Tag: runcorn

sp/ARCHITECT-BANK module – development in Runcorn, Cheshire by The Software Partnership

The software known as sp/ARCHITECT (specifically the sp/ARCHITECT-BANK module) has a timeline tied to its development in Runcorn, Cheshire, by a firm originally called The Software Partnership. 

Company & Product Timeline

  • Mid-1980s: The Software Partnership is co-founded by Nigel Walsh.
  • 1989: The company begins significant operations in Runcorn, initially at Wingate Drive (Timperley) and later moving to Norton House in Crowngate.
  • 1990–1994: Development period for sp/ARCHITECT in Runcorn. The software was a banking system used by major institutions including TSB, Bank of Scotland, and Rabobank.
  • 1992: The firm relocates its Runcorn base to Wingate House on Northway.
  • 1994: The Software Partnership is acquired by the American company Deluxe Electronic Payment Systems (a division of Deluxe Corporation).
  • Post-1994: Following the acquisition, the entity operated as Deluxe Data International Operations.
  • Later Transitions: The lineage of the Runcorn operations eventually merged into larger fintech entities, including eFunds, EFD, and ultimately FIS. 
Deluxe Data, Wingate House
The Software Partnership, Norton House

sp/ARCHITECT-BANK module – development in Runcorn, Cheshire by The Software Partnership

TSP / Deluxe Data : 1990 – 1995

sp/ARCHITECT-BANK – developed by a Runcorn-based software house called The Software Partnership (later acquired by Deluxe Data in 1994)

“sp/architect nonstop tandem” refers to SP/ARCHITECT-BANK, an electronic banking software that ran on the highly available, fault-tolerant Tandem NonStop servers (now part of the Hewlett Packard Enterprise, or HPE, NonStop product line). 

SP/ARCHITECT-BANK Software

  • Function: Developed as an electronic banking software package, it enabled functions like desktop access to company accounts, inter-account transfers, and bookkeeping, which was considered cutting-edge in the early 1990s.
  • Developer: The software was developed by a Runcorn-based software house called The Software Partnership (later acquired by Deluxe Data in 1994).
  • Users: Various banks, including TSB, Bank of Scotland, Rabobank, and Girofon (Denmark), used the software. 

Tandem NonStop Servers

The NonStop servers, originally from Tandem Computers Inc., are known for their extreme reliability and scalability, making them suitable for mission-critical applications in finance, telecommunications, and retail. 

Key architectural features include:

  • Fault Tolerance: The systems use redundant components (processors, storage, controllers, power supplies) with a “shared-nothing” architecture to ensure continuous operation even if a component fails.
  • Operating System: They use a proprietary, message-based operating system, the NonStop Kernel (NSK, originally Guardian), which manages fault detection and failover automatically, without human intervention.
  • Current Status: Tandem was acquired by Compaq in 1997, and Compaq was subsequently acquired by HP in 2002. The NonStop product line is now offered by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). More information is available on the HPE website. 

The Software Partnership (later acquired by Deluxe Data in 1994)