Future of Banking: Examining Components of Digital Banking

Future of Banking: Examining Components of Digital Banking
Digital banking altered the way businesses manage their finances, rendering the once cumbersome processes of physical branch visits and lengthy lines for account opening and money transfers obsolete.

Contents

1. Evolution of Banking: From Brick-and-mortar to Digital
2. Multichannel Banking and Self-service Solutions
3. Demystifying Retail, Business and Corporate Banking
4. Mobile Banking: Payment Processing Overhaul
5. Technology Trends in Digital Banking
6. Digital Transformation in Banking
7. Digital Banking Platforms Reaching out to SMBs
8. Future Aspects of Digital Banking Solutions


1. Evolution of Banking: From Brick-and-mortar to Digital

Digital banking has transformed the traditional banking landscape and brought about a paradigm shift in the way individuals and businesses manage their finances. The cumbersome and time-consuming nature of financial transactions that involved physical visits to bank branches and long queues for basic tasks like account opening and money transfers is now a thing of the past.

Between 2017 and 2021, 9% of all branch locations closed down, a loss of around 7,500 branches, according to the non-profit National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC).

(Source: Bankrate)

With the digitization of banking, there has been a shift toward a cashless economy, with net and mobile banking gaining popularity over physical cash. With digital banking solutions like UPI, internet banking, and mobile banking, customers can access global transaction banking services directly from their own platforms, enabling seamless transactions anytime, anywhere.

2. Multichannel Banking and Self-Service Solutions

The shift from traditional brick-and-mortar banking to digital banking has become ubiquitous, making self-service approaches in digital banking solutions vital for customers. These options allow customers to access banking solutions using software resources without human intervention, enabling them to conduct transactions such as checking account balances, making online transfers and withdrawals, paying bills, loan installments, exchanging currencies, and overall managing wealth with ease.

Such solutions can be accessed through FAQs, chatbots, customer support portals, and other similar resources. The scope of self-service technology also encompasses internet banking and online shopping. Although the first and most successful self-service solution introduced by banks worldwide was the automated teller machine (ATM), the concept has now been extended to include a variety of digital banking platforms and applications.

3. Demystifying Retail, Business and Corporate Banking

Digital banking services and products consist of three main sub-categories: Retail banking, Business banking, and Corporate banking.

  • Retail banking, also referred to as consumer banking or personal banking, is a form of banking that offers financial services specifically to individual customers instead of businesses. It enables customers to effectively manage their finances, access credit facilities, and securely deposit their funds.

  • Business banking refers to a company's financial transactions with a specialized institution that offers tailored financial services such as business loans, credit, savings accounts, and checking accounts, exclusively designed for corporate entities rather than individuals. This type of banking is conducted by a dedicated business banking division within a bank, which solely caters to the financial needs of commercial organizations.

  • Corporate banking entails the provision of financial services to sizable corporations and multinational enterprises, which includes an array of offerings such as cash management, trade finance, corporate lending, and treasury services. With the advent of digital corporate banking, businesses can now effectively manage their financial transactions, process payments, and gain access to various financial tools and resources via digital platforms, ensuring improved efficiency and convenience.

4. Mobile Banking: Payment Processing Overhaul

Mobile banking allows remote access to a wide range of banking services. Mobile app simplifies our lives by letting bank and other financial institution users check account balances, pay bills, transfer money, manage investments, and apply for loans with just a few clicks.

Mobile banking alerts promote smart financial management, provide customization options, and enable easy monitoring for suspicious activity. A Chase Bank study revealed that 87% of consumers use their bank's mobile app monthly.

Some features of a digital banking platform:

  • Transfer money to friends and family within minutes via the ‘Manage Payee’ option on mobile banking apps.

  • Clear utility bills via banks linked with UPI-enabled apps on your phone instead of standing in long queues outside gas stations with cash.

  • Open Demat accounts online via the KYC process and manage all investments, deposits, and stocks in one place.

  • Open bank accounts by uploading documents online; skip visiting banks and filling out forms.

  • Get online assistance from banks 24/7 through chatbots and support systems.

  • Mobile banking enables smooth functioning and boosts transparency in accessing financial data.

  • Check account balances anytime without the need for passbook slips.

  • Mobile banking apps provide customers with innumerable loan options, with banks deducting loan amounts from accounts on a fixed date via the ‘AutoPay’ option.

4.1 Overview of Fintech Companies in Banking Industry

Here are some leading digital banking platforms catering to the needs of financial institutions:

Alkami Technology: It is a major developer of cloud-based digital banking solutions for financial institutions in the United States. Its solutions enable users to clients their businesses with confidence, react to changing circumstances swiftly, and build vibrant digital communities. The company provides a range of services, including retail banking and business banking, digital account opening, loan origination, and multi-payment fraud protection solutions to assist clients in their transformation. It is dedicated to empowering its clients and supporting them in achieving their goals.

Numerated: It is a fast-growing fintech that streamlines the origination process for business banking products. Over 400,000 businesses and 30,000 financial institution associates have processed $50 billion in lending using Numerated. The platform is used by financial institutions with a combined $1 trillion in assets, including Bremer Bank, Dollar Bank, Eastern Bank, MidFirst Bank, People's United Bank, Seacoast Bank, and others. The company has been recognized for its work as one of 2020's Top 250 FinTechs by CB Insights and 2021's Best Overall Business Lending Company by FinTech Breakthrough.

Zoot Enterprises: It is a global leader in providing advanced origination, acquisition, and decision management solutions to financial institutions. Its cloud-based platforms offer flexibility for specific business needs, including loan origination, fraud detection, and data acquisition. Zoot enables clients to access hundreds of cutting-edge data sources in real time, delivering decisions in milliseconds. Its origination solution streamlines loan processing, providing powerful tools and robust integrations that reduce data entry, accelerate loan processing times, and avoid costly errors.

Geezeo: The company delivers enriched digital banking experiences, processing, and augmenting transactions for over 500 financial institutions. Its insights enhance the overall customer experience, seamlessly integrating within online and mobile banking environments while allowing financial institutions to maintain ownership of their personal financial management (PFM) brand. It focuses on technology solutions that engage audiences with enriched data and offers expertise in digital banking, marketing, and technology.

TurnKey Lender: It is a global leader in Unified Lending Management (ULM). Its intelligent software products automate the entire lending process, including traditional and alternative lending, SME financing, grant management, money lending, leasing, trade finance, in-house financing, and more. With customers in over 50 countries, TurnKey Lender is gaining traction as a pioneer in AI software development for lenders in regions like the United States, APAC, and the EU. The company’s solutions are used by all types of lenders, including large/mid-size banks, digital lenders, multi-finance companies, trade finance operators, traditional and non-traditional lenders, and telecoms.

5. Technology Trends in Digital Banking

Banking technology is rapidly evolving. Advanced technologies like AI and ML will enable banks to analyze large data sets in real time and offer personalized solutions to customers.

The market size of the global digital banking platform was valued at USD 20.8 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 20.5% from 2022 to 2030.

(Source: Grand View Research)

The increasing digital savviness of the global population is prompting the adoption of technological advancements. However, some individuals are still in an adaptive mode due to a lack of time and knowledge. AI and ML technologies enable banks to analyze large amounts of data, make informed decisions through predictive analysis, and improve lending patterns by analyzing consumer spending patterns.

6. Digital Transformation in Banking

Financial institutions must leverage big data to automate business processes and reduce costs in light of falling interest rates and banking fees coupled with rising consumer demands. Adopting artificial intelligence, cloud technology, and automation in modernizing their applications could enable banks to develop omnichannel products, services, and capabilities, ultimately improving the user experience.

Now, let's examine digital transformation in the banking industry:

6.1 Authentic User Experience (UX)

Banks must share genuine customer experiences to retain loyalty. To achieve this, they must embrace the latest trends, technologies, and well-designed UX.

6.2 Blockchain Technology

To improve customer satisfaction, banks must reduce the intermediaries between them and their customers. This can be accomplished through increased transparency using blockchain technology, enabling untrusted parties to agree on a shared database and eliminating the need for transaction intermediaries.

6.3 Personalized Technical Services

Key points about the benefits of personalized services such as automation, AI, and cloud computing in the banking industry:

  • Automation minimizes human intervention and reduces errors, resulting in faster and more efficient service.

  • AI helps banks predict outcomes based on past data, such as identifying fraud and making customer recommendations.

  • Cloud computing enables banks to adopt new business models and create secure applications that meet regulatory requirements.

About 27% of Americans use an online-only bank. Of those at online-only banks, 88% reported they are satisfied with the bank’s services. Meanwhile, only 66% of consumers using traditional banks report being satisfied with them.

(Source: Bankrate)

7. Digital Banking Platforms Reaching Out to SMBs

Digital banking platforms have revolutionized business operations by providing enhanced convenience and adaptability. Fintech firms have customized their platforms to meet the unique needs of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), offering mobile apps that facilitate financial management, transaction processing, and access to a range of financial tools and services at all times and from any location.

The following is a list of notable digital banking applications that have garnered significant popularity over time:

Betterment: It is an online financial advisor that offers personalized, fiduciary advice for retirement planning, building wealth, and achieving financial goals. By utilizing advanced algorithms and technology, it offers automated investment services that are tailored to each client's unique investment objectives and risk tolerance. The platform offers a diverse range of investment options, low fees, tax-efficient investing, and access to financial advisors. Betterment's mission is to make investing accessible and affordable to everyone, with a user-friendly online platform that is easy to use and offers high-quality investment advice.

Mercury: It is a startup-focused banking platform that provides a comprehensive range of financial services tailored to companies of any size or stage. The platform offers free checking and savings accounts, debit and credit cards, domestic and international wire transfers, treasury and venture debt, and other essential financial products, all with an intuitive user experience. In addition to its suite of banking services, Mercury also provides vibrant community programs that offer founders the resources, advice, and connections needed to build successful companies.

Bluevine: It is a financial technology company that specializes in providing working capital financing solutions tailored to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the United States. With a suite of financing products, including invoice factoring, lines of credit, and term loans, Bluevine enables SMBs to secure the necessary funding to drive growth and expansion. The company's platform is designed to facilitate a seamless lending experience, with streamlined applications and fast approvals that can be completed in as little as 10 minutes.

Novo: New York-based fintech firm, Novo offers digital banking services to small businesses in the United States. Its suite of products includes mobile check deposit, online bill pay, and debit card issuance for employees. The company has also integrated with popular small business software tools such as QuickBooks and Xero, providing businesses with greater financial management capabilities.

Relay: Relay is an online banking and money management platform dedicated to giving America's small businesses the tools they need to grow and gain visibility into their finances. The company recognizes that traditional banking services often underserve small businesses. As a result, it has built a platform that gives entrepreneurs the power to control their cash flow by giving them a clear picture of their income and expenses.

8. Future Aspects of Digital Banking Solutions

As technology continues to advance, the traditional banking system is expected to undergo significant changes in the coming decades, with neobanks rapidly gaining popularity among tech-savvy customers for their personalized services. These digital fintech companies, often referred to as 'challenger banks', operate without physical branches and offer a range of attractive services, blurring the line between traditional banking and financial systems. As a result, retail banks may adopt an omnichannel approach and leverage the robust infrastructure of fintech enterprises to enhance the customer experience.

Spotlight

Cuscal Limited

Cuscal is Australia’s leading independent provider of payment solutions. We are the largest Australian payment processor after the Big 4 banks and the RBA with the widest range of products and services. We represent our clients’ interests on all of Australia’s major payments boards and associations where we work to increase competition and create a more level playing field. Our recent track record of innovation includes enabling over 60% of the financial institutions.

OTHER ARTICLES
Core Banking, Digital Banking

Unlocking Crypto's Power: Digital Currency and Its Boundless Potential

Article | June 16, 2023

Delve into the transformative potential of digital currency and B2B crypto payments, as they hold the key to revolutionizing conventional financial systems and advancing financial inclusion. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Benefits of Adopting Crypto in B2B Payments 3. Overcoming Challenges in B2B Digital Currency Integration 4. Trends and Innovations in Digital Currency 5. Future Aspects 1. Introduction The digital currency has emerged as the driving force behind the immense potential of cryptocurrencies, revolutionizing traditional financial systems and reshaping how individuals perceive and utilize money. Digital currencies have become a focal point of economic discourse, offering new avenues for financial inclusion, efficiency, and security in the era of technological innovation and decentralization. This paradigm shift in the concept of currency has sparked a global conversation on the future of finance, making it imperative to explore the transformative role of digital currencies. 2. Benefits of Adopting Crypto in B2B Payments Cryptocurrency is gaining prominence in mainstream usage by converting conventional coins to NFTs. It has led businesses to wonder whether electronic payments could replace regular cash. Crypto in B2B payments furnishes a cost-effective, swifter, and more efficient alternative to cash and bolsters the security of customer privacy during transaction execution. Here are the advantages of incorporating cryptocurrencies into B2B payments: Fraud Defender Most B2B payments use traditional methods like checks, cards, wire transfers, or cash, which are regulated and often involve intermediaries, making them susceptible to fraud. In contrast, cryptocurrency transactions are more secure, avoiding traditional financial institutions and relying on blockchain technology for direct execution and verification through distributed algorithms on network nodes. Swift Transactions Infusing B2B crypto payments into the payment spectrum guarantees faster transaction processing than conventional methods. This efficiency stems from a streamlined process involving fewer intermediaries, reducing processing fees. Boosting Business Reach Industries like mining, as well as oil and gas, often operate in countries with limited banking infrastructure, requiring alternative payment methods. Cryptocurrency provides a solution, enabling cashless transactions. Still, businesses must adhere to local regulations, as cryptocurrency use doesn't exempt them from responsibility, given restrictions on engaging with foreign governments. Secure Ownership Control In B2B crypto transactions, exclusive ownership control is a key feature, ensuring that users retain sole ownership of their encryption keys unless they choose third-party wallet management services. This differs from traditional banking or credit cards, which can lead to account closure due to terms of service violations, presenting re-entry difficulties. Resilient Adaptability 'Privacy coins' drive increased anonymity on blockchain networks, while supply chain tokens improve efficiency across various industries. These innovations underscore the versatility and continuous development of cryptocurrency. 3. Overcoming Challenges in B2B Digital Currency Integration In B2B digital currency integration, numerous challenges arise that demand strategic mitigation. Below are some of the challenges, along with their pathways to address them effectively: Managing Payment Method Diversity in B2B Transactions Moving from paper-based procedures to streamlined B2B payments is praiseworthy; however, substantial challenges must be addressed to accept digital payments broadly. To effectively navigate the myriad payment methods available to B2B clients and facilitate their digital acceptance, businesses must assess factors including cost, speed, security, accessibility, and compliance. Selecting the most suitable digital payment method entails ensuring that systems are contemporary, equipped with cutting-edge technologies such as encryption and tokenization, and capable of safeguarding customer data against cyber threats. It is equally imperative for businesses to stay attuned to evolving regulations and statutes governing digital payments to maintain compliance with industry norms. Ensuring Robust and Secure Interconnectivity Establishing a secure connection between two entities is a prerequisite for effective digital payments. This mandate encompasses the authentication of both parties and the deployment of encryption technologies to safeguard customer data from unauthorized access or tampering during transmission. Furthermore, mutual trust and access to a secure platform skilled at handling large data transfers are necessary. Creating such a system can be overwhelming, requiring substantial time and resources. Overcoming Legacy Infrastructure Challenges Many companies rely on obsolete legacy systems for B2B payments, which may need to be compatible with current digital payment solutions. Before modernizing payment processes, companies must evaluate the feasibility, costs, and benefits of upgrading these systems. This endeavor is costly and resource-intensive, requiring comprehensive security measures to protect customer data from cyber threats. Payment Platform Integration in Enterprises For the prompt processing of payments, businesses should smoothly incorporate their selected payment platform with current enterprise systems, including accounts receivable software, accounts payable software, or ERP systems. Achieving this integration is frequently intricate and time-consuming due to various platforms' distinct technical specifications and protocols. This poses a significant challenge for businesses, demanding substantial effort and resources to ensure the integration's success. Additionally, companies must guarantee data security during transfer and compliance with industry regulations and standards for all transactions. Managing Digital Payment Regulations Companies venturing into B2B cross-border payments must carefully comply with all applicable regulations governing procedures such as KYC/AML, data privacy laws, and international financial transactions. Ensuring compliance with local laws across multiple jurisdictions complicates this. The challenge lies in the need for companies to remain vigilant regarding regulatory changes, requiring substantial investments in time, expertise, and continuous updates to stay abreast of the latest developments. Simplifying Payment Processing for Efficiency Companies must also ensure that payment processing is seamless and efficient from both the clients' and providers' perspectives. Minimizing manual interventions wherever possible is imperative to maximize the operational efficiency gains inherent in digital B2B payments, including reducing processing timeframes and associated costs Seamless payment processing necessitates establishing robust processes, infrastructure, and technology, which, in turn, requires significant effort and resource allocation. This can be challenging for businesses grappling with tight timelines and limited budgets. Addressing Fraud and Security Risks Cybercrime and fraudulent activity pose a significant threat in digital transactions where two entities exchange potentially sensitive financial data. Failure to implement appropriate buyer risk management measures exposes both parties involved in the transaction to a heightened risk of financial loss due to fraud or security breaches. Although various security measures exist to safeguard data, companies must take additional steps to ensure the security of their digital payment platforms and protect sensitive information. This undertaking poses a challenge, demanding additional resource allocation, time, and effort to implement effective fraud detection and prevention measures. 4. Trends and Innovations in Digital Currency McKinsey and Company cite an 11% growth in digital payment penetration from 2021 to 2022. Moreover, this trend is only expected to continue, with more users adopting digital payments as their primary method for financial transactions. [Source – Vation Ventures] The adoption of various digital technologies is becoming increasingly prevalent. For instance, financial institutions swiftly embrace cloud computing to streamline and enhance their operational procedures for clients. Blockchain, an emerging technology, is gaining prominence as it facilitates swift and secure transactional activities beyond its conventional association with cryptocurrencies. It ensures the fast recording and monitoring of transactions and supports the legal facets of digital payments. Concurrently, biometric authentication methods, including fingerprint and facial recognition, are gaining prominence in digital payments, introducing notable security and privacy concerns. Despite these challenges, biometric technology is poised for an upward trajectory. Regarding services and service providers, there is a growing demand for real-time payment and settlement capabilities, driven by individuals and businesses seeking expedited and rapid transaction processing instead of conventional, less efficient batch methods. While this technological proliferation offers substantial advantages, it also raises significant considerations, including those related to privacy and anti-fraud measures. 5. Future Aspects According to Bank of International Settlements, more than 50 central banks, representing the bulk of global GDP, are exploring digital currencies. The Economist reports that ‘the EU wants a virtual euro by 2025, Britain has launched a task force, and America, the world’s financial hegemon, is building a hypothetical e-dollar.’ [Source – IBM] The future of digital currency holds significant promise and potential for transformative changes in finance and commerce. The rapid development of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), increasing adoption of cryptocurrencies, and ongoing innovation in blockchain technology underscore the enduring significance of digital currencies. These advancements offer the potential for improved financial inclusivity, lower transaction costs, and enhanced payment system efficiency. Nevertheless, these opportunities go hand-in-hand with notable regulatory and security challenges that require attention to ensure digital currencies' safe and secure integration into the financial systems. Effective collaboration among governments, financial institutions, and technology providers is crucial to unlocking the full potential of digital currencies while mitigating potential risks. With careful planning and strategic implementation, digital currencies have the potential to reshape the future of finance, delivering a more accessible, efficient, and inclusive financial system for all.

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Financial Management, Payments

Proofing B2B Payments with E-Invoicing: A Path to Sustainable Growth

Article | August 4, 2023

Discover the digital payments’ momentum, powered by proofing B2B payments. Explore how professionals navigate skill gap challenges in the era of digital transformation and electronic transactions. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Need for Future-Proofing B2B Payments 3. Advantages of Electronic Billing in B2B Transactions 4. Traditional Paper-Based Invoicing versus Electronic Billing 5. Security and Compliance in Digital Payments 6. Future Scope 1. Introduction In a move towards digitalization and streamlining business processes, France will implement mandatory B2B e-invoicing and e-reporting from July 2024 until January 2026. This new e-invoicing mandate introduces the Continuous Transaction Controls (CTC) model, which impacts all companies operating in France. [Source: Nuflow] The adoption of electronic invoicing and payments, also known as e-invoicing, is becoming increasingly essential for businesses across various sizes and industries. Through digitizing the invoicing procedure, e-invoicing empowers companies to realize many advantages, including heightened efficiency, fortified security measures, fiscal savings, increased precision, and augmented transparency in financial transactions. This transformative approach to invoicing is gaining traction as a pivotal tool for businesses seeking to modernize their operations and bolster economic sustainability. Furthermore, adopting electronic billing systems minimizes the likelihood of errors by enabling the automatic transfer of invoice data between systems and reducing the need for manual data entry. 2. Need for Future-Proofing B2B Payments The need for future-proofing B2B payments has gained unprecedented urgency in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which catalyzed the rapid evolution of digital payment technologies. This global crisis has compelled businesses across various industries to expedite their transition towards cashless and digital payment solutions, intensifying the demand for agility and adaptability. Technology professionals are facing significant pressure as they navigate the need for rapid upgrades, digital transformation efforts, and the essential task of closing skill gaps within their organizations. Furthermore, Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) have faced exceptional challenges in banking and finance as the pandemic rendered traditional in-person banking obsolete, forcing institutions to pivot toward online-only and cashless operations. In this situation, the need for future-proofing B2B payments has become more than just a strategic requirement; it has become a critical lifeline for businesses striving to excel in the swiftly advancing, digitally-focused era that emerged after the pandemic. 3. Advantages of Electronic Billing in B2B Transactions According to a report by Arden Partners, e-invoicing provides organizations with 70% greater visibility into their financial processes. [Source: LinkedIn] This transformative approach to billing is steadily gaining prominence as an essential instrument for companies seeking to modernize their practices and enhance financial resilience. Optimized Process Efficiency Integrating e-invoicing serves to fine-tune billing procedures, alleviating errors and delays while delivering heightened operational efficiency. This, in turn, empowers businesses to allocate resources with greater precision and amplify their overall productivity. Cost Savings The cost savings realized through adopting electronic billing in B2B transactions extend beyond eliminating paper-based invoicing. By automating invoice processing, businesses can significantly reduce overhead costs associated with manual data entry, postage, and storage, allowing for more efficient allocation of financial resources to core business activities. Heightened Accuracy E-invoicing's heightened accuracy reduces the potential for manual errors, such as inaccuracies in data entry and mathematical calculations standard in traditional invoicing, but also contributes to enhanced trust in financial transactions. This precision ensures that billing information is reliable, fostering smoother B2B interactions and financial accountability. Enhanced Security E-invoicing systems provide more secure methods for transmitting invoices and associated data than conventional paper-based invoicing. Its solutions frequently incorporate advanced features like encrypted documents and digital signatures, ensuring document authenticity and controlled access to user accounts. Consequently, records are safeguarded against security breaches, reducing the risks of errors and fraudulent activities. Improved Visibility into Financial Transactions E-invoicing offers businesses an automated and centralized repository for storing, tracking, and managing their invoices. This facilitates simplified payment monitoring and provides comprehensive insight into financial transactions spanning multiple offices, locations, and departments. 4. Traditional Paper-Based Invoicing versus Electronic Billing Electronic Billing or e-invoicing can be described as the electronic exchange of invoices in structured data formats between software applications, distinct from traditional methods like sending PDFs or emails. This approach is fully automated, and when compared to conventional invoicing, it demonstrates remarkable efficiency in areas such as invoice processing, costs, visibility, transparency, data accuracy, and security for both buyers and sellers. Transaction Processing Traditional invoice processing involves multiple time-consuming steps, from creating and sending invoices to reviewing, approving, and archiving them. This manual process is prone to errors, slows operations, and can lead to payment delays, mainly when staff handles multiple tasks simultaneously. This delay can be especially problematic for smaller businesses, impacting their cash flow. In ideal conditions, paper invoices take about 23 days to process, but this timeframe can stretch to a cumbersome 90 days when errors occur. On the other hand, B2B electronic payments operate differently, simplifying the process for sellers and buyers. Sellers generate invoices from their purchase orders (PO) within their software. The buyer's software then matches the invoice with the PO for payment approval. Automation eliminates the manual steps, making e-invoicing 60-80% more efficient than traditional paper-based processing, with some sources citing an average processing time of just five days. This accelerates payments for sellers and streamlines operations for buyers. Financial Outlays Traditional invoicing entails a range of expenses for both buyers and sellers. These include costs associated with printing, whether physical or PDF invoices are used, leading to expenditures on paper, ink, and printer maintenance. Labor expenses also escalate as businesses expand, requiring additional personnel for invoicing tasks. Furthermore, physical invoices entail postage costs when mailed, and the need to file physical invoices incurs its own expenses. Conversely, e-invoicing significantly reduces costs due to the diminished need for manual processing and the electronic transmission of invoices. These advancements have made e-invoices approximately 70% cheaper than their traditional counterparts. Additionally, e-invoicing often allows buyers to adhere to their suppliers' payment terms, mitigating late fees and enabling early payment discounts. Visibility and Data Precision Traditional invoicing can be a complex process involving various platforms and software, as well as the maintenance of intricate physical and electronic filing systems. This complexity can pose challenges in effectively managing, preserving, and retrieving records, impeding the reporting process. Consequently, this can adversely affect the precision of a business' performance metrics and the data quality used in decision-making. In contrast, e-invoicing streamlines this process by enabling businesses to utilize a single software solution for invoice creation and processing. This simplification enhances visibility and transparency in managing payables and receivables. It also reduces the need to consolidate information from multiple systems and handle paper documents. Moreover, the diminished risk of errors resulting from manual processing contributes to improved data accuracy. Security Traditional invoicing poses significant security risks, including the potential for counterfeit or tampered invoices, where invoice details can be altered without the knowledge of either party, as well as the susceptibility to billing scams and fraudulent activities, with invoices sometimes sent to misleading sources, resulting in financial losses due to the easily adjustable formats and the risks associated with sending invoices via mail or email. In addition to its role in facilitating secure B2B payments and transactions, e-invoicing offers a heightened level of security. It requires certified access points for sending and receiving invoices, ensuring adherence to a robust and reliable framework mandated for all participants. E-invoices are sent in a standardized format that cannot be altered. This approach significantly improves the traceability of archive management, thus enhancing your audit trail. Moreover, e-invoicing often includes advanced encryption and authentication measures, further safeguarding sensitive financial data and reducing the risk of fraudulent activities. These combined security features make e-invoicing a compelling choice for businesses seeking both efficiency and enhanced security in their payment processes. 5. Security and Compliance in Digital Payments Digital payments offer heightened security compared to offline transactions as they eliminate the need for individuals to carry physical cash or cards, reducing the risk of theft and providing a comprehensive electronic trail for tracking and identifying potential fraud. Moreover, they remove businesses' need to hold cash on-site, enhancing security by transferring funds directly to a secure bank account. However, digital payments also pose unique security challenges, such as verifying consumer identities in the faceless online environment, which may necessitate innovative security measures to counter potential fraud and theft. Businesses that accept digital payments encounter several security risks, encompassing the following aspects: Third-party Risk Many B2B payments companies rely on third-party entities to streamline operations and reduce costs. However, this practice introduces additional layers of risk if companies fail to thoroughly evaluate their prospective third-party partners before establishing a business relationship. Many third-party vendors outsource their operations to external entities, thus generating fourth and fifth-party risks. Enterprises often engage with many vendors, such as payment processors, point-of-sale system providers, and payment gateway service providers. Inadequate security controls for third-party involvement can expose all the data transmitted through these devices and applications to various security vulnerabilities. Phishing Scams Phishing has remained a well-established method for illicit data acquisition and is a potent hacking technique. The hacker typically solicits sensitive personal information to fulfill an urgent request, such as completing a loan application requiring banking details. Hackers can exploit the obtained personal information upon the victim's compliance to gain unauthorized access to credit cards and bank accounts. Phishing scams can target anyone, from lower-level employees to senior management personnel, putting data security at risk and facilitating theft. Malware Malware incidents arise when users download applications, files, or attachments that contain malicious software. Once the malware infects a device, the perpetrator behind the software gains unauthorized access to all stored information. Although many companies install firewalls and antivirus software on their desktop and laptop computers, these protective measures are frequently omitted for mobile devices. Many businesses now employ tablets or smartphones as point-of-sale operating systems to process payments. The substantial volume of cardholder information stored on these devices renders them susceptible to malware attacks, potentially compromising the data of any individual who has conducted a transaction using the affected device. 6. Future Scope This article explores electronic billing, focusing on proofing B2B payments and emphasizing the need for future-proofing payment processes. While the advantages of electronic billing over traditional paper-based invoicing have been highlighted, the future scope resides in the continuous evolution of technology and regulations in digital payments. As businesses increasingly adopt e-invoicing solutions for efficiency gains, there will be a growing demand for innovative tools that enhance security and compliance, ensuring the smooth flow of transactions in a secure, transparent, and sustainable manner. Moreover, integrating emerging technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence may further revolutionize B2B payment solutions, presenting exciting opportunities and challenges for businesses seeking to stay competitive in financial transactions.

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Financial Management, Payments

Why Payments-as-a-Service is the first choice for FIs

Article | June 20, 2023

The pace of change within the global payment’s technology space is still at full speed with no sign of slowing down. While traditional incumbents have until recently taken comfort in their size and decades of dominance, new digital-only challenger banks are ramping up and making a huge impact on the global financial landscape.

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BIG TECH IN FINANCE: A DEEP DIVE INTO THE FUTURE OF FINTECH

Article | February 10, 2020

The following article looks at Big Tech and its impact on the financial services sector. Whilst competition from small fintech startups will certainly take away some market share from traditional banks, the impact of “GAFA” could be huge. The fintech movement did more than unbundle banking and its core services — it spurred financial inclusion across Asia, increased overall economic growth, and made significant inroads into the finance value chain. The born-digital companies brought technology to the forefront, attacking the traditional risk-averse sector from various points — digital payments, insurance, P2P lending, and investment management, among other avenues.

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Spotlight

Cuscal Limited

Cuscal is Australia’s leading independent provider of payment solutions. We are the largest Australian payment processor after the Big 4 banks and the RBA with the widest range of products and services. We represent our clients’ interests on all of Australia’s major payments boards and associations where we work to increase competition and create a more level playing field. Our recent track record of innovation includes enabling over 60% of the financial institutions.

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Fiserv Accelerates Collaboration Among Financial Institutions and Fintechs with Streamlined Access to Core Platform APIs

Business Wire | October 26, 2023

Fiserv, Inc. a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology solutions, announced that it has streamlined access to its core banking APIs to accelerate innovation across the industry. Third-party developers now have instant access to collaborative workspaces through Banking Hub, a single location to access Fiserv banking APIs within its Developer Studio. Over 500 developers from fintechs, payfacs, merchants, major brands and system integrators already have begun using a workspace to co-develop unique use cases. “Instant self-service integration tools address developers’ need to efficiently test live banking APIs and streamline the path to bring next-generation banking solutions to market,” said Tom Eck, senior vice president of Digital Technology at Fiserv. “This launch is part of our broader strategy to make it faster and easier for financial institutions, fintechs and merchants to connect with each other and work together to launch unique initiatives that enhance customer relationships and expand revenue opportunities.” Banking Hub accelerates and streamlines the path for fintechs to build, test, certify and deploy pre-integrated apps in AppMarket, a marketplace for Fiserv financial institution clients to access third-party innovations, or to embed a range of financial services into their customer experience. Banking Hub provides development teams an organized space to collaborate and manage projects with multiple workflows. Developers can explore how Fiserv core banking APIs can support banking as-a-service (BaaS), allowing them to launch new digital experiences and expanding financial institution access to a broad range of third-party fintech solutions. said Ryan Canin, CEO of DocFox. As a fintech founder, I’m impressed with the way Fiserv continues to evolve their business to embrace collaboration that drives the financial services industry forward. By streamlining the way fintechs like DocFox connect with their solutions, Fiserv is creating opportunities for consumers and small businesses to access new experiences and innovative capabilities through their financial institutions. [Source:Business Wire] Fiserv designed Banking Hub workspaces to deliver a self-service experience. With quick start guides and comprehensive documentation, code samples and videos, developers can now build and validate a proof of concept at speed, which gives them an advantage in a fast-moving market. In a few clicks, a developer can create an account, add a workspace, and be issued an instant API key to start working with Fiserv core banking APIs. Trial accounts are currently available at no charge, and developers can upgrade to a dedicated workspace. Subscriptions to a dedicated workspace give fintechs everything needed to bring their project to production. Fiserv has published the workspace environment for Finxact, a next-gen innovation platform designed for the business of banking, fintech and embedded finance. Development environments are also available for Premier®, the most widely used core banking platform in the U.S., and Signature®, a customizable platform used by many regional and larger financial institutions. A workspace for DNA® will be available in 2024, and workspaces for additional Fiserv core platforms will continue to be made available at a rapid clip. “Financial institutions are pressed to grow their portfolio through tailored services, accelerate speed to market and appeal to younger generations,” said Niranjan Ramaswamy, vice president of Open Finance & Banking Hub at Fiserv. “Pre-integrated fintech solutions can help address these challenges by allowing financial institutions to cost effectively address targeted strategies and growth opportunities. With compelling new capabilities in gig economy banking and small and mid-size business lending, for example, financial institutions can expand customer relationships while growing deposits.” In a world moving faster than ever before, Fiserv helps clients deliver solutions in step with the way people live and work today – financial services at the speed of life.

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Digital Banking

Dragonfly Financial Technologies Adds FedNow Payments to Digital Composable Banking Solution

PR Newswire | October 25, 2023

Dragonfly Financial Technologies Corp., a digital banking and treasury management FinTech, today launched FedNow Payments, which gives banks the ability to use the recently deployed FedNowÒ Service. Launched in late July 2023, the FedNow Service is a new instant payment infrastructure developed by the Federal Reserve that allows financial institutions of every size across the U.S. to provide safe and efficient instant payment services. Dragonfly's FedNow Payments is a standalone solution that can be added to any bank's digital offering. Dragonfly's FedNow Payments enables instant, 24/7/365 payments, which permits faster payroll processing, more intuitive bill payments, improved cash flow improving reconciliation, cash forecasting and liquidity management and enhanced overall transaction efficiency. The solution will be interoperable with existing payment systems, enabling seamless integration with various digital banking platforms and financial service providers. Real-time payments are forecasted to facilitate additional economic output to the tune of $173 billion in formal GDP, as well as forecasted to drive $184 billion in aggregated net savings for consumers and businesses. The FedNow Service is set to transform the current payment ecosystem. As we continue to expand our digital composable banking platform, we know it's of critical importance to have the latest payment solutions available for our customers. said Jim Gillespie, Chief Product Officer at Dragonfly Financial Technologies Corp. Our FedNow Payments enables banks to provide their customers with real-time, flexible payments that are secure and scalable, and we're excited to offer this new payment option to banks that are making the jump to the FedNow Service. Dragonfly's FedNow Payments will also be added to its industry-leading Universal Online Banking platform - the only composable banking platform on the market purpose-built for today's digital and embedded business banking needs. Because the Dragonfly platform is designed for ultimate flexibility, agility and ease of use, customers can choose the implementation option best suited for the needs and size of the bank and their corporate clients. FedNow Payments is a payments option available in each composable banking deployment: Dragonfly Digital, Dragonfly as a Service and Dragonfly Embedded Banking. About Dragonfly Financial Technologies Corp. Dragonfly Financial Technologies is a banking-as-a-service FinTech powering innovative digital customer experiences for commercial banking institutions. Dragonfly Commercial Banking Platform unites internal banking systems and unlocks their collective value, enabling banks to provide a superior customer experience and introduce new services with speed and ease. And with the industry's largest portfolio of APIs, the Dragonfly platform connects seamlessly to the world's most popular FinTech applications. Commercial banking customers worldwide – including top-10 banks in the US and Asia – rely on Dragonfly to initiate and collect payments and manage daily financial operations for their corporate clients. For more information, visit www.dragonflyft.com.

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Trading Systems

Finastra and ELCY partner to bring Corporate Trade Finance Portal to market

PR Newswire | October 23, 2023

Finastra, a global provider of financial software applications and marketplaces, is partnering with ELCY, a specialist in e-commerce solutions for the processing of international trade finance, to provide a trade finance solution for corporates. The Corporate Trade Finance Portal from Finastra and ELCY will enable corporates to communicate in a secure and authenticated manner with all their banks through one centralized platform. As a result, corporates will benefit from greater visibility and real-time control of all trade finance exposures across their organizations. The transition away from the complexity of connecting to multiple bank proprietary systems and the removal of inefficient paper-based processes will also deliver significant cost and efficiency savings. Finastra is thrilled to build on our long-term relationship with ELCY through a global collaboration that creates immediate value for both parties, said Jaime Lynn, Vice President, Enterprise Solutions, Finastra. ELCY brings a wealth of expertise in meeting the trade finance needs of corporates, while Finastra meets the end-to-end digitization needs of banks focused on international trade and supply chain finance. Our close collaboration with ELCY expands our suite of solutions for corporates, enabling them to connect to all banks supplying them trade finance through a single portal. Corporate users benefit from much greater visibility and control in managing their cash flow and trade finance exposures and in reducing risk. Robin Cohen, Chief Executive Officer, ELCY added: "Our partnership with Finastra will further increase our visibility and reach in the market, helping us deliver the benefits of our multi-bank portal solution to corporates globally. Customers using our joint Corporate Trade Finance Portal will be equipped to communicate seamlessly, both on the import and export side, with any SWIFT-enabled bank in the world to manage their day-to-day trade finance processing. All instructions or messages sent through the portal can be tailored to conform with the message type preferred by the bank in question. Furthermore, the portal includes extensive modular functionality enabling corporates to monitor counterparty and bank exposure, manage global bank limits and provide reports for credit and treasury departments all in real time." The Corporate Trade Finance Portal is available as a cloud-based, multi-tenant SaaS solution meaning no software installation is required on site and all users benefit from the ability to adapt quickly to new market requirements through centrally-managed software upgrades.

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Core Banking

Fiserv Accelerates Collaboration Among Financial Institutions and Fintechs with Streamlined Access to Core Platform APIs

Business Wire | October 26, 2023

Fiserv, Inc. a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology solutions, announced that it has streamlined access to its core banking APIs to accelerate innovation across the industry. Third-party developers now have instant access to collaborative workspaces through Banking Hub, a single location to access Fiserv banking APIs within its Developer Studio. Over 500 developers from fintechs, payfacs, merchants, major brands and system integrators already have begun using a workspace to co-develop unique use cases. “Instant self-service integration tools address developers’ need to efficiently test live banking APIs and streamline the path to bring next-generation banking solutions to market,” said Tom Eck, senior vice president of Digital Technology at Fiserv. “This launch is part of our broader strategy to make it faster and easier for financial institutions, fintechs and merchants to connect with each other and work together to launch unique initiatives that enhance customer relationships and expand revenue opportunities.” Banking Hub accelerates and streamlines the path for fintechs to build, test, certify and deploy pre-integrated apps in AppMarket, a marketplace for Fiserv financial institution clients to access third-party innovations, or to embed a range of financial services into their customer experience. Banking Hub provides development teams an organized space to collaborate and manage projects with multiple workflows. Developers can explore how Fiserv core banking APIs can support banking as-a-service (BaaS), allowing them to launch new digital experiences and expanding financial institution access to a broad range of third-party fintech solutions. said Ryan Canin, CEO of DocFox. As a fintech founder, I’m impressed with the way Fiserv continues to evolve their business to embrace collaboration that drives the financial services industry forward. By streamlining the way fintechs like DocFox connect with their solutions, Fiserv is creating opportunities for consumers and small businesses to access new experiences and innovative capabilities through their financial institutions. [Source:Business Wire] Fiserv designed Banking Hub workspaces to deliver a self-service experience. With quick start guides and comprehensive documentation, code samples and videos, developers can now build and validate a proof of concept at speed, which gives them an advantage in a fast-moving market. In a few clicks, a developer can create an account, add a workspace, and be issued an instant API key to start working with Fiserv core banking APIs. Trial accounts are currently available at no charge, and developers can upgrade to a dedicated workspace. Subscriptions to a dedicated workspace give fintechs everything needed to bring their project to production. Fiserv has published the workspace environment for Finxact, a next-gen innovation platform designed for the business of banking, fintech and embedded finance. Development environments are also available for Premier®, the most widely used core banking platform in the U.S., and Signature®, a customizable platform used by many regional and larger financial institutions. A workspace for DNA® will be available in 2024, and workspaces for additional Fiserv core platforms will continue to be made available at a rapid clip. “Financial institutions are pressed to grow their portfolio through tailored services, accelerate speed to market and appeal to younger generations,” said Niranjan Ramaswamy, vice president of Open Finance & Banking Hub at Fiserv. “Pre-integrated fintech solutions can help address these challenges by allowing financial institutions to cost effectively address targeted strategies and growth opportunities. With compelling new capabilities in gig economy banking and small and mid-size business lending, for example, financial institutions can expand customer relationships while growing deposits.” In a world moving faster than ever before, Fiserv helps clients deliver solutions in step with the way people live and work today – financial services at the speed of life.

Read More

Digital Banking

Dragonfly Financial Technologies Adds FedNow Payments to Digital Composable Banking Solution

PR Newswire | October 25, 2023

Dragonfly Financial Technologies Corp., a digital banking and treasury management FinTech, today launched FedNow Payments, which gives banks the ability to use the recently deployed FedNowÒ Service. Launched in late July 2023, the FedNow Service is a new instant payment infrastructure developed by the Federal Reserve that allows financial institutions of every size across the U.S. to provide safe and efficient instant payment services. Dragonfly's FedNow Payments is a standalone solution that can be added to any bank's digital offering. Dragonfly's FedNow Payments enables instant, 24/7/365 payments, which permits faster payroll processing, more intuitive bill payments, improved cash flow improving reconciliation, cash forecasting and liquidity management and enhanced overall transaction efficiency. The solution will be interoperable with existing payment systems, enabling seamless integration with various digital banking platforms and financial service providers. Real-time payments are forecasted to facilitate additional economic output to the tune of $173 billion in formal GDP, as well as forecasted to drive $184 billion in aggregated net savings for consumers and businesses. The FedNow Service is set to transform the current payment ecosystem. As we continue to expand our digital composable banking platform, we know it's of critical importance to have the latest payment solutions available for our customers. said Jim Gillespie, Chief Product Officer at Dragonfly Financial Technologies Corp. Our FedNow Payments enables banks to provide their customers with real-time, flexible payments that are secure and scalable, and we're excited to offer this new payment option to banks that are making the jump to the FedNow Service. Dragonfly's FedNow Payments will also be added to its industry-leading Universal Online Banking platform - the only composable banking platform on the market purpose-built for today's digital and embedded business banking needs. Because the Dragonfly platform is designed for ultimate flexibility, agility and ease of use, customers can choose the implementation option best suited for the needs and size of the bank and their corporate clients. FedNow Payments is a payments option available in each composable banking deployment: Dragonfly Digital, Dragonfly as a Service and Dragonfly Embedded Banking. About Dragonfly Financial Technologies Corp. Dragonfly Financial Technologies is a banking-as-a-service FinTech powering innovative digital customer experiences for commercial banking institutions. Dragonfly Commercial Banking Platform unites internal banking systems and unlocks their collective value, enabling banks to provide a superior customer experience and introduce new services with speed and ease. And with the industry's largest portfolio of APIs, the Dragonfly platform connects seamlessly to the world's most popular FinTech applications. Commercial banking customers worldwide – including top-10 banks in the US and Asia – rely on Dragonfly to initiate and collect payments and manage daily financial operations for their corporate clients. For more information, visit www.dragonflyft.com.

Read More

Trading Systems

Finastra and ELCY partner to bring Corporate Trade Finance Portal to market

PR Newswire | October 23, 2023

Finastra, a global provider of financial software applications and marketplaces, is partnering with ELCY, a specialist in e-commerce solutions for the processing of international trade finance, to provide a trade finance solution for corporates. The Corporate Trade Finance Portal from Finastra and ELCY will enable corporates to communicate in a secure and authenticated manner with all their banks through one centralized platform. As a result, corporates will benefit from greater visibility and real-time control of all trade finance exposures across their organizations. The transition away from the complexity of connecting to multiple bank proprietary systems and the removal of inefficient paper-based processes will also deliver significant cost and efficiency savings. Finastra is thrilled to build on our long-term relationship with ELCY through a global collaboration that creates immediate value for both parties, said Jaime Lynn, Vice President, Enterprise Solutions, Finastra. ELCY brings a wealth of expertise in meeting the trade finance needs of corporates, while Finastra meets the end-to-end digitization needs of banks focused on international trade and supply chain finance. Our close collaboration with ELCY expands our suite of solutions for corporates, enabling them to connect to all banks supplying them trade finance through a single portal. Corporate users benefit from much greater visibility and control in managing their cash flow and trade finance exposures and in reducing risk. Robin Cohen, Chief Executive Officer, ELCY added: "Our partnership with Finastra will further increase our visibility and reach in the market, helping us deliver the benefits of our multi-bank portal solution to corporates globally. Customers using our joint Corporate Trade Finance Portal will be equipped to communicate seamlessly, both on the import and export side, with any SWIFT-enabled bank in the world to manage their day-to-day trade finance processing. All instructions or messages sent through the portal can be tailored to conform with the message type preferred by the bank in question. Furthermore, the portal includes extensive modular functionality enabling corporates to monitor counterparty and bank exposure, manage global bank limits and provide reports for credit and treasury departments all in real time." The Corporate Trade Finance Portal is available as a cloud-based, multi-tenant SaaS solution meaning no software installation is required on site and all users benefit from the ability to adapt quickly to new market requirements through centrally-managed software upgrades.

Read More

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