“Quo Vadis” Banking?

Nobel Prize-winning author Henryk Sienkiewicz’s brilliant novel “Quo Vadis” is Latin for “Where are you going” that offers a cross-section from the Roman Emperor Nero’s time, has an exciting story.

Legend has it that Emperor Nero was impressed by the part of a book about Troy where the city burned down. He wanted to experience this excitement himself by burning Rome, which he was already thinking of leaving.

Allegedly, Nero, who liked to had been remembered as an artistic soul, played music on the walls during the fire.

Meanwhile, St. Peter, who is among the Christians fleeing from the burning city, meets Jesus for a moment and excitedly asks, “Quo Vadis, Domino?” (Where are you going, Lord?). In response, Jesus says, “To the city you fled to, to will be crucified again.”

You may wonder what this has to do with where banking is going. I think it’s related very closely. Banking is now heading in such a direction that there is no turning back even though Jesus intends to be crucified for the second time!

Banking, which is one of the sectors managed with the most conservative management method; at the same time, is among the sectors that are most disorganized in terms of change in the digital age.

Let’s take a look at the improvements in banking:

Invisible Banking – Video Banking – Mobile Applications – Voice Services – Situational Intelligence Applications

Corporate Agility – 360 Degree Digital Vision – Holistic Organizational Security Applications – Business Unit Based Decision Processes

Artificial Intelligence – Machine Learning – AR – Data Management and Analytics – Robotic Applications

Working Order where Time and Space Disappear (different geographies – dispersed work organizations)

Working with the Digital Ecosystem (such as Fintechs in Payment systems) with a Business Partnership Approach, API applications.

Going over these topics one by one would go beyond the confines of the article. Therefore, I would like to conclude it by mentioning some featured developments.

Digitization and Digital Transformation

Products, business processes, business and distribution channels; Maximizing customer satisfaction with a smart, secure and interconnected digital structure based on artificial intelligence and robotics technologies should be the main strategy.

People-Oriented Approach

The source of everything should be human, not as a resource for a corporation, but as a value. Technological tools should not replace people but support them to do their jobs better. For example, more qualified jobs will be produced by humans, and with the help of artificial intelligence, the speed, flexibility and efficiency of the business process will increase. Focusing on learning organizational agility and increasing intelligence activities…

Data Management and Analysis

Data needs to be managed like an entity, taking care of its lifecycle.

(Lifecycle; identifying the owner and importance of data from the first moment, backing up, enriching, measuring and improving data quality, and securely erasing data at the end of the job.)

More succeeded and real-time application by effective processing and analysis of big data with accurate insight and prediction…

Democratization of Data Analytics

It has become essential to analyze the data they need to make decisions not only for data analysts but employees at all levels.

Disorganized work organizations that are independent for time and space work models that hastened with the epidemic; ensure its employees who are more qualified and have the capacity to use the data for work to take part in the decision mechanisms.

Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Applications

I think artificial intelligence and robotic applications with advanced augmented reality (AR) will be the most essential factor in determining the competitive advantage in banking with the people who create value for the institution.

In this structure, more attractive and simpler products can be developed with data analysis. In this way, the customer can feel special and unique in every transaction.

Mobile Apps

According to the mobile application usage data of 2021 in banking, almost 100% of retail banking is carried out in the digital environment.

The vast majority of financial transactions, such as money transfers and personal loans are making through mobile applications. Mobile provides the freedom to transact anywhere and anytime.

Bank Branches

When I look at the table above, I see that the most uncertain future awaits the bank branches. With the digitalization of the branches and the installation of robots and mobile banking applications, implementations such as fewer employees, franchise, and mobilization may be activated. In particular, video banking seems to weave the fate networks of branches…

Safety and comfort together!

With the accelerating effect of the epidemic, people have become more accustomed to making transactions in the digital environment. The continuity, speed, convenience, and security factors offered by the technological infrastructure also increase the attractiveness of digital. We are experiencing developments ensuring the journey of perfecting the customer experience. With the technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analytics, it is possible to instantly intervention in the customer experience. Credit and deposit products for customers are becoming personalized.

Strategy

Banks are facing two goals; increasing the quality of the service they provide to a constantly improving level in the current competitive environment and being ready for the sector’s future.

Of course, everything does not end only by making the technological infrastructure advanced. Apart from this, a group of leaders who are extroverted within a learning organizational structure, who raise corporate intelligence to the highest level, who prioritize taking initiative, and who emerge at all levels, should contribute.

While presenting the vision, the top management should determine the targets to be achieved together specific to human value, the unit, and the institution. The management should draw a framework that will enable everyone to take responsibility and initiative.

Final say

It is seen that the bright future in banking will be in the shadow of the advanced technological infrastructure that will provide information and technology security in general. That will occur primarily with the level of success in data management and the functionality of the original software owned.

Bulent Hasanefendioglu

Head of Consultancy, TDG Global

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