BT rolls out planner tablet technology

Financial planners within the BT Financial Group are being almost universally equipped with tablet devices in what the Westpac-owned company is describing as one of the industry's biggest-ever technology roll-outs.

According to BT Financial Group general manager, bank financial planning, Mike Chesworth, the roll-out will see just under 1000 personnel equipped with the tablets which will be loaded with Microsoft 8.0 and customised applications to enable them "to deliver advice to clients anywhere, anytime".

He said the roll-out would mean 560 planners were equipped with the devices — something he believed would allow them to spend more face-time with an estimated 80,000 customers.

BT had already rolled the new technology out to 110 planners and expected the full roll-out would be achieved over the next 12 months.

Chesworth said that in most instances the tablet devices would be replacing laptops as a more appropriate device with which to work with clients, with remaining laptops being utilised by office-based personnel.

He said that at the heart of the new tablet technology would be the online "Your World" tool which was intended to deliver "better client conversation".

BT Financial Group head of practice management, advice, Wes Hall said the release of the tablets and the online version of "Your World" were part of a suite of enhancements the company was seeking to implement to improve the delivery of advice.

He said this included a dedicated adviser website, moves to a paperless office and the release of a new application intended to deliver up-to-date technical information.

Chesworth acknowledged that BT had made a conscious decision to go with the Windows 8.0-enabled tables rather than the alternatives, which included Apple's iPad offering.

He said that the company was a partner with respect to the rollout of Microsoft 8.0 and that it represented a technological step decision.