Press Release
- Date:
- Wednesday, January 11, 2006
- Contact:
- Colette Cote
- Phone:
- 203.351.6132
- Email:
- colette.cote@pb.com
Group 1 Software and CGI-AMS Announce Integration of Universal Coder Technology Into ACAPS Enterprise
Group 1's Best-in-Class Data Quality Solution Improves Accuracy and Responsiveness for Users of CGI-AMS's Best-in-Class Credit Originations System
Lanham, MD, January 11, 2006 — Group 1 Software, Inc., a Pitney Bowes company (NYSE: PBI), and CGI-AMS, the wholly owned U.S. operating subsidiary of CGI Group Inc. (TSX: GIB.SV.A; NYSE: GIB), a leading global provider of end-to-end information technology (IT) and business process services, today announced that CGI-AMS has integrated Group 1's Universal Coder™ data quality technology into its market-leading ACAPS® Enterprise credit originations system.
Universal Coder is an address-matching solution that validates, corrects, and standardizes customer address data from the United States, Canada and more than 220 other countries worldwide. Group 1 develops Customer Communication Management (CCM) solutions, such as Universal Coder, that helps maximize the value of customer data and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of customer communications.
The integration of Universal Coder technology into ACAPS (Automated Credit Application Processing System) Enterprise enables end-users to more quickly populate address fields on application forms by typing in the applicant's ZIP Code or ZIP+4 coding. Simplifying data entry helps to accelerate application turnaround while improving accuracy. In addition, the advanced, real-time address verification capabilities of Universal Coder provide ACAPS users with a powerful tool for fraud detection.
"Data entry speed and accuracy are crucial because, in on-line credit origination, the first company to respond to the consumer enjoys a tremendous competitive advantage. The capabilities of Universal Coder allow our users to quickly complete and verify applications," said Sarah Ropper, director of consulting, CGI-AMS. "We also chose Universal Coder based on its ease of integration. Its single, standardized API [Advanced Programming Interface] for all countries and 'implement once' design allow it to be deployed simply in our clients' ACAPS application.
"We evaluated a number of potential technologies before choosing to integrate Universal Coder into ACAPS Enterprise," Ropper added. "Its capabilities help us to continue to advance ACAPS' speed, performance and functionality and deliver superior technology and business solutions to our clients."
"As one of the most innovative and successful IT and managed services providers in the U.S., CGI-AMS' decision to integrate Universal Coder underscores this offering as a best-of-breed address-matching and data quality solution," said James Starnes, senior vice president, global alliances of Group 1 Software. "In addition, synergies that include Group 1's and CGI-AMS' shared customer base, our mutual support of the IBM operating environment, and the breadth and market power of our parent company, Pitney Bowes, present an exciting opportunity for us both to serve our customers and compete more aggressively in our markets."
About Group 1 Software
Group 1 Software, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pitney Bowes, develops software that provides a comprehensive Customer Communication Management (CCM) solution, which maximizes the value of customer data and improves the effectiveness and efficiency of customer communications. Group 1 Software's solutions are an essential component of enterprise applications, serving to consolidate, cleanse and enrich corporate data, and generate personalized business documents for multi-channel delivery, customer care and efficient business processing. The company's solutions are utilized by over 3,500 organizations worldwide in the utilities, financial services/banking, GIS/mapping, retail, telecommunications, insurance and other industries, including Entergy, L.L. Bean, MapQuest, Microsoft, QVC, Siemens, Wal-Mart and Wells Fargo.