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October 21, 2023December 18, 2023 byJeet Vasa

Is regulation enough to propel Open Banking adoption?

Recently, the European Commission set out its intentions to advance open banking with the introduction of PSD3. The update to its Payment Services Directive (PSD2) shows a commitment from the EU to realise the potential of Open Banking, and it’s one welcomed by the industry.

Hans Tesselaar, executive director at BIAN

While PSD3 sets out several key changes to realise its goal of driving Open Banking adoption forward, the aim to standardise payments across the EU with its move from a directive to a regulation poses the question: is widespread adoption possible with regulation alone?

The benefits of regulation

A new Payment Services Regulation will update and replace elements of PSD2 to ensure its rules are applied more consistently across Europe. This new regulation will bolster Open Banking by enforcing better API functionality, allowing smoother payment data sharing and eliminating unnecessary steps hindering data flow.

Apart from refining PSD2, these proposals enhance user control via a centralised dashboard, ensuring easier management of data sharing. In addition, new measures like increased bank cooperation will support the industry’s attempt to combat fraud and elevate consumer confidence.

This regulation puts FinTechs and banks on a level playing field, giving technology providers more control over the service they provide to customers through easier and more secure data sharing, while reducing infrastructure costs.

Europe is not the only country taking a regulatory approach. The UK for example, a pioneer in Open Banking innovation on a global scale, has been prioritising regulation since the launch of Open Banking in 2017 by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) following the introduction of PSD2. Now, its recent announcement from the Joint Regulatory Oversight Committee, regarding its commitment to a long-term regulatory framework, reaffirms its commitment in the area.

While these regulatory measures allow fintechs and banks to implement Open Banking more effectively and aim to give customers a seamless experience, independent regulation does limit innovation without the correct considerations.

The realities of regulation

The state of open banking is still very immature, but there is no denying its growth. The number of users worldwide is forecast to reach 132.2 million by 2024, a significant increase from the 24.4 million users in 2020.

Countries like the UK risk reducing their role as a driver of progress without the access to the wider European population that it had before Brexit, as an example. And as the European market is predicted to be the largest open banking market by 2024, the continent as a whole would do well to collaborate to better understand customer needs, react to market demand and expand further.

Being open to learning from global examples and listening to industry leaders, including larger banking institutions with global influence and international exposure, will be important to ensure successful practices are promoted, which will encourage open banking more widely within these countries and different regulatory frameworks.

Meeting the demand

Focusing on regulation must not overshadow market demand, and looking at countries with a market-driven approach, such as Singapore, will reveal what governments and organisations should be prioritising when it comes to open banking.

Singapore’s market-driven stance has led to high open banking adoption. 90% of professionals consider open banking either a ‘must have’ or ‘important’ and a further 90% agree that it has also had a positive impact on the industry and made it more collaborative. This is despite no mandatory requirements.

Adoption has accelerated in APAC over the past few years due to the opportunity it has to make the industry more collaborative and the potential to bring about fairer and more equal financial services. However, the space remains in the early stages of development. Many banks are just starting their digital transformation journeys, and struggling with core legacy systems and closed or outdated architectures. This is why overcoming these barriers and industry collaboration will be at the heart of open banking adoption.

Coreless banking

Regardless of a regulatory or market-driven approach to open banking, banks must create an ecosystem with fintechs, providers and aggregators. This is to boost the speed at which best-of-breed products can be implemented to meet customer demand and make the most of the opportunity that lies within the open banking space.

A coreless banking solution will be key to empowering banks to overcome issues around interoperability and selecting the software vendors needed to obtain these best-in-class solutions for each application. In turn, this will promote industry collaboration and ensure customers are provided with the optimum service to further encourage open banking adoption.

Coreless banking implies that each of the needed (IT)-services works seamlessly together. If this is established, financial institutions can migrate to a “best of breed” environment so they will have the ability to utilize and combine third-party solutions to deliver the best open banking services for their customers.

This means banks can focus on incorporating the technology they need to enable open banking services and respond to customer demand – regardless of whether this is from a regulatory or market-driven starting point – at a faster and more efficient pace.

The answer lies in collaboration.

Is regulation enough for open banking adoption? The short answer is no.

Whether countries decide to push open banking from a regulatory standpoint, or adoption is driven from the market demand, industry collaboration will be the answer. This will enable greater innovation, so from PSD3 in Europe, to Singapore’s market demand, the industry can unlock the ultimate outcome for open banking with an open attitude.

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October 21, 2023December 18, 2023 byJeet Vasa

Embracing technology to navigate economic turbulence in the financial services sector

Guy Mettrick, VP, Financial Services at Appian

Today’s dynamic financial landscape has exposed the vulnerabilities of the financial services sector and shattered preconceived notions about banks’ regulatory resilience. The rapid collapse of once-revered institutions highlights the fragility of the banking sector in the face of economic turbulence and unforeseen market shifts.

With analysts scrambling to dissect the factors behind these failures, it is crucial to consider the broader implications for the financial services industry and the potential ripple effects on the overall economy.

Guy Mettrick, VP, Financial Services at Appian

Adaptive strategies for growth and innovation are becoming increasingly important amidst a background of stricter risk management, reduced lending, and increased regulation. To navigate the unpredictable path ahead that is defined by tightening regulatory frameworks and resource limitations, agility is key.

Balancing regulatory challenges

Mounting regulations driven by factors such as climate change and the push for enhanced compliance are forcing businesses leaders to reconsider their organisation’s strategic approach. The prominence of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives in the financial services sector requires increased attention and significant investments in human resources and technology.

While these circumstances may lead to scaled-back growth aspirations, cost-cutting initiatives and deferred investment decisions, they also present transformative opportunities.

Leveraging technological advancements

During economic uncertainty, technology emerges as a powerful force within the financial services landscape. When it comes to expediting client onboarding, enhancing customer service, and facilitating seamless communication between financial institutions and their clients, automation proves indispensable. Automation enhances process efficiency and efficacy by eliminating manual tasks and minimising errors. Advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, robotic process automation, and process mining empower financial organisations to drive innovation within complex frameworks.

With automation, firms can facilitate real-time reporting and audits that provide tangible evidence of control effectiveness by embedding risk controls directly into their processes. In an era of increasingly stringent regulatory frameworks, this proactive approach to compliance proves invaluable.

The rise of data fabric

One emerging trend is the adoption of enterprise-wide data fabric, project by Market Watch to grow from $1.71 billion in 2022 to $6.97 billion by 2029. Data fabric streamlines the consolidation of data from various systems, a process that has traditionally been challenging and costly. This integration eliminates the need for data migration – a critical prerequisite for successful process automation.

Data fabric seamlessly connects and harmonises existing databases. This breaks down data silos and enables a cohesive and compliant framework that consolidates all relevant data sources. Within the financial services sector, this technology facilitates easy access to vital components such as risk governance policies and customer data.

Financial service providers must adopt adaptive strategies and embrace technology to effectively manage risks, regulations, and growth during an economic downturn. Regulation should not be perceived as a burden. Financial institutions should view technology, particularly process automation, as a catalyst for growth. Automation and data fabric enable these organisations to navigate complexities, streamline operations, and enhance customer experiences. Rather than succumbing to challenges, financial service providers can leverage technology to foster innovation, ensuring resilience in the face of economic uncertainty.

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October 21, 2023December 18, 2023 byJeet Vasa

What’s next in digital transformation in Europe

In Broadridge’s third annual Digital Transformation and Next-Gen Technology Study, 500 C-level executives and their direct reports across the buy side and sell side from 18 countries were surveyed

Mike Sleightholme, President, Broadridge International

On average, respondents’ firms control estimated assets of $121 billion. More than half agreed that digital transformation is currently the most important strategic initiative for their company, and the proportion of IT budgets allocated to digital transformation has increased to 27% on average, up from 11% last year. A further 71% of global respondents also say AI is now significantly changing the way they work.

The biggest increase in technology investment from European firms in the next 2 years will be allocated to cybersecurity – with respondents saying they plan to increase spending by 29% by 2025. This level of backing is followed closely by investments into cloud platforms and applications. Firms are ‘lifting and shifting’ legacy systems in favour of cost-effective, cloud-based infrastructure with microservices and APIs at the core.

Spending on data analysis and visualisation tools is planned to increase by 26% in the next 2 years. As it stands, too many firms are relying on fragmented data sets that could offer valuable insights if they were brought together and combined with powerful analytics solutions. The top driver for these investments is improved customer acquisition and retention. As market competition increases, the benefits that next-gen technologies can bring to the end-consumer are one of the most significant ways that firms may differentiate themselves from one another.

The second biggest factor in the decision-making process are cost savings and efficiencies. As next-gen technologies mature, the financial benefits become more tangible, making it easier to define a business case for investment.

Finally, speeding up the time it takes to bring new products to market is a priority for European firms and ranks as the third biggest driver for investments. This agility allows firms to take advantage of short-lived opportunities to gain market share in new asset classes or client segments as the pace of change accelerates.

The biggest challenge cited by European firms is insufficient budget for innovation. Particularly against today’s economic backdrop, firms are feeling hesitant to invest money into new projects. The second biggest challenge is staff resistance to constant change. Gaining buy-in from the teams that will be using the technology can be as important as buy-in from the C-suite approving investments. Education is important – firms must ensure their teams properly understand why these technologies are necessary, the efficiencies they can create, and how they will help the team, the business, and clients. The third most prevalent challenge for European firms is ongoing market and economic disruption. Against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, recession fears and persistent inflation, it can be difficult for business leaders to focus their attention on technology investments.

Digital transformation is still at the top of the C-suite agenda, but it is also entering a new phase driven by more powerful technology. Widescale adoption of generative AI, as well as growing maturity in blockchain and DLT, will drive a new wave of exponential change. Other nascent technologies such as quantum computing and the metaverse are on the horizon.

When asked about the longer-term future, 65% of European firms believe that blockchain and DLT will become the core of financial markets infrastructure in 10 years’ time. Nearly a third believe that the metaverse will become a key channel for client interaction within the next 10 years. However, firms said they only plan to increase investment in the metaverse by 4% over the next 2 years, indicating a wait and see approach.

This is an exciting time for the financial services industry, adapting to the rapid pace of change may pose huge challenges for business and society, senior leaders should keep a firm eye on the opportunities created by digital and next-gen technologies as they evolve.

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October 21, 2023December 18, 2023 byJeet Vasa

Transforming financial lnclusion through AI and Machine Learning

The financial industry is undergoing a profound transformation, largely driven by the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). Within this dynamic landscape, the FinTech sector has emerged as a trendsetter, spearheading the adoption of AI and ML technologies.

By Rajat Dayal, CEO, Yabx

These advancements are redefining sustainable finance, particularly in terms of financial inclusion, by breaking down barriers that have traditionally hindered access to banking services, such as loans and investment opportunities for the unbanked population.

Credit Scoring and Risk Assessment

Yabx’s innovative use of AI/ML algorithms on raw data has led to the creation of 15,000 features for comprehensive financial profiles of borrowers, highlighting their commitment to data-driven lending. This transformation is pivotal, with credit scoring and risk assessment at its core. These systems leverage a diverse range of data to assess an individual’s financial reliability, effectively reducing one of the key risks associated with lending. Machine learning models have elevated the standards of evaluating an individual’s creditworthiness. This innovative approach empowers banks to expand their portfolios without compromising their risk tolerance, offering loans with a more refined risk management strategy.

Recommendation Engines

In a world where choice is paramount, AI-driven recommendation engines come to the forefront. These engines utilise customer behaviour patterns to provide tailored suggestions for financial products and services, especially loan products that align with the unique needs of each consumer. This bespoke process significantly increases the likelihood of successful loan applications, offering a more personalised and user-friendly experience.

Enhancing Customer Segmentation and Personalisation

AI and ML algorithms are now increasingly employed to enhance customer segmentation and personalisation. The ability to categorise consumers based on their financial behaviours and preferences allows for the provision of tailored loan products with unparalleled precision. This level of personalisation is particularly valuable for microbusiness owners, as it reduces the traditional financial bureaucracy, making borrowing more accessible.

Customer Insights and Market Research

AI and ML technologies offer analytical power, enabling organisations to gain deep insights into market trends and customer behaviour. This foresight equips businesses with the ability to adapt to market shifts and cater to the evolving financial needs of their diverse customer base, ensuring they remain competitive.

Automated Customer Onboarding

Efficiency and customer accessibility are at the forefront of the FinTech process. AI-driven solutions automate identity verification and Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, streamlining the customer onboarding process. This automation ensures that borrowers can promptly access the financial support they need, free from cumbersome administrative delays.

In Action

An exciting example of AI and ML in action is Zed-Fin Loans, powered by Yabx, a pioneering sustainable banking initiative in Zambia driven by a powerful tri-party LAAS partnership. This partnership allows parties from three adjacent industries to work together to bring micro loans to the market in Zambia. Zed-Fin Loans is a testament to the transformative power of collaboration, technology, and innovation. Their success is a resounding endorsement of AI and ML algorithms, displaying their positive impact on Zambia’s financial landscape.

In conclusion, AI and ML are revolutionising the financial sector, making it more inclusive, efficient, and customer centric. These technologies are breaking down barriers and setting new standards, as demonstrated by the success of initiatives like Zed-Fin Loans in Zambia. The future of finance in Zambia and around the world looks to be very promising, thanks to the collaborative power of technology and innovation.

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October 21, 2023December 18, 2023 byJeet Vasa

Cyberattacks: 2023’s Greatest Risk to Financial Services

New year, same big problem. Without doubt, cyberattacks have posed and continue to pose the single biggest threat to the UK’s financial services industry

by Miguel Traquina, Chief Information Officer at iProov

Three in four industry execs in the UK deem a cyberattack to be their highest risk factor and, as the economy enters choppier waters, this threat is rising, with those expecting a high-impact cyberattack in the next three years rising by 26% in the second half of 2022 versus the first.

2022 has been another year of seismic change in the cybercrime space. Types of attacks are evolving rapidly, and consumer awareness is growing. Now, more than ever, we’re starting to see huge end-user demand for greater online protection from identity theft and other online threats.

Public and private sector organisations around the world are responding by exto increase digital trust and enables with the goal of increasing digital trust and enabling their customers to prove they are who they claim to be securely and easily.

The pace of advancements in digital identity verification will only accelerate more in the coming year, especially in a high-value and highly sensitive industry like financial services, with more innovation and regulation on the horizon. As we welcome 2023, here are my top four predictions for the year ahead.

Biometrics + device will overtake password + device for 2FA

Calling out the ineffectiveness of passwords as an authentication method isn’t new, but what will be new next year is that finally this stubborn, outdated mode of authentication will be overtaken by the use of biometrics in twThroughout-factor (2FA and MFA) use cases.

Over the course of 2023, password + device will be replaced by biometric + device.

The uptake of MFA has been steadily rising in recent years, especially since the enactment of PSD2 for electronic payment services in Europe. While passwords are technically compliant as a strong authentication factor, they and other knowledge-based techniques leave a lot to be desired when it comes to security and user-friendliness. Biometrics and other inherence-based security hit the perfect balance between providing the necessary protection to make 2FA and MFA truly secure while also delivering an effortless user experience.

Liveness checks become mandatory for online identity verification in financial services

Speaking of regulation, 2023 will also see the European Banking Authority mandate all regulated financial service providers in the EU complete biometric liveness checks when remotely enrolling customers. These new guidelines will help ease new account of theft, and money laundering. What we’ll also see is consumers feeling more comfortable with, and demanding more, biometric verification at other points of their user journey.

As this becomes mandatory for financial services in Europe, attackers will turn their attention elsewhere – which will require the UK and other regions to follow suit.

Synthetic identity fraud will break records

Synthetic identity fraud exploded in many regions in 2022, even becoming its own industry. That is set to continue in 2023, with Aite Group estimating $2.43bn of losses from synthetic identity fraud this year. Nearly every organisation is at risk of onboarding a fake person and the implications that come with that: financial loss, data theft, regulatory penalties, and more. Organisations throughout the financial services world will need to ramp up their online security to identify synthetic identity crime attacks.

Deepfakes become ubiquitous as the next generation of digital attacks

The technology to create convincing deepfakes is now so readily available that even the novice cyberattacker can do serious damage.

Any financial services organisation that isn’t protecting its systems against deepfakes will need to do so as a matter of urgency. More sophisticated bad actors have already moved on to advanced methods, and in 2023 we’ll see a proliferation of face swaps and 3-D deepfakes being used to find security vulnerabilities and bypass the protocols of organisations around the world.

Privacy-enhancing government-backed digital identity programs will pick up pace – and they’ll be interoperable

Consumers globally are realising they don’t want to give their addresses and other personal data to every website or car rental firm or door-person outside a bar. As demand for secure identity services grows, more state and federal governments will begin to roll out interoperable digital ID programs that use verifiable credentials to enable citizens to cryptographically confirm details about themselves.

Device spoofing will grow exponentially

The increase in reliance on devices as a security factor has attracted the attention of cybercriminals, who are exploiting vulnerabilities for theft and other harm. In 2023, we will see an increase in the sophistication of criminals spoofing metadata to conceal their attract top made to appear like a mobile device) to circumvent enterprise security protocols. In 2023, organizations – especially those that rely on mobile web – will recognize the limitations of once-trusted device data and move verification services to the cloud.

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October 21, 2023December 18, 2023 byJeet Vasa

How Embedded Banking is transforming customer loyalty

The impact of loyalty programmes for brands looking to foster lasting relationships with their customers has been well-established for years. Research from Nielsen, for example, found that the vast majority (84%) of consumers are more inclined to remain faithful to brands with loyalty programmes. However, 79% of consumers are no longer interested in simply earning points for their loyalty.

By Kim Van Esbroeck, Country Head for Aion Bank Belgium & Chief Revenue Officer for Vodeno/Aion

Today, the loyalty ecosystem is shifting. In the age of eCommerce, competition for the customer is more fierce than ever, and brands are turning to embedded finance to differentiate themselves and drive engagement.

To find out more about changing loyalty preferences, Vodeno commissioned a survey of more than 3,000 European consumers in the UK, Belgium, and Germany to understand how embedded finance is innovating brands’ customer loyalty strategies.

How is embedded finance being integrated into loyalty programmes?

Embedded finance is a broad term that covers a wide variety of banking products – from payments to lending to savings. According to the Vodeno/Aion research, branded debit cards and digital wallets are popular embedded finance solutions, with 48% of respondents having used a branded debit card and 40% a branded credit card.

Today, early adopters are seeing how embedded finance can supercharge their existing loyalty schemes by providing customers with financial products that add convenience and tangible financial benefits. For instance, the Starbucks loyalty app, which enables customers to earn rewards and pre-order coffee with their smartphone, holds more than $1.2 billion in deposits as customers load cash onto their Starbucks Cards and app. In context, this is more than 85% of US banks have total assets, making embedded finance a clear route to profitability. Another powerful example of embedded finance in action is Target’s REDcard, which offers customers 5% cash back on purchases, contributing over $8.9 billion in volume annually and 12.1% of all Target sales.

How are consumers responding to embedded finance?

In today’s eCommerce landscape, consumers expect a frictionless customer journey, and financial solutions that make their lives genuinely easier – like flexible payment solutions and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) – are key.

When it comes to their loyalty, just under half (46%) are more likely to use a brand’s loyalty card to make purchases if it includes BNPL. This figure was highest amongst the youngest consumers surveyed, increasing to 53% for those aged 16-24 and higher still (65%) in the 25-34 demographic.

Vodeno’s research went further, revealing a strong consumer appetite for embedded financial products, citing that over a third (37%) of respondents are actively seeking out brands offering BNPL as a result of rising costs, while 40% are only loyal to brands providing financial benefits such as BNPL and cashback, rising to 50% among those aged 25-34.

The benefits of loyalty

Embedded finance has a direct impact on conversion and repeat visits, with respondents claiming they shop with brands offering embedded financial solutions more frequently. According to the findings, 36% visit the brand’s app or website three to five times a month, with this figure rising to 43% among the 25-34 age group. Additionally, more than a fifth (22%) of respondents say they are likely to make more purchases with brands offering embedded banking, while 23% are more likely to spend more money with them over competitors.

Building bonds that last

Embedded banking has already revolutionised the customer journey and now it is changing the loyalty game. Our findings indicate that consumers are already actively recognising the benefits of financial solutions offered at the point of need, which is incentivising bigger shopping baskets and repeat visits. In a fiercely competitive market, brands stand to gain from new revenue-building opportunities and stronger customer relationships, powered by embedded banking.

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October 21, 2023December 18, 2023 byJeet Vasa

Small Finance Banks – The quest for technology-led differentiation

Since their inception, Small Finance Banks (SFBs) have been primed as a vital cog for the last mile credit and service delivery for the MSMEs, farmers, and unorganized sector units, helping to bridge the $240 billion credit gap for the underserved segment.

By Naveen Gupta, Senior Product Owner, Tagit

These Small Finance Banks have a robust base of borrowers with small credit needs. The banks so far have been reasonably successful in serving their priority segment and are now looking to establish their presence in the commercial banking space by evolving beyond a credit-only institution to a diversified financial institution.

In today’s environment, SFBs are facing twin challenges. Where, from one end, the FinTechs are grabbing their market share using innovation and new technologies and at the other end incumbents’ banks are blocking their market access with their size.

To compete with them, SFBs must step up their game. They need to look beyond rate strategy (providing higher interest rates on CASA and deposits as compared to the incumbent banks) and build a robust, sustainable differentiation built around their primarily intended high-technology, low-cost model.

Born on the cusp of the digital era, Small Finance Banks do not come with the baggage of legacy technology. Though they don’t have the capital to match the technology spends of their incumbent peers, the unbundling of the banking technology stack and ecosystem driven collaborative innovation – courtesy API economy and open systems – presents a great opportunity for them to undertake a phased, yet fast leap towards digital transformation, all the while keeping IT spends under control.

SFBs must focus on:

Implementing digital channels for banking services: Banks can use digital platforms such as mobile apps, online banking portals, and social media to provide customers with convenient and secure access to their accounts, transactions, and other banking services.
Enhancing security: Banks can use advanced security measures such as biometrics, encryption, and multi-factor authentication to protect customer data and prevent fraud.
Partnering with fintech: Banks can collaborate with fintech companies to access new technologies and innovative products and services to enhance their digital capabilities.
Investing in digital infrastructure: Banks can invest in modernizing their IT infrastructure to enable better data management, improved scalability, and enhanced security.
Providing digital financial education: Banks can use digital platforms to educate customers about financial literacy and digital banking services.
Improving data management: Banks can use big data and analytics to gain insights from customer data and use it to improve product offerings, target marketing, and personalize the customer experience.

With the right technology transformation strategy powered by smart investments and careful roadmap considerations, Small Finance Banks can grow their business and achieve sustainable differentiation while keeping costs under check.

Banks need to ensure that they have the right partners for their digital transformation. Partners having plenty of digital transformation experience in the Indian market can help transform SFBs with the right speed and scale without impacting existing business and thereby enabling the SFBs in their journey of expanding market share and revenue.

Banks should collaborate with Digital transformation partners like Tagit who have platform-led solutions, provide more value in the long term, ensure that solutions are future-ready, and services delivered are secured and scalable.

With the right mix of products, SFB can successfully transform to a universal bank, increasing their market presence fending competition from new age fintechs and other banks and bringing more value to their stockholders. Tagit can help Small Finance Banks in increasing their customer base and revenue and enhancing customer loyalty with new and innovative features.

Tagit has been helping banks in India in their digital initiatives by providing best-in-class digital solutions alongside a holistic digital roadmap.

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October 21, 2023December 18, 2023 byJeet Vasa

The gateway to success: Why businesses shouldn’t underestimate the importance of payment gateways

It can be very easy for businesses to assume that payment gateways come as standard and that one will do the job as well as the next, but nothing could be further from the truth. It shouldn’t be underestimated how important this juncture in the customer’s journey is, with many getting all the way to this point and then abandoning their cart because the process isn’t intuitive enough or, in some cases, downright confusing.

By Bob Kaufman CEO of ConnexPay

In this article, I’ll explore specifically what payment gateways are and what businesses should be on the lookout for to ensure they are using the best one possible.

What are payment gateways?

Payment gateways are the virtual equivalent of a point-of-sale system, allowing customers to pay for goods and services online from anywhere in the world, using a variety of payment methods. When done right, the end product makes it straightforward and convenient for customers to purchase goods, helping a business to grow its sales figures.

The best payment gateways are flexible and user-friendly, offering a variety of payment methods. They should be easy to integrate with any website and offer strong security features to protect customers’ financial information. When choosing a payment gateway, it is important to consider a business’s specific needs. If a business sells physical goods, it will need a gateway that supports credit cards and debit cards. If it sells digital goods, it may also need a gateway that supports PayPal or other digital wallets. Regardless of whether you sell physical goods or electronic goods, you need to offer multiple payment options.

The experience should be intuitive for the customer

If a customer in a store needs to wait for an extended period of time because the cashier doesn’t know how the cash register works, there is every chance the store will lose that sale. The intuitiveness of payment gateways is just as important. The interface should be user-friendly and the process of accepting payments should be simple and straightforward.

Equally, the process needs to work smoothly internally. A business’s finance team needs to be able to navigate its payment gateway’s user portal without any hassle to access financial information and customer purchase data. Information on customers’ payment processing fees, chargebacks and transaction are all included in this. A merchant being able to access this data and make meaningful sense of it is dependent on the payment gateway being easy to use, with intuitive navigation.

Actionable reporting and analysis

In addition to a user-friendly experience, another important feature to look for in a payment gateway is comprehensive reporting and analytics capabilities. A good payment gateway will provide a business with a payment management dashboard that gives them easy access to payment data. This data can be used to generate reports and insights that can help a business improve sales and marketing efforts.

For example, a robust payment gateway can use reporting and analytics to track sales and purchases, identify trends, and see which products or services are most popular with customers. A business can also use this data to improve its customer service by identifying areas where it can enhance the checkout process or provide better support. By taking advantage of reporting and analytics, businesses can make better decisions and improve its bottom line.

Better safe than sorry

Security is an essential aspect of the payment process. Customers need to feel confident that their purchases are safe, and businesses need to protect themselves from fraud, theft, and cyberattacks. As security technology evolves, so do the methods of cybercriminals. Therefore, payment gateways must be modern, sophisticated, and compliant with industry standards. They must be able to mitigate risks, reduce fraud, and accept legitimate transactions while flagging risky ones.

An integrated solution

Traditional payment systems are often siloed, which means that merchants must use multiple systems to manage their payments. This can be inefficient and time-consuming, and it can also lead to issues with data accuracy. A payment gateway that integrates with other business software can help to solve these problems. By integrating its payment gateway with its accounting software, inventory management system, and CRM, a business can get a single view of all payments. This will save time, improve data accuracy, and make it easier to track financial performance.

Enhancing customer support

Success depends on a business making sales, and sales rely on customers making payments. For payments to be made as easily and conveniently as possible, a business’s payment gateway needs to be reliable and efficient. If any technical issues or other problems arise, they need to be resolved quickly so that payments can continue to be made to the business without delay.

Effective customer support is essential for ensuring that a payment gateway is always up and running. Businesses need to be able to get help when they need it, quickly and easily. Look for a payment gateway that offers superb customer support, with clear instructions on how to contact support staff.

Making the right choice

Choosing the right payment gateway is an important decision for any business. Each of these factors is as important as the last. By prioritising all of them and seeking out a solution that facilitates them, a business can achieve their online payment goals and grow their business.

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October 21, 2023December 18, 2023 byJeet Vasa

Identity Verification for FinTechs: Ensuring Security and Compliance

Vivek Sridhar, Neokred — Vivek Sridhar, Chief Business Officer at Neokred

For Neo banks in the financial industry, digital onboarding is becoming more crucial. Neo banking is the name given to a new breed of digital-only banks that provide a broad variety of financial services via online and mobile platforms.

By – Vivek Sridhar, Chief Business Officer at Neokred

These financial institutions frequently build on top of the already-existing infrastructure, and they significantly rely on technology to give customers a smooth and effective experience. The procedure for signing up for and creating a new account with a neo bank is known as digital onboarding. It is a crucial part of the customer experience and has the power to build or break a person’s relationship with a new bank.

For modern banks, identity verification is a vital step in the customer onboarding procedure. Since it serves as the first point of interaction between the bank and the customer, digital onboarding is crucial for neo banks. It establishes the tone for the customer’s entire banking experience. A quick and easy digital onboarding procedure can provide consumers with a good first impression and persuade them to keep using the bank’s services. On the other hand, a lengthy and onerous onboarding procedure can deter clients from joining up or even cause them to give up completely.

Digital onboarding is essential for neo banks because it enables them to gather vital data about their clients, such as their details, income, and financial objectives. Initially, it is vital to prevent fraud and safeguard the bank and its clients from financial losses. Identity verification is the first line of security against attacks when criminals try to open phoney accounts using stolen identities.

Second, regulations seek identification verification. Anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) guidelines oblige financial institutions to verify their customers’ identities. Compliance with these standards is crucial if you want to avoid large fines and reputational harm.

Furthermore, identity verification is key for neobanks because it allows them to collect critical information about the consumer, such as personal information, income, and financial goals. A major use of this data is for offering specialized financial products and services.

Who Needs Technology for Identity Verification?

Financial institutions are a popular target for criminals attempting to conceal the proceeds of their illegal activities, Insurance companies, gaming organizations, and cryptocurrency dealers are just a few of the other industries that run the risk of moving money from and to online accounts.

Large amounts of personal data are transferred, processed, and stored by healthcare organisations. As a result, they are a prime target for cybercriminals looking for this valuable data and may also consider using identity verification software to protect their business and customers.

Given the harmful effect, any association with money laundering and financial crime can have on an institution, groups that engage with customers online rather than in person require a KYC plan to protect their clients, build trust and protect their business from fraud and data breaches.

As part of the onboarding process, these organisations must identify and verify users. But it does not end there. They must continuously repeat the process throughout the customer relationship to ensure that they do not pose any risk to the organisation at any time. The verification process should not impede providing an excellent customer experience, but rather should efficiently and securely connect a user’s physical and digital identities.

Identity verification software will be of interest to the teams and individuals responsible for designing, deploying, and managing the efforts required to protect the organisation from the risk of financial crime.

How to Find the Best Identity Verification Software in 3 Easy Steps:

Identity verification is critical for ensuring that the financial institution only deals with legitimate customers and follows compliance regulations. When selecting identity verification software for business, several factors must be considered to ensure that the organization’s decision is the best one.

Step 1: Analyze the Requirements

The decision must also be motivated by the specific needs of the business. The industry, customer profile, nature of online engagements, and user experience all impacts the role of identity verification as well as its correct function.

Step 2: Gauging the Features and Functionality

With a definite knowledge of the necessities for identity verification software, the emphasis moved to what providers choose to offer. Some features are critical to a solution and knowing what they are and how they are presented are critical to deciding on it with knowledge.

Step 3: Gauging Fit

As suggested solutions are considered, the choice of the safest alternative for the organisation should remain focused on meeting the needs of the business. Although there may be cost savings, some solutions require the vendor or in-house engineers to modify systems and do not give the team the flexibility to tailor the solution to the organization’s need

Using Neokred’s ProfileX Product by organizations to eliminate fraud. Organizations that use ProfileX automate the validation, screening, and decision-making processes required to approve good customers faster, stay compliant and reduce the risk of fraud.

AML teams can manage identity and document verification, including non-documentary verifications (name, address, DOB, SSN), watchlist screening, and monitoring using independent and reliable data sources — scanning against different lists and databases to validate identity and checking against known or suspected criminals to defend against fraud with better data.

The no-code flag and review platform provided by ProfileX enables teams to create workflows tailored to their specific use cases. These include synthetic checks that use spoofed or falsified personal information to identify entities.

Analytics IBSi Blogs venture capital

October 21, 2023December 18, 2023 byJeet Vasa

Surviving and Thriving: How Indian FinTech start-ups can insulate against funding winter

A funding winter is a period of reduced venture capital funding during which investors become cautious and risk-averse, resulting in a lack of funds for new businesses. The global economic meltdown has had some knock-off effect on the Indian FinTech industry as well. But the rate of adoption of Indian FinTech is still rising and shining. As per the Economic Survey 2022-23, Indian FinTech companies witnessed a staggering adoption rate of 87% across various sects of users including the underserved and those who belong to the bottom most stratum.

By Rahul Tandon, Chief Product Officer, Safexpay

This beats the global average by 23%. With over 2100+ FinTech companies, India is the third-largest FinTech ecosystem in the world. Despite the challenges, Indian FinTech start-ups attracted investments worth $1.2 billion in Q1 2023, a sharp jump of 126% compared with $523 million raised in Q4 of 2022, according to a report compiled by market intelligence platform Tracxn.

However, the total funds raised were 55% lower than $2.6 billion raised in Q1 2022. The number of funding rounds in Q1 2023 also experienced a drop of 77% and 39% against Q4 2022 and Q1 2022, respectively. The ecosystem has remained resilient, promoting innovation, improving operational efficiency, and prioritising regulatory compliance to succeed.

FinTechs Modifying Business Model

In the Indian financial services industry, partnerships have played a vital role in sustaining operations and generating cash flow. To adapt, businesses have adjusted their models, forming alliances and collaborations. FinTech companies often collaborate with banks, NBFCs, and insurance firms, leveraging their customer base and accessing resources. Such collaborations enable them to expand their offerings, such as digital lending platforms and payment solutions. FinTechs have also taken steps to conserve cash by scaling back on activities like marketing, prioritising cost-effective approaches. By aligning expenses with revenue streams, start-ups aim for sustainable growth and attracting investor interest.

Innovation is not only in products and services but also in business models. The reason being that entrepreneurs often get funding in a 12-18 month period, those who have not secured consecutive rounds of funding may have a limited runway. As a result, it is critical for FinTechs to run a business, which is sustainable and open to adaptation. Overspending on client acquisition and other unnecessary areas could be fatal for the growth and sustenance of the business. Focus should be on improving unit economics and being conservative with the initial funding. Start-ups, especially in FinTech, can boost their prospects of long-term success by implementing these actions.

Fostering Innovation

Innovation has been a driving force for Indian FinTech start-ups to attract investors and differentiate themselves in a highly competitive landscape. These start-ups have embraced cutting-edge technologies and developed innovative solutions to address the evolving needs of consumers. For instance, they have leveraged artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain to create secure and efficient financial services platforms.

Government support has played a crucial role in fostering a culture of innovation and securing funding during challenging times. The Indian government has introduced initiatives like the “Digital India” campaign and the “Start-up India” program, which provide support and incentives for FinTech start-ups. Such government initiatives have encouraged entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions, attract investors, and contribute to the growth of the FinTech ecosystem. Furthermore, ongoing innovations such as differentiated banking and insurance licenses, the introduction of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), the implementation of Account Aggregator, the emergence of the Open Credit Enablement Network (OCEN), the integration of Digilocker, and the establishment of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) are fuelling continuous progress in the sector.

Enhancing Operational Efficiency

Indian FinTech startups recognise the importance of optimising their operations to save money and exhibit profitability potential. Leveraging technology to increase operational efficiency is a key strategy for fintech companies. By automating manual processes, implementing artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, and utilizing big data analytics, FinTech firms can streamline their operations and reduce costs. For example, digital on boarding processes can significantly reduce the time it takes to open an account or process a money transfer. Additionally, chatbots can provide customer service around the clock, freeing up staff time for more complex tasks. These innovations not only lower operational expenses but also improve consumer experience, attracting a wider user base.

Credibility and Regulatory Compliance

FinTech and payment companies in India face a complex and evolving regulatory environment. Compliance requirements include obtaining licenses, adhering to data protection rules, complying with AML and KYC regulations, ensuring secure technology infrastructure, maintaining accurate records, submitting reports to regulators, and undergoing audits.

For FinTech start-ups to receive finance, trust and regulatory compliance are critical. They realise the need of preserving clients’ data, employing effective security measures, and adhering to relevant regulations. With data breaches and privacy concerns on the rise, start-ups have prioritised data security measure while maintaining transparency and responsibility in their operations.

Furthermore, forging solid alliances with banks, financial institutions, and regulatory agencies boosts the legitimacy of the whole ecosystem. Collaborative efforts to build regulatory frameworks, encourage responsible lending practises, and defend consumer interests foster a trust and confidence ecosystem.

The future of regulatory compliance in Indian FinTech and payments looks promising with the government’s push towards digitisation and financial inclusion. The apex bank has been working towards creating a more robust regulatory framework to ensure that the growing FinTech industry remains compliant with regulations. One of the key initiatives taken by RBI is the creation of a regulatory sandbox, which allows FinTech companies to test their products in a controlled environment before launching them in the market.

Way forward

The future of Indian FinTech industry is in position for growth and resilience, overcoming the challenges posed by the funding winter. To attract investor interest, FinTech companies should adapt their business models, forge strategic partnerships, and prioritise sustainable growth. Innovation will remain a crucial factor in setting them apart from competitors, with a focus on building scalable and profitable enterprises while optimising operational efficiency through technology integration.

Upholding credibility and regulatory compliance become paramount, encompassing data security, transparency, and responsible practices. By collaborating with banks, financial institutions, and regulatory bodies, FinTech firms can foster a reliable ecosystem. With government support and regulatory initiatives, the future looks promising for the Indian FinTech and payments industry, as it continues to drive financial inclusion and digital transformation across the nation.

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