In the financial sector, FinTech has caught hold and is rapidly gaining momentum as the new normal. Financial Technology is changing the landscape of this industry, with innovators aggressively targeting the intersection between customer pain points and high profitability for existing institutions.
In the same way that Uber and AirBnB developed a model of decentralised asset ownership, using information technology to efficiently match providers and users, FinTech disruptors are able to grow revenues exponentially while keeping costs more or less flat. Instead of trying to replicate the existing banking structures, these disruptors are focusing on particular innovative technologies or processes, in everything from mobile payments to insurance.
Digital transformation is well underway, with user experience, blockchain, AI, real-time fraud detection and granular data streams, third party API capabilities, cloud-based banking, collaboration between innovators and established institutions, cyber-security and chatbot service providers all being employed to deliver a highly customised and intuitive banking experience for the end user. This has moved past the point of the early adopters; the digital consumer now demands these services, expecting more choice and an improved user-experience across the board.
To survive the shift, established institutions have recognised the need to transition to digital, collaborating with innovators to get a new perspective on their industry, better understand their strategic advantages, and even outsource aspects of their research and development. By the same token, the disruptors have seen the value of piggy-backing on the scale and infrastructure of existing financial companies, where they are unable to compete, while still defying the conventional model with the highly innovative products and services listed above.
OK, now we know where we are, what does this mean for your business?
The teething problems of any industry disruption need to be addressed before a successful transition can even be considered. The main challenges facing the financial sector in its digital transformation are:
- Cyber-security
- Fraud detection
- Legacy data architecture and infrastructure
- Mining big data successfully
- The increasingly sophisticated demands of the tech-savvy user
- Manual, resource-intensive processes
- Innovative competitors
- User experience expectations
- An increasingly complex regulatory environment
AYOH has been helping businesses with digital transformation since it was just a buzzword. As such, we have developed niche expertise in the areas of data and print management, security, and automated workflow.
Data management and automated workflow
Technology advances have given businesses exponential access to data. It is an amazing opportunity to give customers what they really want. As people and their devices become more interconnected, new streams of granular, real-time data are emerging, and the opportunity to use that data to support financial decision-making marketplace companies. However, financial institutions are still relying on legacy data architecture and infrastructure.
AYOH can build a solution that intelligently captures, processes and gives secure access to this data, integrating it into one system that feeds directly into your ERP, for a truly complete information picture. Many of the business processes related to this data can be automated with intelligent workflows, greatly reducing time and cost-intensive manual processes.
Print management
Data management includes the processing of hard copy documents, be they forms, contracts, or signed documents.
AYOH can streamline and manage a combination of desktop and centralised multifunctional printers, their connectivity, technical service, and consumables requirements, increasing productivity and reducing print costs by up to 40%, all while incorporating the printed or scanned documents into the data management workflow outlined above.
Security
Fraud, hacking and criminal cyber activity pose the biggest risk for this sector and as such, the regulatory environment is becoming increasingly complex.
AYOH offers end-point security for PCs and printers, ensuring that information sharing is access-controlled, encrypted and secure. The data management workflows are also secure, and all of these services meet regulatory requirements.
Disruption need not be disruptive. If you partner with a company that has made disrupting the status quo its business, you will be able to navigate the digital transformation of your business with confidence.
Contact us to see how we can help your business through the digital transformation:
Michael Diederiks: 083 775 9965 • michael@ayoh.co.za
Ross Rencken: 082 802 2235 • ross@ayoh.co.za
References:
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/06/5-ways-technology-transforming-finance/
https://www.information-age.com/technology-finance-banking-sector-123471800/
https://thefinancialbrand.com/69779/financial-technology-trends-data-ai-blockchain/
