How long your name is...

Do you know that your name length can create lots of problem in any financial institution?

Here’s one example:

MUHAMMAD NURUL AZAMMI BIN MUHAMMAD NUDRI

For the above example, the length is 40 bytes. It means, field to keep this record must be 40 or more. Let say the core banking system used to open up deposit accounts keeps name length up to 40 bytes. For another system, let say Credit Card system for Credit Card creation is capable to keep customer name up to 30 bytes of length, which means, that system is only capable of keeping the following record:

MUHAMMAD NURUL AZAMMI BIN MUHA

Do you notice that the name is truncated? And there’s possibility of different person sharing the same name.

How does the system differentiate whether the Muhammad Nurul Azammi bin Muhammad Nudri is not the same person as Muhammad Nurul Azammi bin Muhammad Nordin?

Here’s the important of IC or other identification.

The first 30 bytes of name out of 40 can only provide 80% of accuracy. The name and IC must be the exact match to identify that the Muhammad Nurul Azammi bin Muhammad Nudri really is Muhammad Nurul Azammi bin Muhammad Nudri and gives the 100% of accuracy that eliminates possibility of tagging CIS to a wrong person.

How do you feel so far? Confused? Can read more? Is this too informative?

What if, prior to opening his first Savings account with the bank, Muhammad Nurul Azammi bin Muhammad Nudri does not input his name as per IC, instead, he provides, Muhammad Nurul Azammi b Muhammad Nudri?

And what if, prior to applying Credit Card, since the length for him to input his name is 30 bytes, he provides his name as Mohd Nurul Azammi Mohd Nudri?

The system is programmed to find the exact match which means for Muhammad Nurul Azammi’s next visit to branch to apply for Credit Card or any other product; he will definitely be given a new set of CIS record.

So what’s the implication?

The implication is a nightmare to the bank. Muhammad Nurul Azammi bin Muhammad Nudri calls Call Centre and complaints that he’s not able to see his Credit Card info at Internet Banking.

Why?

Because for Muhammad Nurul Azammi, there’s two CIS exist in the bank. Two CIS records denote 2 different persons for the system. The system is restricted to allow another customer to view another customer’s record to be in compliance with the Central Bank.

So moral of this long story:

There’s a reason why all application forms have asked you to input your name according to your IC number.

It must also be a good reason for the bank to inquire both your old and new IC number as well as other identifications.

Last but not least, keep your kids’ name short, simple and easy to spell. Teller at branch is indeed has the tendency to make mistake while typing info in the system that has indirectly resulted in the duplicate creation and data quality issue.

Those already with long names and unique spelling, be extra careful in filling up your forms…

The new enhanced Website & Internet Banking

It’s foggy out there, the sound of aircond dominates SRC Room at Bangi. Sleepy and extremely tired as any worker would be for working since yesterday’s morning, I am now praying hard and hoping for the slight website problem to be fixed as soon as possible.

This is the third implementation and the final cut to migrate all Internet Banking customers to the new enhanced system. How I wish I could be laying on my bed dreaming for another shopping spree at Bandung! *sigh*

All the sweat and blood seem to be paying off!

Another night at SRC

Now a clock at SRC Room, IT Centre Bangi shows 2.12 a.m. on 11 Oct 2009, and I am waiting impatiently for a green light from PM for Internet Banking verification on production environment before another implementation attempt since yesterday’s was failed due to some stupid technical errors.

Do you nag?

Most of the work that needs my utmost attention basically has reduced a bit. More to come but at least today I managed to finally jot something down…

Nothing much to update and as to that I'll definitely make you reader falls asleep with me-whining-over-my-never-ending-story about my work. Ohhh it does make my staff feel stressed as a matter of fact. How they hope that some day I got hit by amnesia and not to persistently follow up (push) on things (I keep on putting) on their plate. How they wish that I would not be in the office just to raise my voice (another way to say yell) when didn’t get what I expected right after a series of stressful meetings which always hold up my neck on numbers and timeline.

I feel really bad when I do that. I really am. I know my boss fells the same each time she does that to me. And she normally apologizes…

So out and loud, I extend this apology to all my team members, as I know in some instances the task given haunted them as much.

Having said all these, I am not giving any of my ‘nagging’ energy a rest until they have a good grip on what they do now.

Oh! (a bit sidetracked) I have no idea why the layout of this blog suddenly looks very different. Tried very hard to change it, the drag and drop feature decided not to function. Kui, help me out…please!

real meaning of IT solution...

Mem-the-boss and I were cracking our head to goreng what to response to auditor on few findings of our system security. She accidently opened one of her old folder and found the above cartoon...hehehhehe :D. Click to enlarge it yea LOL...

thank God it's Friday

Today is Friday…I yearn for a good rest…cepat2 la pukul 4.45 p.m. hmmmmm…

Rescue ME!

Seldom find working in financial institution as fun. You are very true especially when involve in hardcore and back end system on top of all the legacy system that you have to deal with. Even worse when you work at branch and forever you would not be able to be back on time plus facing unhappy customer with the utmost complaints every now and then.

Me on the other hand quite happy to handle a team of 20 in Internet Banking – a real challenge for me to what I consider myself as a new comer in this industry. I always tell people that I am lucky as in always be at the right place and the right time when it comes to career. For those gossip mongers out there, it is not bodek-ing (*wink*) as I think I practice healthy working attitude. And I hope I’ll still be lucky in future *wink* (read as to get better opportunity and better salary to climb up the corporate ladder that I always dream for).

Hard to say but it is reality…not all banking staff know their *stuff*. At the financial institution that I work for, I found it weird when I go down to level one and ask the branch staff that I wanted to open up a new account and yet they not even know the differences of the two new accounts. Aiyaaa!

Am I being too fussy as a customer? Or am I putting a very high expectation towards the services I suppose to get? Or are they really lacking in product knowledge? I do not know…rescue me from having the bad thoughts about my own colleagues!