New loan-management system helping to increase efficiency

CO-PRESENTER AT the recent Small Business Association of Jamaica Conference Gillian Hyde, general manager, JN Small Business Loans, said that technology was already helping to increase efficiency. Citing the Jamaica National subsidiary as an example, she told delegates: “In 2015, we launched our new loan-management system. This system allows us to use tablets to access information; manage client data; and sign up new clients in their office or their locations.”

Hyde explained that “the system makes us more customer friendly as clients can access their loan information via the Internet and smartphone, in addition, to access product information and make queries”.

She also said that technology facilitated clients who wanted to make payments after business hours. “We have also established kiosks to facilitate our clients who want to make payments after office hours. And, our credit relations officers no longer visit the office at the end of the day to do paperwork as computers facilitated working off site.”

Small-business owner Curtis Davis shared that using ICTs has helped his operations.

“Using technology has helped to gather vital information whenever I am doing research about the different products and services. It also makes my business more efficient,” he stated.

Minister of Finance and the Public Service Audley Shaw, in his opening address to the conference, also urged increased use of technology in the sector.

Other speakers at the conference included Karl Samuda, minister of industry, commerce, agriculture, and fisheries; Dr Horace Chang, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation; lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Dr Kadamawe K’Nife; Dr André Haughton, lecturer at the UWI; and Marlene Street Forest, managing director, the Jamaica Stock Exchange.