27/05/2002

Net gain for Belfast as HBOS adopt dot net

Belfast is underlining its position as a key centre for e-commerce, as HBOS becomes one of the first companies in the UK to adopt Microsoft’s new '.Net' technology.

The e-commerce development centre in Belfast has the key objective of developing and delivering e-commerce solutions for the entire HBOS group. The adoption of Microsoft’s new '.Net' architecture means the centre is now even better placed to support the group through future business developments.

After only a year, the development centre is now fully functional and delivering e-commerce projects for one of the UK’s largest banks. By applying this new technology the team are at the forefront of e-commerce developments.

The technology provides a platform on which a full range of e-commerce software can sit, enabling the development and roll out of a website from start to finish. The platform and its associated packages allow the team in Belfast to develop new applications and functionality to support a rapidly growing business.

A new internet banking solution for Bank of Scotland is the first project to use the technology. This new service will allow corporate banking customers to bank over the internet, the first application of its type in the UK.

Dermot Grimley, Head of the HBOS E-Commerce Centre, said: "To be delivering critical leading edge projects within our first year of operation is a tremendous achievement.

"We set the centre up in Belfast because of the skills and resources the area offered and we’re delighted with the results. The success so far is what we are building on with the employment of this new technology.

"There is now an opportunity within the local and wider market for experienced e-commerce professionals to join us and help develop the capabilities new technologies like this give us.”

Neil Holloway, Managing Director of Microsoft Limited said he looking forward to helping the HBOS team in Belfast embrace and roll out this architecture across the HBOS group of companies.

The Belfast e-commerce centre was opened in April 2001. The centre employs 28 people and has plans to increase this to 40 by the end of the year.

(SP)

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