Blockchain and Its Most Useful Applications in Finance

PAYMENTS

Article | July 21, 2022

Fueled by the emergence of new technologies and an ever-shifting workplace landscape, banking is powering a transition into a digital future for finance. The disruption in how we receive, save, and spend money is also enabling customers to expect and demand more from their banking. Service providers must now provide cutting-edge solutions to meet these demands in the era of open banking. The pursuit of innovation is producing a multitude of new trends in banking and finance. Here are five trends that are at the forefront of the banking story. 1 #1 APIs Application programming interfaces, or APIs are helping mobilize digital applications in banking like never before. Financial institutions are now able to offer swift yet secure digital banking services with a host of cutting-edge solutions through the use of APIs, all without incurring heavy costs to implement proprietary applications. 2 #2 Frictionless Transactions Being able to send and receive money seamlessly and in real-time has to be one of the most significant achievements of the digitalization of banking. It has not only upended traditional banking by reducing bottlenecks and delays, but also given a much needed thrust to the overall customer experience. The flexibility, ease, and promptness with which customers can now conduct transactions has singlehandedly given the digital banking economy a boost and laid the foundation for the creation of virtual versions of physical assets like credit cards and wallets. 3 #3 AI-powered Chatbots Artificial intelligence and machine learning in banking and finance are creating next-generation customer service solutions. The automation capabilities offered by AI chatbots and virtual assistants are helping financial institutions deliver faster and better banking experiences at a fraction of the cost. They are more capable of optimizing workforces to meet customer support demands, freeing up more resources. 4 #4 Multichannel Services Now that banking institutions are able to simplify consumer experiences, meeting customer needs across all channels has become a lot easier. Many organizations are developing an omnichannel banking experience that enables them to cater to complex demands and connect with customers at different touchpoints and stages of their consumer journeys. This enables banks to not only deliver better services but also customize their products and services, and provide a seamless, well-integrated experience. 5 To Conclude The digital wave is in full force, and banks and other financial institutions must take steps to integrate the above trends in their digitalization journey. They will need to on board a combination of automation, cloud banking, and analytics to unleash the full potential in order to keep customers coming back.

CORE BANKING

Article | July 20, 2022

Machine learning (ML) is a facet of data science that uses experience instead of programming to learn patterns and improve performance. There is no doubt that it offers an exciting opportunity for the financial industry, where data rules the roost. Machine learning, like artificial intelligence, is designed with automation as the end goal. Ideally, machine learning will enable computer systems to access data and improve experiences based on them. All of this happens in the background. As such, there is no room for human intervention and, thus, no human errors or bias. Subsequently, this brings precision and accuracy in data insights, even when the volume of data is tremendous. With the inexplicable power that machine learning brings to finance, many fintech and financial institutions are implementing it in a multitude of ways. From an economic point of view, it is very premature to predict what we have for the next months and years, but within all the effects that this pandemic brought, it is notable that people have increased the desire to have their own companies and go digital.” Oscar Jofre Jr., Co-Founder, President/CEO at KoreConX Here are some of the applications that are currently in use. 1 Trading based on Algorithms Traditionally, traders rely on mathematical models that are based on constant monitoring of trade news and real-time market activity. These models use some predetermined criteria like timing, quantity, pricing, and other such factors to make automated trades. Algorithmic trading involves the use of trained algorithms to make informed and precise trading decisions. However, it takes the analysis and monitoring aspects to the next level. It is able to process enormous amounts of data and make near-instantaneous decisions, which gives traders an edge over the market. It also eliminates emotion-based decisions, making the process truly revolutionary. 2 Detecting and Preventing Fraud A fortified digital infrastructure is a must for banking and financial institutions to operate in the modern world. However, fraud and cybersecurity threats continue to grow in significance. Traditional fraud systems are susceptible to modern fraudsters. However, with machine learning at the helm, organizations can sift through a massive amount of data in less time to identify anomalies or unusual activities. This way, security teams can be instantly alerted to act. 3 Computed Portfolio Management Machine learning is taking portfolio management by storm with the introduction of robo-advisors. Robo-advisors are online applications that use machine learning to deliver financial insights to investors. They use algorithms that assess the investor’s goals and risks and provide a financial custom financial portfolio tailored to their risk tolerance. Not only are robo-advisors cheaper, but they also require low account minimums. 4 What’s the Writing on the Wall for Financial Services? AI, machine learning, and deep learning are the heart of the technology-driven innovation in finance and banking. Fintech applications like Signifyd, that uses ML to spot fraud transactions during checkout stages on eCommerce sites are paving the way for multi-industry digital security. Another ML startup called Zest is empowering lenders with credit scoring solutions that help in risk management. These examples only illustrate the many innovations that are driving the exponential growth and use of machine learning in trading, investments, and finance.

Article | May 26, 2022

Consumers today want fast, seamless, and effective services at their fingertips. In a world of virtualization, these demands keep bank C-levels on their feet. What better than cloud technology to address these demands? Cloud computing uses the internet to access data stored on external servers. Traditionally, banks have been slow adopters of technology and for good reasons. The risks involved in becoming a heavily cloud-dependent organization aren’t few. And banking institutions too, take their own time to assess risks. Despite this, cloud computing in banking presents a glowing opportunity for financial institutions to transform their operations. On-premise banking infrastructure no longer cuts it. It cannot meet modern challenges that require banks to access applications via the internet. Moving to the cloud isn’t a not an easy bargain, but one with many paybacks that bank CFOs must take note of. In this article we talk about the intricacies of switching from on-premise to the cloud in a modern context. We also talk about how CFOs can regulate costs and drive long-term financial strategies using the cloud. Ironclad Security Security is a serious concern for banks when moving to the cloud. Although 90% of banks use cloud computing for non-core processes, core services remain on the premise and off the cloud. This leaves a huge opportunity unused. With the unique security challenges so common to banking institutions, CFOs can advocate for specialized security enforcement solutions inside and outside the cloud that can meet rigorous security parameters. Fraud detection- It is important to mention here that public clouds are known to be more secure than on-premise infrastructure. This is thanks to the layers of protection that the cloud can be equipped with. Cloud-based banking also offers seamless fraud detection and protection by assessing large amounts of data from a variety of sources. It empowers banking institutions to stay ahead of the curve when anticipating discrepancies beforehand. Blockchain integration- Blockchain is the latest in technological innovation to provide ground-breaking use cases. In cloud banking services, blockchain is outgrowing its cryptocurrency ecosystem. It can be used to add a layer of security to data and cloud architecture. Richer Analytical Insights, Better Financial Reporting Cloud services for banks arm banking and financial institutions with the ability to breakdown data silos across the organization. This leads to centralizing data and generating 360-degree insight for analytics. Data insights have been proven to transform decision-making, operational efficiencies, and organizational processes. The most significant advantage, however, is product and consumer analytics. Product analytics- A reduction in product deployment cycles is just one of the many advantages that cloud computing in banking has to offer. It simplifies product testing in a way that enables organizations to test new solutions and to meet market demands and challenges while thinking on their feet. One of the most significant advantages is the easy facilitation of cloud banking possibilities that can empower customers of both traditional and non-traditional financial services. Consumer analytics- The cloud offers a hyper-flexible platform that is ideal for processing tremendous amounts of real-time data. For instance, when the cloud replaced an investment bank’s legacy banking infrastructure, it yielded an enormous boost in analytics. The transformation enabled trading teams to explore new strategies, execute experiments, and adopt analysis of data points they did not have before. Barclays, a premier banking institution, was able to free up resources for its risk analysis team by implementing a cloud-based automation process. This is further helping banks and financial firms tailor products that align with consumer demand while also balancing financial risks in a volatile market. Companies that do not make customer experience a priority will struggle and quickly fall behind.” Jeff Pedowitz, President and CEO at The Pedowitz Group Agility in Developing and Scaling New Product Offerings Agility is not just a buzzword in business. Today’s processes need to be lean and simplified to support growth in a fast-changing market. Cloud computing empowers organizations to be nimble in reacting to competitive market landscapes. In addition, accompanied by the power of data, modern financial institutions can go further than they would have anticipated in designing solutions. The wide-berth of opportunities posed by cloud computing for financial services can help create a highly competitive, agile, and scalable financial organization. Constraints to Look Out for When Switching to Cloud Computing for Banks While cloud banking services provide a new vista for banking and financial services, the transition to cloud banking may not be simple. The banking sector is evolving, and the demonstrated capabilities of the cloud come with a significant challenge that senior leaders must take into account. Migration Costs- The upfront cost of using cloud computing in banking is high. This may keep many banking and financial services’ organizations, especially smaller ones, from truly leveraging the cloud for open banking. A thorough financial analysis and planning is required to attain an equilibrium in cost through cloud banking services. Skill Shortage in Cloud- According to an Accenture study, 41% of organizations rank a shortage of cloud skills as one of the top three barriers to adopting the cloud. Achieving a balance of in-house and third party cloud talent is key. A great example of this was demonstrated by the banking industry itself when it transitioned from brick-and-mortar operations to digital and from websites to mobile. Compliance Concerns- Meeting security regulations and banking compliance codes is another significant challenge for cloud banking. Although regulatory authorities are increasingly supporting the cloud transformation, many banking institutions are cautious when it comes to exposing critical moving parts to regulation and the risk of non-compliance. To Round Off The cloud offers modern technology that is ready to scale at a day’s notice. With agility on offer, cloud computing in finance is much more than just an on-demand access to computing resources. Banking technology services are poised for a revolution, and cloud banking will play a major role in it. The points covered in this article discuss the immediate benefits that the cloud can offer. But as consumer demands and expectations undergo a whirlwind of activity, banking and financial services must join the bandwagon. They will need to assess how to leverage the cloud for their specific needs in a way that increases ROI and creates a sustainable, thriving organization. Frequently Asked Questions What are some storage options for cloud computing in finance? Public cloud storage is easily scalable as well as economical while private cloud storage offers complete control and greater scalability. Hybrid cloud storage offers the best of both worlds with significant user control and simplified customizations. Banks can explore a combination of cloud storage solutions that align with their security needs. What are the types of cloud banking services used by banking institutions? The types of cloud banking services that banks can opt for include: Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) How many banks are now using the cloud? An IBM banking multicloud survey revealed that over 91% of banking and financial institutions were already actively using cloud technology.

Article | May 26, 2022

The future of financial services is here, and transparency is at the core of the evolution. While technology, as with other industries, is at the center of the transformation, the unfolding face of finance is fueled by more than just innovation in technology. Putting the Consumer at the Heart of Banking Open banking is the latest advancement to come out of the crucible of technology and growing consumer demands. Open banking is the practice of enabling third-party financial solutions providers complete access to the consumer financial data stored by banks and non-banking financial institutions. This is executed with the help of application programming interfaces, or APIs. The concept of open APIs has been around in the form of standard web APIs that provide limited access to consumer data to IT departments of financial institutions (FIs). How Open Banking Aims to Raise the Bar? Currently, several process challenges are hampering customers’ banking experiences across the board. Some of these include lack of proactive customer service, lengthy resolutions, and delayed support. Open banking will get the ball rolling for new and small banks to compete with larger, established banking institutions. The increase in competition, transparency, freedom, and clarity is aimed at empowering consumers to seek out comparisons and customizations in financial services. For instance, through open banking solutions, consumers can easily access details on interest rates, banking fees, and other costs associated with a financial product or service. What’s in it for Financial Institutions? Any new financial and banking concept must be lucrative for it to be sustainable. So, it wouldn’t be unwise to ask how it benefits financial institutions of all shapes and sizes. While the open banking practice is customer-centric at heart, it has several benefits for everyone, from large corporations to small banks. Increasing Traction for a Wider Range of Products and Services Open banking will offer next-generation analytics capabilities that will set the ball rolling for banking institutions to cross-sell their products. By storing and managing all banking data on one platform, organizations will be able to optimize business resources while personalizing cross-selling and upselling offers to customers. Garnering Clear Insights to Inform New and Better Business Decisions Consumer research will no longer be needed for rolling out new products and services. With a holistic view of the banking customers’ data at hand, FIs can drum up their investments and make better business decisions. Gaining an Edge Over Competitors with Much Lesser Market Research Open banking allows fintech companies and other financial institutions access to data. But in addition, it also allows institutions to communicate with each other, which means being able to diversify and offer financial products that are a departure from the usual offering. Even then, FIs will be able to mold their solutions to meet the most urgent challenges of customers. Preparing for the Inevitable Disruption Whether or not you’re looking to adopt the open banking system, it is on a path towards disruption in financial services. Where FIs have been traditionally closed in order to maintain security, open banking is delivering iron clad security and privacy without the restrictions. Getting a peek into a rich set of consumer data is the best way to create valuable offering that uplifts traditionally banking service to be innovative and customer-centric and thus sustainable and effective.