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

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blad 'What's news' (EN) | 1996 | | pagina 18