The Grameen Foundation sought to enhance the reporting capabilities of its Mifos system for microfinance institutions globally, turning to ThoughtWorks for assistance. After evaluating the current reporting tool, Jasper, ThoughtWorks recommended switching to the Eclipse BIRT platform for improved customization, performance, and scalability. The implementation of these changes aims to streamline reporting processes and support the significant growth of microfinance operations in emerging markets.

1. Preparing Grameen’s Systems For Tomorrow
The Grameen Foundation wanted to ensure it had the optimal
reporting platform for its open source application system, Mifos,
which provides a wide range of processing services to microfinance
institutions globally. ThoughtWorks stepped in to help ensure that
Mifos had a reporting component that would allow maximum
customization, performance and scalability.
The Client Working Towards A Solution
The Grameen Foundation is a not-for-profit global network of ThoughtWorks assessed Jasper’s fit as the Mifos reporting tool from
microfinance institutions (MFIs) committed to fighting poverty both a technology and functional perspective. ThoughtWorks China
through technology and microfinance. Founded in Bangladesh in completed a 2-week evaluation of Grameen’s reporting processes
1997, the foundation reaches over 4 million families in 27 emerging and needs and came up with a set of recommendations. The main
countries, providing technical assistance, training, and funding to recommendation was that Grameen change Mifos current reporting
the poor. The Foundation also has a Technology Center that focuses application and approach from Jasper, using SQL directly for
on advancing the field of microfinance through innovation. generating reports, to another open source platform - Eclipse BIRT.
Building some of the standard reports that microfinance institutions
The Situation typically generate tested this reporting framework.
Grameen has leveraged the open source community for
development of its core applications, known as Mifos. Mifos is now The implementation phase is currently underway and the project
a freely available world-class management information system that has recently transitioned from China to India to better leverage the
provides the core functionality required by microfinance institutions, proximity of some of the key microfinance institutions there.
including credit application processing and loan origination. The
flexibility and scalability of the product means that Grameen can
The Future
Microfinance institutions benefit from the simplified process through
simultaneously standardize common processes, accommodate
which the end users generate reports from Mifos. On top of this,
regional variations, and scale for new innovations
the microfinance institutions now can deploy the Mifos platform
in the future.
independently of the reporting framework, allowing reporting to
The Challenge be installed and customized by the MFIs. The ThoughtWorks
A current critical need is for Mifos to have a quick, accurate team is now working closely with Grameen to improve the overall
reporting system that can be customized and installed by performance of the current Mifos system in order to leverage BIRT
microfinance institutions. The Mifos platform previously used Jasper more effectively, allowing for maximum customization, improved
as its reporting application. Grameen wanted ThoughtWorks to performance, and scalability.
evaluate Jasper’s fit for their short and longer term reporting needs
and determine if the current reporting module was appropriate.
www.grameenfoundation.org
Given ThoughtWorks’ experience and expertise in working on
open source initiatives, Grameen was interested in developing a
long-term relationship with ThoughtWorks to handle more
complex technology needs.
www.thoughtworks.com