the second half of 2009;
• following the sale of an enterprise-wide software licence, a significant additional order from Nationwide Building Society for support and implementation services associated with roll-out across all back office functions;
• the roll-out, by a major UK life and pensions company, of eg’s operational management software, to a further 400 staff, to support improved capacity and work flow management and to provide consistent operational management information, and taking the total number of users to over 2,125; and
• a contract with a new customer, one of South Africa’s leading investment administration companies, to provide eg’s solutions across its organisation to implement capacity planning, work and resource scheduling

These contracts are expected to have a positive impact on revenues for the second half of the current financial year with an additional benefit to full year performance expected from eg’s South African office which is now trading profitably.

In June, the Company announced a contract worth £430,000, with the general insurance division of an existing eg client, for XTAQ’s Nuqleus 3D software to provide management information supporting a broad range of Operational Excellence initiatives including Resource Optimisation, Process Excellence and Continuous Improvement, through a phased deployment to 2,500 users.  In addition, XTAQ’s existing sales pipeline is converting as expected with total contracted revenues for the year so far of approximately £750,000.

eg’s growing reputation within the financial services industry and the excellent performance of its software and solutions, was also recognised in May when the Company received an Accredit UK quality accreditation.

Date of interim results announcement

The Company expects to announce its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 31 July 2010 on Wednesday, 22 September 2010.

-Ends-

Contacts

eg solutions plc
Elizabeth Gooch, Chief Executive Officer

01785-715772

www.eguk.co.uk

Bankside

Simon Bloomfield or Rose Oddy

020-7367-8888

Arbuthnot Securities Limited
Tom Griffiths

020-7012-2000

About eg solutions plc

eg solutions plc is a global back off ice optimisation software company.  Our software provides historic, real-time and predictive Operational MI. When implemented with our training programme for managers and team leaders to use this intelligence, we guarantee improvements in operational results in short timescales.

The Company, which is listed on the Alternative Investment Market (’AIM’) of the London Stock Exchange, is committed to customer satisfaction and the ongoing development of its operations management solutions.

During the period, having established a strong platform for growth, eg has continued to expand profitably as well as making further progress with the strategic development of the Company. A key development during the period was the acquisition in March and subsequent successful integration of XTAQ Limited, a developer and supplier of business performance measurement software.

The financial performance for the period was in line with the Board’s expectations, with revenues up 15 per cent. on the same period last year to £2.41 million (H1 2009: £2.09 million) and profit before tax and acquisition costs ahead of last year. The growth in underlying profitability resulted in an increase in net cash to £0.7 million at 31 July 2010 (31 July 2009 : £0.6 million).

Overall, 71 per cent of anticipated revenues for the full year are under contract.

Growth in revenue reflects the efforts made to broaden and deepen existing customer relationships, as well as the result of new customer wins, with a significant benefit to recurring revenues.  The Company’s achievements during the first half include:

• a contract extension with one of the largest bancassurance groups in the Nordic region, for the use of the eg operational intelligence^® suite in its Customer Services division, following the successful implementation of an initial project in the Claims Areas of the same group during the second half of 2009;
• following the sale of an enterprise-wide software licence, a significant additional order from Nationwide Building Society for support and implementation services associated with roll-out across all back office functions;
• the roll-out, by a major UK life and pensions company, of eg’s operational management software, to a further 400 staff, to support improved capacity and work flow management and to provide consistent operational management information, and taking the total number of users to over 2,125; and
• a contract with a new customer, one of South Africa’s leading investment administration companies, to provide eg’s solutions across its organisation to implement capacity planning, work and resource scheduling

These contracts are expected to have a positive impact on revenues for the second half of the current financial year with an additional benefit to full year performance expected from eg’s South African office which is now trading profitably.

In June, the Company announced a contract worth £430,000, with the general insurance division of an existing eg client, for XTAQ’s Nuqleus 3D software to provide management information supporting a broad range of Operational Excellence initiatives including Resource Optimisation, Process Excellence and Continuous Improvement, through a phased deployment to 2,500 users.  In addition, XTAQ’s existing sales pipeline is converting as expected with total contracted revenues for the year so far of approximately £750,000.

eg’s growing reputation within the financial services industry and the excellent performance of its software and solutions, was also recognised in May when the Company received an Accredit UK quality accreditation.

Date of interim results announcement

The Company expects to announce its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 31 July 2010 on Wednesday, 22 September 2010.

-Ends-

Contacts

eg solutions plc
Elizabeth Gooch, Chief Executive Officer

01785-715772

www.eguk.co.uk

Bankside

Simon Bloomfield or Rose Oddy

020-7367-8888

Arbuthnot Securities Limited
Tom Griffiths

020-7012-2000

About eg solutions plc

eg solutions plc is a global back off ice optimisation software company.  Our software provides historic, real-time and predictive Operational MI. When implemented with our training programme for managers and team leaders to use this intelligence, we guarantee improvements in operational results in short timescales.

The Company, which is listed on the Alternative Investment Market (’AIM’) of the London Stock Exchange, is committed to customer satisfaction and the ongoing development of its operations management solutions.

So far we have raised £710 for the Doornkop Needy Children’s Centre which is a fantastic achievement!  If you have sponsored the team please send your pledges in as soon as possible.

Mark, John and Jonathan would like to thank everyone who has made a donation so far!… and of course, if you’d still like to make a donation the lines are still open to make a  pledge at www.doornkop.co.uk.

The money raised is vital for the future of the children and their survival and eg are proud to have sponsored the team.  It costs approximately £40.00 per child per year to supply daily food supplies of e-pap to keep the children strong and healthy – that’s less than £3.50 per month.  Around £125 can provide one child’s food, clothing and school fees for a year.

The aim of the Doornkop Needy Children Centre (DNCC) is to provide shelter, clothing, education and love to those orphans and destitute children from the age of 0 – 5 years.

The Centre, situated in Snakepark, a poverty-stricken area of Soweto, was started in August 2002 by two concerned mothers who were aware of the fact that many children – some abused, some abandoned, but most just plain poor – desperately needed some sort of crèche facility and care. They approached the community, secured permission to use a church gathering point and now look after 160 children.

Left to Right: Jonathan Hayward, John Moss, Mark Cooper

More than 100 businesses, including some of the biggest and smallest in the West Midlands have put themselves forward for the 11 categories so the judges really had their work cut out to whittle the selection down to the cream of the crop.

Staffordshire based eg also entered the ‘Company of The Year Award’ and the judges announced that as so many companies put forward excellent applications for this category they have decided to consider all of the short-listed companies for this prestigious award.

The winners will be announced at the Awards Gala Dinner on Monday 20 September 2010 at The International Convention Centre.

Elizabeth Gooch, Chief Executive Officer of eg solutions plc said: “International trade has enabled eg to trade through and grow despite the difficulties in our core UK market.  Once again it is really motivating that the benefits of our export efforts have been recognised by being shortlisted.”

- ENDS -

For more information on eg please contact Rachel Oliver, Marketing Manager at eg, on +44 (0) 1785 715772, email racheloliover@eguk.co.uk or visit www.eguk.co.uk.

About eg solutions plc

eg solutions plc is a global back office optimisation software company. Our software provides historic, real-time and predictive Operational MI.  When implemented with our training programme for managers and team leaders to use this intelligence, we guarantee improvements in operational results in short timescales.