1.3 A significant amount has been delivered during the first phase of the strategy in partnership with SBS. The partnership has delivered new products and channels, including a single point of contact for customers, a data-warehouse (a database of customer records) and a more skilled workforce. This has provided NS&I with a number of options for the future through increasing the flexibility and capability of its business. In particular, the partnership has enhanced NS&I's ability to deal with customers directly. NS&I has consequently revised its strategy to ensure that it remains relevant and delivers NS&I's objectives optimally. Before the partnership NS&I's in-house capabilities and its annual budget limited its future options.