ASA IT Unit is responsible for developing and maintaining ASA's IT infrastructure and consists of two teams - Development and Implementation.

Development Team focuses on software system development - including introducing new versions to keep pace with the dynamic nature of ASA's operations. The Implementation Team is responsible for maintaining hardware & software systems, providing helpdesk services and introducing new systems to the end user - this includes roll out coordination and training.

Software Development

• Highly skilled in-house software development team consisting of:
  • Business analysts
  • Software developers
  • Quality control specialists
• Industry standard process oriented software development methodologies:
  • Spiral model
  • Working towards CMMI
• Documentation in every stage of the software development lifecycle:
  • JIRA: Task management, planning and budgeting
  • SVN: Source code control
  • Confluence: Documentation control
  • Rational Rose: Architectural design document control

Hardware/Software Maintenance & Implementation

• Complete in-house maintenance and implementation team
  • Infrastructure (Network, Server & PC) maintenance
  • Helpdesk services
  • System support engineers (SSEs)
• Support solutions are cascaded from central office to branch office
  • SSE > Help desk > Solution Provider > Help desk > SSE
  • Primary communication medium among support personnel is cell phone
  • JIRA: Issue logging and commenting process for audit trail
• Software implementation, training and documentation
  • User manual, training manual, installation guide, video guided tour have been developed
  • Software deployment and implementation status maintenance are closely monitored
  • Training for end user, SSE and any relevant person are carried out as and when required
  • Monthly field visits are undertaken by technical support personnel to audit system status at the field level

Present State

• Branch automation software development and implementation
  • Version 1.0 beta: January, 2007
  • Version 2.5.0: February, 2008
  • Version 2.7.0: June, 2008
• LAN within central office, dialup connectivity to District Offices and no connectivity to branches
• Central office internet connectivity is purchased from ISP
• Central server room holding mail server, development server, network server and other network equipments for central office only;

Future Plans

• District office automation for monitoring/audit reports
• Central office automation for management reports
• Central data center for backup and disaster recovery
• Consolidating one single web based software solution for end to end usage and real time reporting
• ASA international system development and implementation