As part of efforts to enhance seamless service delivery to stakeholders through improved synergy within its operational units, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has kicked off the process for the implementation of electronic demand notes, receipts as well as ports and borders operations clearing processes.
Speaking at a strategy meeting on the deployment of the solutions in Lagos, the Director-General, Osita Aboloma Esq. said the transitioning to the electronic demand note and receipt as well electronic ports and border operations would mitigate challenges faced by customers and clients of SON and promote greater efficiency in service delivery.
Represented by the Director in the DG’s office Mr. Kabir Mohammed, the SON Chief Executive posited that the electronic platforms would create a business solution tailored around SON services, aimed at achieving the Organisation’s strategic goals.
Introducing the proposed solution, Deputy Managing Director, Vertebra Limited, an award-winning information technology company, Mr. Mike Aigbe said the organisation has helped in creating similar solutions for organisations in Nigeria and other African countries in the last 15years.
The company’s objective from the onset was to create a payment engine that can be plugged into all manner of applications for the processing of financial transactions for Organisations, including SON, he said.
Mr. Aigbe listed some of the Organisations that have benefited from the company’s electronic solution services in Nigeria as including the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
He stated that the strategy meeting with Heads of Departments and Units in Lagos Operational Headquarters was a follow up to an earlier one at the Corporate Headquarters, Abuja to interact with process owners and gather data in order to customize the proposed solutions to their specific needs.
The Vertebra Deputy MD enumerated the achievable gains from the proposed electronic processes solutions as including;
- Eliminating human intervention in the processes for greater efficiency.
- Cost savings on the printing of manual demand notes and receipts
- Elimination of the stress associated with moving from point A to B to obtain demand notes and receipts.
- Real-time payment confirmation
- Promotion of interdepartmental synergy and seamless processes.
He stated that the electronic solutions project, which is expected to be deployed within 45 to 60 days, would also attend to the compulsory need to join the International Public Service Standard (IPSAS) by the SON.
SON Heads of departments and units provided input on their various processes to the Vertebra Limited team in furtherance of the electronic services solutions.
