UBS AG

Banking/Finance

UBS AG

Contact:

UBS AG ( www.ubs.ch )
AdNovum ( www.adnovum.com )

Tools used: ISI (CORBA 2.3 implementation), Nevis Web

Description:
A leading global financial services firm, UBS is the world's largest global asset manager, a top-tier provider of investment banking and securities distribution, and a leading provider of private banking services. In Switzerland, UBS serves more than four million personal and corporate clients. Possibly one of the world's largest operational CORBA installations worldwide with 400 UNIX servers and 40,000 PCs, UBS has implemented in a joint effort with AdNovum, the Interoperability Service Infrastructure (ISI), which is a CORBA 2.3 compliant ORB solution.

Problem:
When the project started in 1994, there were no standard solutions that would meet the high-level quality and security requirements of financial business. UBS therefore decided to develop a tailored solution based on a strategic IT infrastructure and long-term partnerships. It appears that this strategy has paid off. Today, UBS has more than 50 ISI/CORBA applications running in production.

Solution:
One of the most important CORBA applications is UBS's e-banking solution. This application runs on the same integrated system platform. The platform is easy to use, ensures highest quality levels and is based on state-of-the-art technology. It was developed in cooperation with Sun Microsystems and AdNovum. This platform enables UBS to continue to extend their leading position in the coming years.

The Interoperability Service Infrastructure (ISI) is a CORBA 2.3 implementation on an abstract transport layer with mappings to various transports. It connects the most diverse software components via an infrastructural layer with multi-language (C/C++, Smalltalk, Java, Cobol), multi-platform (NT, Solaris, OS/2200), and multi-transport (IIOP, SMX, Tuxedo) support. The secure Web Access Framework Nevis permits a seamless integration of Web and CORBA technology.

To ensure highest availability even at peak times, UBS deploys three Sun systems simultaneously. This solution provides a secure, integrated and scalable system platform. Everyone involved uses the same customer data and IT services, end users with their browsers as well as corporate employees with their applications.
All queries and transactions are directed to the relevant host. With this solution UBS was well ahead of its competitors. “Of course, we knew that the competitors would follow very soon, that's why we wanted to stay up front,” explains Thomas Schneider, director of the e-banking development department at UBS. Despite the great importance of a short introductory period, UBS was looking for a long-term solution with reliable partners.

Such projects succeed only when all partners are equally dedicated. Sun supplied servers and consulting services while AdNovum provided software and middleware.

According to a feasibility study done by Sun, the infrastructure provided by AdNovum served as a good base for the development of a comprehensive architecture that could satisfy the growing e-banking needs of UBS. AdNovum provided a team of engineers which UBS completed with their own employees and Sun put consulting services at their disposal. "For us it is important,” adds Schneider, "that Sun is a well-known company with highly productive systems and that AdNovum ensures red-hot engineering and broad experience. By having such partners we are definitely in a win/win situation."

At UBS, technology and business goals form a common solid base for the future. "Success has always depended on the perfect combination of financial competence and technological know-how,” says Schneider. "This platform enables us to generate added value: to sell mortgages and to offer private banking and other services via Internet."