Creation of the largest secure communication space in the financial sector based on the eXpress platform – the "Komanda" messenger for the VTB Group
- Customer
- VTB Bank
- Project manager on the customer side
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- IT Provider
- eXpress
- Year of project completion
- 2024
- Project timeline
- September, 2021 - December, 2024
- Project scope
- 150000 subscribers
- Goals
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To create a unified, secure, and import-independent communication environment for VTB Group employees and counterparties.
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To completely replace foreign corporate and public solutions (WhatsApp, Telegram, Microsoft Teams, and other similar solutions).
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To increase operational efficiency by accelerating work communications and reducing the use of email for operational messaging.
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- Project Results
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Complete import substitution: Discontinuation of 6+ foreign solutions (WhatsApp, Telegram, Microsoft Teams, and others).
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Increased Efficiency: Communication speed between employees doubled. Interaction with partners accelerated.
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100% Coverage: The proportion of employees who installed the messenger is close to 100%. Counterparties and VTB Group employees worldwide are connected to the platform.
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Security: A secure communication channel compliant with banking industry standards has been created.
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High Satisfaction: The user satisfaction score reached 4.7 against a target of 3.6.
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The uniqueness of the project
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The project is a flagship in the Russian financial sector in terms of scale and security level.
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It is a 100% import-independent solution, designed and produced in Russia, with full technological sovereignty. The software is registered in the Ministry of Digital Development register and has FSTEC of Russia certificate No. 4232 with the 4th level of trust.
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The solution is unique for its deep adaptation to the Bank's enhanced security requirements (GOST 57580) and integration into the existing IT architecture.
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AI functions have been implemented (noise suppression, virtual background, and chat-bots).
- Used software
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The project is based on the domestic eXpress platform.
A scalable infrastructure of 150 geographically distributed hosts was deployed.The implementation covered all of the Bank's workstations and virtual workplaces, as well as employees' mobile devices (iOS, Android). Project management utilized tracking systems, roadmaps, and Agile tools (sprints, backlogs).The volume of new development was ~10%, customization amounted to ~250 man/days.
- Difficulty of implementation
- Complexity was determined by the scale (150,000+ users, 1,600 branches), enhanced security requirements, and the need for 100% import independence. The project included dozens of integrations, three heavily modified components, and work with extreme loads. Managerial complexity involved coordinating 8 internal teams and 3 external contractors. The solution is non-standard and required significant adaptation (~250 man/days of customization) to meet the Bank's strict internal standards.
- Project Description
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The project was a full-scale implementation and development of the corporate messenger "Komanda" as a central secure hub for communications within the VTB Group and with external partners. The work was carried out under import substitution conditions and was initiated to achieve technological independence.
Complex work was performed to integrate the solution into the Bank's existing IT infrastructure while complying with all information security requirements. The project was characterized by extreme loads and complex business logic. Management followed a hybrid methodology with key decisions approved at the Steering Committee level.
Over 150,000 users, including more than 60,000 VTB Group employees, as well as integrators, contractors, and counterparties. Implementation was carried out in 1,600 branches. The project involved 8 teams with total labor costs exceeding 16,000 man-hours. - Project geography
- The project was implemented in the countries of the VTB Group's presence: all regions of the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Belarus, and China. The deployment was carried out centrally, with clients installed on both workstations and employees' mobile devices worldwide. In the future, the geography will be expanded to include Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.