Software Review of COBIS (Version 3.5)

Publication Date: Dec 2005
Published by: CGAP Technology Resource Center
Document Type: Other (PDF)

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Some basic facts about COBIS (Version 3.5)

This document presents the review of the COBIS (version 3.5) software. The review was sponsored by CGAP.

The document provides the following facts about the software:

• Size: Designed for large Credit Unions and microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Central and Latin America (more than 50,000 customers), but can fit for small ones (less than 5000 customers) if they can afford it.
• Budget: Expensive (starting at USD 70,000 for license only);
• IT expertise requirement: None needed with ASP (outsourced). Hosting in-house requires a skilled information technology department and a technology transfer.
• Functionality: All the microfinance and banking modules to operate a large network.

It then provides some of pros and cons of the software:

• Pros:
  • A company with extensive experience in the market, and with a high level of service for the largest Spanish-speaking MFIs ranging from microfinance specific needs to all banking modules (SWIFT, ATM, etc.).
  • A state-of-the-art reporting module including regulatory reports for 15 countries.
• Cons:
  • No true web-based interfaces for core banking features;
  • Not really internationalized for languages other than Spanish and English.

Finally, the document provides different criteria on which COBIS has been rated. These include:

• Functionality;
• Ease of use;
• Management reporting;
• Technical capabilities.