The drawing power
of Vermeer
An Information Centre
Driven Bank
FOR A KNOWLEDGE-
OMR IN THE
BANK
18
short news
WHAT'S News Issue 7 July 1996
Over three-quarters of a
million people visited what can
only be described as one of the
most rewarding sponsorship
projects the bank has ever
undertaken. The Vermeer
exhibition, which was launched
in Washington and later moved
to The Hague, not only
dominated the Dutch art and
museum world for a few short
months. It also generated
economie spin-offs for the
whole country - through
increased tourism in what is
normally the low season.
Of the more than 430,000
visitors to the Maurtishuis in
It can be a real challenge to keep up with the branch's
information requirements. I've handled everything from
sourcing research on theories of mathematics for Treasury
to the European Motorcycle Market for Securitisation. I
don't have boring days.
While London branch keeps her busy, Kate recognises the
value of information sharing within the Rabobank
network. 'I often source information from my colleagues in
Utrecht and throughout the network as well as provided c
assistance with some of their information requirements. To J
provide solutions to global customers, we need global
information resources.' To share information with Kate,
call 44 171 280 3165 or fax 44 171 283 4453.
According to Kate Hedges, who has set-up two Information
Centres in the Rabobank international network, 'the more
we focus on our customers and sector specialise, the more
important it become to use information to use information
efficiently, effectively and economically.'
The problems of sourcing information for the 'knowledge
economy' are well known according to Kate. 'Cyberspace
is overloaded with data but how often does that
information get to the right people at the right time in a
form they can use? In London, we employ a combination
of services which are fast and affordable. Through
centralisation, we exploit synergies, avoid duplication and
maximise our purchasing power. Most importantly, we
make a significant contribution to the Bank's growing
knowledge of its customers and sectors.'
The respons to the new Information Centre has been
terrific according to Hedges. I work with every department
of the bank and the more I work with a team the better I
become at their needs.
From September, financial
markets in Utrecht will be
testing a tailored OMR
(pronounced: omer) software
package for capital markets
applications. OMR is well
known as provider of
specialized banking packages
for administrating derivatives
and other products. However,
the bank is starting out with a
package for capital markets
products. 'The important thing
about this system,' says Harrie
Arts of fixed income trading,
'is that it is integrated. This
means it is used by both back
and front offices to administer
fixed income trading and sales.
The package comprises online
risk reporting for traders,
immediate management
reporting, online transaction
confirmation to clients, and
also to relevant bourses.'
The test package will be
installed in September. 'We'll
know exactly what it can do
by December,' adds Eric van
den Dungen, 'and then we'll be
able to start examining the
feasibility of implementing it in
other offices in the
international network.'
The official contract with
OMR was signed in Utrecht as
the bank followed such
institutions as the Dutch
Central Bank, ABN Amro and
Fortis as new users.
Signing up for OMR - Rabobank's Harrie Arts. Jan Haars, Ron
Dijkstra, OMR 's president Jitn Mersfelder and Erik van den Dungen.
though all the lights were out
and everyone was clearly ready
to go home. We really were
very late. But they switched on
all the lights and we got our
own, very private guided tour
of the 22 masterpieces. It was
an unforgettable experience,
especially for the clients who I
am sure will remember not
only the Vermeer experience,
but also the true hospitality
they received at the
Mauritshuis.'
Maybe this magie has
everything to do with the
painter and his works.
Unfortunately, it's all over now.
But the Vermeer perspective
will live on in the memory of
everyone who was lucky
enough to see this virtuoso
collection.
The Hague, 54
percent came from
abroad. Of the
230,000 foreign
visitors, 50
percent came from
France and a
further 30 percent
from Belgium,
Germany and the
UK. Among them
were our own
international offices' cliënt
groups which had been invited
to special, private viewings.
The last group before the
exhibition closed, a trio of
Japanese institutional investors,
arrived too late. 'What amazed
me,' says Hajo Dijkstra, 'was
that the staff and our own
reception people there
immediately said it was okay,
we could still come in, even