DHD business manager interviewed for Get Connected series

CU*Answers recently kicked of a new “Get Connected” webinar series aimed at educating clients about the key roles and individuals working for the 100% credit union-owned cooperative CUSO. Most recently, Scott Page, business manager of the new Developer’s Help Desk (DHD), was interviewed. During the session, Page described how the DHD is organized and is targeted to facilitate the processes by which clients order, design, build and manage custom projects in a new, innovative way.

Page said a primary objective of the DHD is to blend the way in which CU*Answers offers custom software project development services to the credit union industry by combining many of the proven development techniques CU*Answers has employed to great success for nearly 50 years. A key component is the packaging of many of these offerings within the evolving CU*Answers Online Store, from which clients can order services and products electronically.

To facilitate requests, CU*Answers has split projects into three categories: off-the-shelf, Design Studio, and API development projects. Off-The-Shelf projects represent common projects that CU*Answers has previously completed and are normally very familiar with the project parameters and specifications. Examples of these types of projects include converting to a currently supported ATM/debit card, credit card or check processing vendor.

Design Studio projects are a more customized project development strategy for which the participating client is often the architect for designing the project blueprint and building the solution. The DHD is fully available to collaborate in helping make a client’s project vision become a reality. For example, in considering a project, stated clients may optionally wish to contract CU*Answers to engage its expert resources in a variety of ways, including project design/management, programming, quality control, marketing, compliance, back office, and more. Examples of these projects include new 3rd party vendor integrations, SSO projects, data exchange (DEX)/data warehouse file downloads, and more.

CU*Answers API development processes are moving rapidly ahead, with many APIs currently available to credit unions and vendors for free. On-going API development represents an important conduit for allowing third-party servicers to seamlessly integrate their solutions to the CU*BASE^® product.

Be sure to check out the next Get Connected session to learn more about CU*Answers and the people who drive the organization forward.

DHD unveils categories for handling custom software projects

CU*Answers, the core data processing CUSO, has always had a Do-It-Together mentality for developing products and solutions, working with credit union partners to build cooperative solutions. With the recent creation of the Developer’s Help Desk (DHD), CU*Answers is ramping up its support for credit unions looking for DIY support.

The Developer’s Help Desk provides a new and exciting vision for how client software development projects are handled by CU*Answers. It’s uniquely targeted to facilitate the process by which clients design, build, and manage custom projects in a new, innovative way.

DHD has most recently announced two primary categories for how it will handle custom software project development. Off-the-shelf projects represent common projects that CU*Answers has previously completed and are normally very familiar with the project parameters and specifications. For many of these projects, CU*Answers provides standardized pricing, published in its annual pricing guides. For these types of custom project requests, clients may visit the DHD website to review and order online. Examples of these types of projects include converting to a currently supported EFT, credit card or check processing vendor.

Design Studio projects are a more customized project development strategy for which the participating client is the architect for designing the project blueprint and building the solution. DHD is fully available to collaborate in helping make a client’s project vision become reality. For example, in considering a project, clients may optionally wish to contract with CU*Answers to engage its expert resources in a variety of ways, including project design/management, programming, quality control, marketing, compliance, back office, and more. Examples of these types of project include new 3rd party vendor integrations, SSO projects, data exchange (DEX)/data warehouse file downloads and more.