While COVID-19 is decimating some industries, it is giving a boost to others, including the employment of artificial intelligence in the banking industry. As customer access to human staff is curtailed with disruptions such as branch closures, well-configured chatbots and virtual assistants are stepping up to the plate. And the banks that are best equipped for AI implementation are enjoying such advantages as cost savings along with improved customer experience.
Artificial intelligence, once the subject of science-fiction novels, is today regarded by financial institutions as a must-have. But the AI uptake can be challenging. How can banks turn this trendy buzz-term into a vital component of their day-to-day operations? The embarkation point is to begin the five steps toward making AI innovation a reality. From data to teams, the necessary resources are there to propel a bank into AI actualization.
It’s not been an easy ride for the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) over the past couple of years – economic uncertainty, increased regulation and an ever-pressing need to cut costs and grow revenue has taken its toll. And with innovation continuing to buffet the workplace, upending business models and increasing customer demand, it’s no surprise that CFO turnover is on the up.
As banking advances further into the Digital Age, some aspects will remain the same while others change. One factor that will not change is the need for banks to manage risk. Technology is both an opportunity and a challenge, aiding risk management to become more efficient but introducing new risks. One thing is certain, banking of the future will still be centred on the goal of providing top-notch customer service, which will be enhanced by data and technology.
Financial services, as we enter 2020, have never been more open to innovation, collaboration and transformation, as established banks are challenged to adapt, like it or not. Worldwide, and especially in countries in which access to financial services was previously limited or nonexistent, financial technology is offering a bold and exciting new world to those financial firms that will employ it. What are the probable trends in the coming months?
Compliance teams are no longer the same as they used to be – they are now considered the third most-stressful City job, after investment bankers and traders. The combination of the financial crisis, Brexit and cybercrime has resulted in a high-stress profession, with constant roadblocks in the way of success.
2019 was a turbulent year for businesses, with hiring across many industries suffering at the hands of Brexit. Despite all the political and economic turbulence, some professions – Tax, Public Practice, Risk, Investment Management and Legal – remained largely resilient, with vacancy numbers and salaries relatively similar to previous years.
Mr. Simon Hughes of International Banker travels to Belgium to interview Mr. Johan Thijs, Chief Executive Officer, KBC Group, on the bank’s ongoing digital transformation, the innovation that drives that transformation and KBC’s wider role in society.
Artificial intelligence has become a must-have for banks today. AI in the form of robotic process automation and machine learning is going a long way to help banks become more efficient in customer service, more compliant in adhering to regulations and more capable in tackling fraud. But like all good things, it comes with a few strings. What are the responsibilities for senior individuals and boards attached to the many benefits AI brings to banking?
Every finance department is facing the same challenge, no matter their size, expertise or industry. New technologies are entering the workplace, changing the way we work and completely upending business models. Nowadays, consumers are ‘always on,’ demanding rapid service and communications. People want to subscribe to products, rather than buy them. Even investors are asking a lot, for example insisting companies precisely predict demand to keep the bottom line lean.