Credit du Maroc Chooses Sun Microsystems for Its Banking Solution

Strategic Insights -

Credit du Maroc, a leading bank in Morocco, has selected Sun Microsystems as its technology partner to revamp its banking infrastructure. This move is a crucial step in the bank's efforts to modernize and expand its services amid the country's rapid population growth. The deal, valued at over $5 million, will see the implementation of Sun's SPARC network computing systems, running on the Solaris operating environment, to replace the bank's existing computer systems and automate manual processes.

Key Takeaways:

  • Credit du Maroc has chosen Sun Microsystems' SPARC network computing systems to replace its existing computer systems and automate manual processes, with a deal valued at over $5 million.
  • The bank aims to lead the way in developing the most advanced retail banking network based on open systems, with the goal of increasing productivity, reducing costs, and computerizing the bank.
  • The bank has purchased over 700 SPARCstation 5 systems as workstations, 150 SPARCstation 5 and 20 systems as branch servers, and two SPARCserver 1000 systems as gateway servers.
  • The Sun systems will run the Oracle relational database management system, and Microsoft Office will be integrated into the UNIX environment with the aid of over 150 Sun SPARC laser printers.
  • SOPRA, a specialized systems integrator, will integrate the new Sun solution with existing legacy retail systems, while Amdahl's Tuxedo transaction management software will be used for on-line transaction processing.
  • All branches will use an enterprise information system (EIS) created using Forte's object-oriented 4GL for decision support, customer service, and cross-selling products and services.
  • The implementation is expected to last through 1997, with Sun's platform set to scale with the bank's future needs and enable the use of multimedia when ready.
  • The deal demonstrates the success that Sun has had in banking in emerging markets, due to the scalability, quality, and cost-effectiveness of the Sun platform.
  • Sun leads the worldwide workstation/server UNIX market in financial services, with 55 percent in trading systems, 41 percent in securities, and 25 percent in banking systems.

Statistics:

  • Over 700 SPARCstation 5 systems were purchased as workstations.
  • Over 150 SPARCstation 5 and 20 systems were purchased as branch servers.
  • Two SPARCserver 1000 systems were purchased as gateway servers.
  • The deal is valued at over $5 million over the next two years.
  • Credit du Maroc has over 4,000 employees and 150 branches across Morocco, with banking activity exceeding $1 billion.
  • The bank has some of the best profitability ratios in the banking industry in Morocco.
  • Sun leads the worldwide workstation/server UNIX market in financial services, with 55 percent in trading systems, 41 percent in securities, and 25 percent in banking systems.

Sources:

  • BUSINESS WIRE, "Credit du Maroc Chooses Sun Microsystems", October 23, 1995.
  • Sun Microsystems Computer Company, various press releases.