Insufficient interoperability testing on SuperStream rollover and contributions gateways is the biggest risk facing the superannuation industry, according to SuperChoice chairman Peter Philip.
SuperChoice has started interoperability testing on its SuperStream contributions and rollovers solution SuperGATE, which builds upon its SuperChoice platform. The product will be available for client testing from April with a view to rollout in May.
"We believe the biggest risk facing the industry is insufficient interoperability testing between gateways which could make it impossible for messages to flow between participants who are using an insufficiently tested gateway," he said.
"We think it is crucial that fund trustees understand this risk and ensure that they are dealing with a gateway provider that is able to complete proper interoperability testing in the extremely short time available," said Philip.
Philip said all operators had to commit to being part of a highly reliable trading network, with stringent service requirements for resolving issues.
"Operating this type of network is a highly specialised discipline that requires a shared infrastructure model to function with the sort of reliability that the superannuation industry needs to maintain trust in the system," he said.
Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia chief executive Pauline Vamos said shared infrastructure systems such as SuperChoice could help the industry share the cost and pain of implementing the new super payment system.
"It also allows funds and administrators to focus on the necessary re-engineering of their internal processes that currently rely on paper-based processes," she said.
SuperChoice was a charter member of the Australian Taxation Office's gateway technical and compliance working group to finalise the Gateway Network Interoperability Agreement.
The IQ Group's Graham Sammells said the industry faced a risk because the market for SuperStream technologies was still immature. He warned funds to remain flexible as technologies would change.
Challenger announced it was the first fund to sign on to a rollover gateway last month, choosing Westpac Institutional Bank's QuickSuper for its Challenger Retirement Fund.
