See also:

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A chat with David Chan

Frank Vree retires after a decade of service

FundSERV adopts Microsoft CRM platform

Getting the most out of FundSERV customer service

FundSERV Network Performance

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By Evelyne Jhung

If you're one of the 80 per cent of FundSERV's customers currently using the eBilling system, you can credit Eric Lim, senior manager of accounting at FundSERV. He came up with the idea in 2003 because he "wanted to make full use of the PKI system, and reduce the time and money spent on billing FundSERV clients." His goal is to move towards a completely paperless environment by automating all financial transactions between FundSERV and its customers. "E-business reduces costs for FundSERV because it is cheaper, safer and faster," says Lim. "Ultimately, our customers benefit the most, because the Company works on a cost-recovery basis."

This native of Malaysia is not only passionate about his work, he is committed to self-development. An attraction to technology led him to Florida and New York a few years ago for two weeks of Oracle training. Little did he know then how handy this training would be at FundSERV.

Prior to Lim's four years at FundSERV, he worked in corporate tax at Ernst & Young and at an international mining company. But neither position offered him what he really wanted. "At FundSERV, I can combine my IT knowledge with my interest in finance." Also, he says he is "blessed with a good team and good IT people, who made it possible for FundSERV to achieve two consecutive years of zero deficiency on our financial audits."

Currently, Lim is working on automating payments as well as invoices: "Consumers can pay bills directly from their accounts online, but this service is not yet available for FundSERV and its customers." He would like to eventually do away with cheques altogether in the hopes that eBilling payments will make it easier for customers to pay their bills, and reduce the number of late payments.

A self-confessed workaholic, Lim often works from home on the weekends and enjoys going over financial statements during his spare time. He is, however, planning a special trip with his wife for their upcoming tenth wedding anniversary. "Why do you think I'm trying to implement eBilling payments?" he asks. "So I don't have to sign all those cheques, and I can go away on holiday!"

Whereas paper invoicing is a two- to three-day process, eBilling is almost instantaneous and is much safer because all invoices are duplicated. If Eric Lim's dream comes true, all FundSERV customers will soon be using and benefitting from his idea: "I would like to see all FundSERV customers PKI-enabled and on the eBilling system next year."

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