ING FUNDS TARGETS 2,000 ADVISERS BY YEAR END

New ING mobile workforce service to boost advisers’ productivity

ING Funds Berhad (IFB) today announced that it plans to grow its adviser force to 2,000 by the end of 2008 and will be investing in mobile technology solutions to raise the effectiveness and productivity of its advisers. The announcement was made during the launch of ING’s Real Time Smart Service (ING RSS); the latest tool to help its advisers to be more efficient and productive.

In 2007 alone IFB’s total new sales was RM 1.72 Billion of which the adviser force contributed almost 50% of these news sales. The sales contribution from the company’s adviser force is one of the highest in the market while the average productivity of the agency force is also considered to be one of the highest in the industry. More than 100 IFB advisers produced more than RM1 million new sales last year alone.

“Information is critical in the field of investment management and especially for advisers as they are always on the move. They need the latest accurate information to provide the right solution and personalised advice to their clients. With this information, our customers can make informed investment decisions. This forms the basis for implementing ING RSS,” said Steve Ong, Chief Executive Officer of ING Funds.

ING RSS is part of ING Funds continuous efforts to equip its advisers with knowledge and tools to grow and manage their business. The new service further enhances the company’s existing web-based adviser network. Advisers can now choose to access similar services via the internet on a laptop or through their mobile hand phone device.

“The “Real-Time Smart Service” is based on the Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed concept. The solution offers users a simplified and fast avenue to receive information – basically anytime, anywhere, real-time information feed on their Windows Mobile device.

“This solution will be a value-add to an already well performing team. It looks at increasing the mobility aspect of how our advisers work, offering them up-to-date information at their fingertips which will indefinitely help them work more productively and efficiently. Equipped with the best in technology, we look forward to producing greater results and high-performing advisers with this new initiative,” added Ong.

With ING RSS, advisers are armed with useful real time information such as fund prices, local and global market news and commentary, local and international news, fund summary and stock prices etc. at the touch of their finger tips 24 x 7.

ING Funds can also send group messages and inform its advisers of the latest market happenings, new incentives and other key announcements in a cost-efficient and timely manner. This solution enables advisers to provide better client servicing and become more effective during their sales presentation activities.

ING Funds is the first investment management company to offer real-time information feed using Windows Mobile device. The company future plans include the introduction of mobility sales tools such as adviser-customer relationship management (ACRM) capabilities. When the mobility sales tool is launched ING Funds would be the first investment management company to offer its advisers complete electronic end-to-end solution.

This launch of the real time smart service was in collaboration with Microsoft Malaysia and DiGi.

* Statistics quoted from ING Group Financial Report, ING Investment Management, Lipper Hindsight & ING Website