When it comes to joining SWIFT, most companies approach this complex project in carefully calibrated steps over an extended timeline. Defying conventional thinking, Dell Inc. is leaping ahead. "We're taking the big bang approach," says Peter Schmitz, Dell's global treasury product manager. The company started the groundwork a year ago, and while no live messages were being sent or received as of September, Schmitz expects that before the end of the year, Dell will be "live with all of our 600-plus accounts across the globe, using the full range of reporting and payment messages."

How did SWIFT, Dell's service bureau, and the peers with which the company benchmarks react to this ambitious plan? "They were surprised," Schmitz says. "They thought Dell's approach was quite aggressive for the complexity and scope of the project."

Why throw away the map and blaze a new trail? It's partly confidence. "When we decided to join SWIFT, we were ready to do it right and do it big," Schmitz says. "We think holistically. We wanted to take advantage of that value as quickly as possible. We saw no reason why we couldn't make the big bang work. We're attempting the simultaneous onboarding, directly or indirectly, of all accounts for which we have receipts and disbursements."