HOW TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED BANKING OVER THE YEARS
E-banking , online banking, net banking, etc. have completely changed the way banking is done today.
Technology has changed and still changing many industries, but none more so than financial services. From the introduction of ATMs, to internet banking via apps, to today's seemingly new online-only digital banks, technology is transforming the business models of banks.
The new digital banks that are trying to make inroads into the market share of the incumbents by offering agile, digitalised alternatives, says Richard Firth, CEO of MIP Holdings, who adds that the trend for automation and digitisation is visible across the value chain, from customer contact and lending to the mortgages, payments and alternative financing.
“We are seeing that the transformation of banking, and those companies that can master new digital capabilities will not only be the leaders, but the only survivors.”
The use of emerging technologies
Firth says that the process of digitalisation is not always obvious, and a number of factors that influence how banks approach this – including the use of third-party platforms or whether they develop their own in-house platforms. In contrast, the new “digital-native” banks have no legacy challenges and are better capable to make use of emerging technologies such as automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“The industry is now moving from the sentiment of ‘we need an app’ to ‘we need AI’, but too often the banks are implementing technology for technology’s sake, or to keep pace with what competitors are doing. To effectively compete with digital banks, traditional banks must match the digital banks technology solution to compete with a real-world problem,” Firth says.
He points out that many regulations in force today are forcing banks to comply with requirements that are rooted in digital initiatives, effectively levelling the playing field. For example, data privacy regulations apply to financial institutions across the board, whether they have the most recent technology or are still paper-based technology. “So at which point will a ‘digital bank’ be forced to do what the incumbents do today?” Firth asks.

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