At a Glance
- Client: A regional bank headquartered in Singapore, with operations in Hong Kong and Macau
- Domain: Card Issuing, UnionPay International Debit Card Migration
- Scope: End-to-end migration from a legacy mainframe (z/OS, COBOL) to CAKU
- Standout Methodology: Digital-Twin and Parallel Test & Run, ensuring zero-surprise cutover
The Challenge
The bank's in-house UnionPay International (UPI) debit card system had been running on a mainframe for many years - a COBOL-based monolith that was increasingly expensive to maintain and incapable of supporting new digital banking requirements. The cost of mainframe licensing and specialized talent was escalating, while the rigid architecture prevented the bank from introducing modern features and responding swiftly to market changes. As part of a broader digital transformation, the bank decided to migrate the debit card portfolio to an open, agile platform without disrupting cardholder service.
Why They Chose Us
The bank required a partner with a demonstrable, low-risk migration track record in the Asia-Pacific card space. Our team stood out because of:
- Proven migration credentials: Multiple successful card system migrations across the region with measurable outcomes.
- Deep business and technical insight: A team that could speak the bank's language - anticipating pain points, asking the right questions, and aligning with the bank's risk-averse mindset right from the requirement workshop.
- Innovative migration methodology: The introduction of our proprietary Digital-Twin approach and Parallel Test & Run framework, which would fundamentally de-risk the transition.
- Rare dual-platform expertise: Our team brings deep, hands-on mastery of both legacy mainframe COBOL environments and modern open platforms. This dual fluency means we can communicate seamlessly with the bank's existing IT teams - speaking their language, understanding their long-established operational logic, and bridging the gap between legacy knowledge and new architecture without friction or misinterpretation.
Solution & Methodology
We are executing a full-platform migration of the UnionPay International debit card business, including all card data, transaction logic, and interfaces. The cornerstone of our approach is the Parallel Test & Run model, we feed real-world transactions into both the legacy and the new system simultaneously, using automated comparison tools and reports to flag any discrepancy - whether it's a data mapping gap, a missing business rule, or even a long-standing BAU error silently embedded in the old mainframe. This allows the bank to validate the new system exhaustively before committing to the final switch.
Professional Service in Action
From the very first requirement workshop, the bank's project team remarked that our consultants were "highly professional, always asking the right questions, and completely in sync with the bank's logic and rhythm." This deep alignment continues to drive a collaborative process, ensuring that every legacy nuance is captured and that the migrated platform will not just replicate the old, but elevate the bank's debit card capabilities for future digital innovation.