Priority Gaps
Results of informal survey across Mifos implementers to capture the following:
Top 5 priority 1 gaps with Mifos (these are gaps that would have to be met to close a sale or complete a deployment)
Top 5 priority 2 gaps with Mifos (these are more nice to have gaps (i.e. possibly could be handled with workarounds)
East Africa
Uganda
From Vastech Uganda
Extensive Reporting in Mifos itself
Shares Module (Transfer of shares to and from savings)
Use of the Client Photo
A Simple Data migration Tool for the Old MFI Data.
Very Basic Accounting Module in Mifos itself
Ease in Installation i.e (Environment variables, appache tomcat, java, mysql)- if only this could be bundled up in 1
An alert of expected Client Payments of a given day
Rwanda
From GoIT Solutions
Add an upload client picture option and specimen
Manage/correct the way reunion programs are configured(no need of program reunion to activate a client and it causes problem when disbourse a loan)
Correct the reports errors (general ledger and the branch cash confirmation).
Kenya
From Nuru International
Import of excel spreadsheets to mifos. If the import function of excel spreadsheets to mifos could be put in place, we could post a lot of data to mifos within a short period of time and our mifos data would be up to date always; also considering the fact that we are dealing with more than 2,000 clients whom we have to update their information, savings and loan repayments in the mifos database!
Ethiopia
From Kazeem
Must Haves
1. Accounting integration
2. Offline consolidation
3. Financial control module allowing MFBs to use as a regular banking system allowing expense disbursement from teller
4. Local marketing and implementation support
5. Scalability and
Nice to haves
1. Partner's support
2. Amharic version (for Ethiopian market)
3. Mobile payment integration for front end devices
4. Versioning control and code tracking (this is a result of the fact that every implementation has tinkered with the code and is unique to the site.
5. Cloud infrastructure
Southern Africa
Mozambique
Integrated accounting
Integration with cash management open source tool/integrated cash management
Automated generation of penalties
Improved reporting (often doing home-grown reporting solution now)
West Africa
Ghana
From Lumana
Dynamic, quick reporting
Offline collection sheet
lack of flexibility of loan products - loan re-finances, loan schedule
Number of account creation screens
Optimisation of Mifos for smartphones
Bulk operations such as bulk client creation
Loan officer scheduling
Nigeria
From Allover Microfinance Bank
greater accounting integration at HO level, current account, fixed deposit, customer account numbering.
Southeast Asia
Indonesia
Priority 1 Gaps
Most MFI in Indonesia use Islamic (sharia) based financial model.
More robust Accounting module, especially for banks regarding governance regulation. But for MFI (non bank), this requirement should be in priority 2 as It’s not restricted by regulation.
Offline capability. Most of targeted areas are located in remote areas with minimum communication line availability.
Priority 2 Gaps
Mobile interface. The budget capability will determine this need. But for now, we still use paper-based form in the fields (center meeting place).
HR integration. This is also depend on the size of the MFI, as for the big one it will surely come to this issue.
Data upload interface, ie: From excel file
Easier modification of Client and loan details. For regulatory purpose, we often need these fields to be modified.
Client prospect and analysis. A certain tool to score future client, such as Cashpor Index and the analysis tool for monitoring purpose.
Philippines
Priority 1 Gaps
Accounting module
Offline module
Daily interest computation
Flexible reporting module (mostly answered already with the Jasper BI integration)
API for 3rd party collection entry application (mobile devices)
Priority 2 Gaps
Voucher printing integration
Check printing integration
Micro-insurance product integration
Summary view of client list (dynamic search)
Cambodia
From Specialist, Anakut and other MFIs
Integration with accounting
Offline support
Multi-currency support
South Asia
India
From Adhikar
Rescheduling of Loans
More Management Reports
Data Back Up System
Functionality to clean up error data
Offline Module of Mifos
Nepal
From Magnus Consulting
Priority 1 Gaps
Accounting function that would also do annual account closure;
Customized reporting that meets Nepal Rastra Bank’s (state’s supervisory bank) requirements;
Customized reporting that meets each MFI’s internal needs (which may differ from NRB’s requirements, for example head quarter wishes to view reports of branches and centers differently than what NRB requires);
Hosting service as MFIs themselves unlikely to invest in the resource/expertise; and
Guarantee of Local support.
Priority 2 Gaps
Localization;
Local calendar;
Real time transaction using laptops/smart phones through WiFi/3G respectively.