Intel picks i-Flex to peddle server architecture to banks

Ashu Kumar

New Delhi, July 15: Intel has joined hands with Bangalore based i-Flex Solutions to promote its server architecture in the finance and banking sector in India. The microprocessor company is currently evaluating Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for a tie-up and plans to approach Infosys Technologies also for a similar tie-up.

i-Flex, TCS and Infosys are software companies which already offer finance and banking software solutions and Intel plans to work with them to target public and private sector banks looking for such solutions.

Intel, as per the arrangement, will provide technical support to its partner companies to port their solutions on Intel architecture and fine-tune them to optimise the technology. The application solutions will then be jointly demonstrated on Intel systems to the clients.

While talking to The Financial Express, general manager of Intel Asia, Mr GB Kumar said that the move was part of the Intel’s strategic decision to target the finance, banking and insurance sector to promote Intel architecture. “So far, we have been focussing on the e-broking segment and have successfully penetrated the market for Intel servers. Now, we have decided to focus on core-banking and its enterprise application integration and customer resource management (CRM) solutions requirements of public and private sector banks,” said Mr Kumar.

“We have already chosen i-Flex and now considering TCS for core banking solutions. Intel plans to approach Infosys too push its banking as well as application integration solutions,” said Mr Kumar adding that Intel had chosen these companies as they were some of the top banking solution providers in India.

Infosys has a banking software, Banks2000 and also offers enterprise application integration solutions.

“Most of the banks are offering numerous products and services to their customers using different kinds of information systems in isolation. All such systems need to be integrated and there is a huge demand for such solutions in banks,” explained Mr Kumar.

The company has also identified Gurgaon-based Parsec Technologies and global software company, Seibal for porting their solutions on Intel systems to address the CRM requirements of banks.