Netlife and novomind present a new generation of online banking
Virtual agents provide assistance, information and advice to ensure increased acceptance
Significant cost-cutting for online banking
In collaboration with novomind AG, Netlife will be presenting the first prototype of a fully-integrated virtual agent for online banking and brokerage websites at the CeBIT 2002 in Hanover, Germany. This enables banks to benefit from maximum internet potential, increase the acceptance of their online branches and reduce running costs significantly.
Technologies designed to assist website visitors are now emerging. By 2003, four out of five companies will provide such features, according to a recent study carried out by consultants of Mummert + Partner. The advantages speak for themselves: virtual advisers are on duty around the clock (24/7), require no human resources to deal effectively with 70 to 80 percent of all queries and are capable of providing support to more than 1000 concurrent clients.
The prototype is the result of a cooperation between Netlife and novomind and is the first virtual agent to deal specifically with online brokerage needs. The novomind IQ™ software ensures that all web-branch visitors get personalized support while carrying out online transactions. It accompanies all activities of visitors, from registration and login process through to brokerage activities such as stock-related queries, orders and individual assistance completing online forms.
With 16 million customers in Germany alone, online banking is set to grow rapidly in the future. According to estimations by Forrester Research, the number of online bank clients in Germany will grow to around 32 million by 2005. Wolfgang Ahrens, Chief Technology Officer at Netlife AG: "Natural language interfaces are a must for the new generation of online banking via internet, mobile units and SB terminals."
About novomind:
novomind AG was founded in 1999 and is one of the leading providers of intelligent software solutions that open up new dimensions in internet company-client relations. The novomind systems bring the human touch to the internet and allow forward-looking customer services to be integrated into eCommerce while reducing costs significantly. The novomind IQ standard software enables virtual web agents to be developed to guide the user interactively through internet events, provide him or her with personalized advice and create intelligent user profiles. novomind TrueTALK™ enables users to be connected to a Live Operator based in a call center. There are currently over 50 employees working for novomind AG. The company's clients include well-known concerns such as Bertelsmann, Gruner +Jahr, bol.de, Otto and the BKK Zollern-Alb health insurance provider.
About Netlife AG:
Netlife is a leading company for the development, sales and implementation of future-safe, multi-channel-capable software solutions for financial service institutions. Netlife's application suite, integrated in the "Netlife Finance Suite", supports the communication between customers and banks via all sales channels. Netlife's products enhance the customer-service and efficiency of all business processes related to account, portfolio and credit management. As true multi-channel solution all distribution channels, including traditional branches, self service systems, call centres, mobile devices and internet are supported.
Netlife AG, was founded in 1996 in Hamburg, and is listed on the German New Market (Symbol: NTF) since 1st June, 1999. Netlife customers include Deutsche Postbank AG, Postbank EasyTrade.AG, dvg Hanover, Haspa, Bankgesellschaft Berlin, Drei-Banken-EDV GmbH, Bremer Sparkasse, Hamburgische Landesbank and CC-Bank AG.
Netlife AG
Carmen Bakovic
Head of Corporate Communications
Millerntorplatz 1
20359 Hamburg - Germany
Phone: +49 40 284 15 500
Fax: +49 40 284 15 999
Email: bakovic(at)netlife.de
Internet: www.netlife.de