Plaza Home Mortgage Corp. is redesigning its companywide loan-processing network to improve customer service.
This month, the Santa Ana-based lender is installing network-management software and communications equipment from Crosscomm Corp., Marlborough, Mass. The resulting new computer network is expected to streamline the delivery of loan-origination documents, such as credit approvals and funding papers.
Part of the redesign involves installing a Crosscomm router a device that provides an interface between two computer networks - at Plaza's headquarters.
The router will provide connections to mainframes at service bureaus critical to Plaza's loan processing.
The router will also be used to link nine regional sites, including Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Bethesda, Md., and Boca Raton, Fla.
The company's subsidiary, Option One, based in Santa Ana, will also be on line with Crosscomm touters at three sites.
1,200 Users
In all, the mortgage company has contracted Crosscomm to connect all Plaza and Option One branch offices. The network will eventually support 1,200 users.
All sites, including the corporate office, will be managed by Crosscomm's centralized network-management software, which will "expedite network repairs at a significantly lower cost," said John Collins, Plaza's chief information officer.
Mr. Collins said that the network's capacity would allow the company to rapidly process loan documents between the branches and headquarters.
System Capabilities
Crosscomm's equipment supports asynchronous transfer mode, a fast transmission technology that handles voice, data, image, and full motion video communications.
"Crosscomm's support of ATM technology is a major factor in our plans," said Patrick Moles, Plaza's manager of network, operations.
"ATM will not only speed our communications, it also has the bandwidth to allow us to image key funding, underwriting, and credit approval documents at the branch level, which will save us an extraordinary amount of time."
