SKS microfinance selects SoftXpand software to double its workstation capacity

By Nagesh Narayana

Microfinance Focus, Feb 5, 2010:  Hyderabad-based SKS, India’s largest microfinance company, has chosen  desktop virtualization software SoftXpand, said a statement from MiniFrame, supplier of the software on Thursday. The implementation will be across the SKS enterprise of approximately 1,700 branches doubling their current workstation capacity to start off with in the first phase, it said.

SoftXpand’s ability to convert 1 PC into 8 fully independent virtual desktops without additional proprietary hardware helps SKS’s efforts to increase computer accessibility throughout its branches, said the statement. The software will provide a full and identical PC experience by supporting multimedia applications and VOIP and enhance the SKS’s productivity by providing much needed PC access at a fraction of the original cost, said the statement.

SKS trains over 1,000 loan officers every month and has an existing workforce of over 18,000 employees. With a business growth of 170% in the last year, the statement said SKS has chosen the SoftXpand solution for its “scalability and flexibility.”

Mr. Pradeep Kalra, Chief Information Officer at SKS Microfinance, said: “The SoftXpand solution has delivered seamless virtualized computing experiences across multiple terminals, ensuring ‘near zero’ performance loss while reducing infrastructure and energy costs.  With our aggressive growth underway, this cutting-edge technology perfectly matches our low cost – high value rural network model, improving productivity and efficiency of the field staff while reducing transaction costs, thus adding value to how we deliver financial solutions to our members.”

NewTecSol, the Indian distributor of SoftXpand, is responsible for the sign up and full deployment of SoftXpand within the SKS’s branches.

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