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Banks Must Embrace NextGen Solutions to Meet Customers’ Demands

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By Dean Baker, Squad Lead, BFSI from Infobip

South African banks have weathered rough seas during the past year, with many of their customers coming under severe pressure from a stagnant economy, rising cost of living and high interest rates. Despite these storms, the financial services industry is still delivering good profits and growth, but there is constant pressure to maintain these results amid the adverse market trends and pressures that are currently shaping the landscape.

While South Africa’s established banks and financial institutions remain the powerhouses in the banking space, new entrants in the market are making a name for themselves in both the high and low Living Standards Measure (LSM) brackets. Some are making inroads in traditional markets and while others are looking to disrupt the underserviced digital space.

This has led many banks and financial institutions to look at achieving agility and to transform several of their strategic imperatives, such as how to become a more customer focused enterprise, how to adopt new operating models quickly and effectively, and how to optimise risk and compliance while doing that.

Opportunities are available for financial institutions wanting to explore the market and reinvent their enterprise to increase their relevance for their customers. However, these organisations need to embrace emerging technologies that make it possible for them to strengthen their digital core and leverage the power of cloud, data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in order to reach new performance frontiers.

Technology now an enabler

Technology – once viewed as a disrupter – is now an enabler that helps organisations to enhance their productivity, transform the cost of structures, engage with customers in novel ways and develop completely new propositions.

As a consequence, the banking and financial services industry as a whole is being transformed by technology advancements, changing customer preferences and nimble new players.

At the same time, one of the biggest challenges that traditional banks still face is trying to adapt to the high costs in the industry, including that of maintaining physical branches. A number of organisations are thus looking to transform the engagement with their customers and are seeking to bring efficiencies into their branches.

Despite these challenges, Africa is still one of the few places in the world where significant changes have taken place over the past few years, in some cases more so than in developed countries. According to market research, the growth in mobile banking in parts of Africa is among the fastest in the world.

This is because customers are expecting more from financial institutions and are clamouring for a superior cross channel experience, coupled with hands-on guidance and personal intervention when required.

Beyond the product

These heightened customer demands will require financial organisations to go beyond the product and facilitate the customer journeys and create customer experiences that are data-driven, consistent across customers’ channels of choice and complete with personalised engagement.

Essentially, we are entering the age of the conversational transaction where more and more communication apps are becoming part of bank customers’ end-to-end experiences. Behind customer demands are a number of accelerators driving this new technological transformation. These include hyper-personalisation, automation and 24/7 availability, as well as technological shifts towards the use of Digital channels, AI-driven tools (including chatbots and self-service), rich messaging apps and upgraded legacy voice/video channels.

Other accelerators include substantial increases in cloud contact centre interactions, chat apps being used as key channels for marketing, sales and support, and year-on-year growth in the use of digital channels (for example WhatsApp and RCS) for customer communication.

The data-driven journey can be summed up as one of continuous awareness creation and engagement through personalised recommendations based on profile scoring, to stimulate consideration and transaction with ongoing customer care and retention. This includes seamless agent intervention and handover when needed, ultimately creating loyalty with the drive and aim to increase customer lifetime value.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

E-Financial

MoneyMaster PSB Celebrates Customers at Owode Onirin Market

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In commemoration of the 2024 Customer Service Week, an annual celebration by businesses to appreciate customers’ loyalty and patronage, the MoneyMaster Payment Service Bank team on Friday visited the leaders of Owode Onirin iron and steel market in Lagos.

The team used the opportunity to educate traders and visitors on financial literacy and savings. Various banking channels and services were also introduced to them, while new account holders and transaction were rewarded with airtime and gifts.

Julius Arhebun, Head of Agency Business, MoneyMaster PSB, who spoke on Customer Service Week said: “As a customer-centric financial services brand, MoneyMaster is committed to delivering exceptional services, impactful lifestyle products and financial advisory services that help our customers to achieve their financial goals”.

He added that “As a digital bank, service is a competitive pivot for us and we pride ourselves as a beacon of excellence in customer experience. The bank will continue to introduce initiatives to reward and celebrate the millions of account holders who continue to trust us with their heard earned money”.

Alhaji Gafaru Waheed, Owode Onirin Market leader, praised MoneyMaster’s performance and support: “I’m delighted to associate with MoneyMaster. They’ve been supportive, and I enjoy our banking relationship.”

A leading digital financial services provider, MoneyMaster PSB is committed to deepening financial inclusion, bridging gaps between banked, underbanked and unbanked populations and transforming lives through innovative products and services.

 


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PalmPay MD Urges Fintech Leaders to Boost Investor Confidence for Increased Investment Across Africa

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PalmPay, an African-focused fintech company, has underscored the need for founders within the fintech ecosystem to boost investors’ confidence to drive more investment across the continent, saying that working closely with investors is vital to creating value.

Speaking at the recently concluded 2024 Nigeria Fintech Week in Lagos, Nigeria, held on October 8th and 10th, 2024, Managing Director, PalmPay Nigeria, Chika Nwosu stated that “The fintech ecosystem is not saturated but founders need to be mindful of building investor’s confidence amid currency devaluation and rising interest rates.

“We have seen that most of the currencies of sub-Saharan Africa have plummeted against the US dollar, including the Egyptian pound, Naira, Rand, Cedi, Congolese franc, and Kenyan shilling. This devaluation is impacting the value of investments, which in turn, lowers investor confidence and makes it difficult for fintech startups to secure funding.

Nwosu, who participated in a high-profile panel discussion themed “Safeguarding the Funding Pipeline for Fintech in Africa”, stated that founders can mitigate these challenges by diversifying their revenue streams and expanding into multiple geographical regions.

He noted that relying solely on one market can expose companies to regional economic volatility.

“By entering diverse markets, fintechs can spread their risk and minimize the impact of instability in any single region,” he said.

He gave the example of Palmpay being operational not only in Nigeria but also in Tanzania, Ghana, and other markets.

The 2024 Nigeria Fintech Week held under the overarching theme “Positioning Africa’s Fintech Ecosystem to Accelerate Growth,”  with a key focus on seeking more investors who see the long-term value of investing in Africa. The conference brought together industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and innovators to chart the future of Africa’s financial technology landscape.

According to the President of FintechNGR, Ade Bajomo, “Investments in the fintech sector in Africa declined significantly, dropping 77% to US$186 million from US$826 million in H1 2023. The number of deals decreased 30% year-on-year and average deal size fell to US$4 million in H1 2024 from US$10.5 million in H1 2023. However, we still have many growth opportunities in the continent.”

The panel session also weighed in on the need for founders to continuously engage with policy makers and regulators to stay informed.


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9 Payment Service Bank Celebrates 2024 Customer Service Week with Impressive Activities

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9 Payment Service Bank (9PSB), Nigeria’s leading digital payment service bank dedicated to advancing financial inclusion, celebrated the 2024 Customer Service Week, themed: “Above and Beyond.”

The celebration featured recognition of top performing Service Location Partners, an informative webinar for staff and partners, alongside cultural activities that underscored the bank’s dedication to exceptional customer service.

The week-long celebration, which took place from October 7th to 11th, united organizations worldwide to recognize the essential role of customers and partners in driving business success.

At the closing ceremony held at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Branka Mracajac highlighted the significance of this year’s theme, which aligns with 9PSB’s mission to provide outstanding banking services.

“We are proud to join organizations around the world in expressing our heartfelt gratitude to our customers and Service Location Partners for their steadfast support and loyalty,” Mracajac stated.

“Our commitment to going ‘above and beyond’ is reflected in our innovative and tailored banking solutions. Our customer experience team is dedicated to ensuring that every interaction is positive and fulfilling.

Mracajac further remarked, “Today, we honour our customers and recognize our exceptional partners whose contributions have been integral to our success. Your efforts are invaluable, and we remain committed to delivering quality and outstanding service as we collectively strive to bridge the financial inclusion gap through our mission to Bank9ja.’”


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