- jaro education
- 14, March 2024
- 10:00 am
In recent decades, technology has drastically altered our daily lives, from how people communicate and shop to corporate finance. As per Statista, in 2024, the typical transaction size in the Corporate Finance market is estimated to be around US$202.10m. In the finance domain, emerging technologies have revolutionized how consumers manage their money and what they expect from financial institutions. These innovations not only streamline processes, reduce errors, and enhance communication but also reshape the way people perceive and engage with their finances.
For financial institutions, the advantages of embracing these technologies are immense. Solutions such as big data, AI, and automation not only save time and resources but also enhance customer relationships and drive profitability. While the impact of these advancements may vary across functions, the potential for adaptation and significant benefits is evident for many.
What is Technology Within the Context of Finance?
Financial technology, commonly known as Fintech, refers to the application of technology to revolutionize and enhance financial processes. This includes a broad spectrum of digital products and platforms utilizing advanced technologies such as blockchain, big data analytics, and artificial intelligence. These technological innovations continuously empower finance teams to achieve greater efficiency.
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Transformative developments like Internet banking, mobile payments, peer-to-peer lending, robo-advisory services, and cryptocurrencies have brought significant changes to the financial sector.
The primary objectives behind these groundbreaking inventions often include improving consumer experiences, streamlining processes, and promoting financial inclusion. Fintech companies pose challenges to established financial institutions by delivering state-of-the-art services that cater to the evolving needs of customers.
Fintech has played a crucial role in granting access to the global financial ecosystem for underprivileged communities and emerging nations, thereby democratizing access to financial services. Consequently, traditional banking and payment structures have been disrupted, fundamentally changing how individuals manage their finances.
Benefits of Technology in Corporate Finance
Undoubtedly, the integration of technology into the financial services sector has yielded numerous benefits, playing a pivotal role in the substantial growth of the global finance industry. Below are some key merits associated with the infusion of technology into corporate finance.
Enhanced Coverage
The evolution of mobile connectivity technology has democratically expanded access to open banking services. In stark contrast to the traditional banking model, which predominantly served major cities and towns, technology now facilitates easy sign-ups for financial services through a few clicks on business phones or tablets. FinTech companies, leveraging technology, have transcended geographical limitations, broadening the coverage of financial services.
Heightened Convenience
Financial services technology has brought unprecedented convenience to users, challenging the constraints of traditional banking systems. Recent advancements enable users to conduct virtually all banking activities through mobile banking technology, including service sign-ups, customer inquiries, payments, loan access, and fund transfers. User-friendly mobile applications from companies like Square Inc. eliminate the need for customers to queue up at physical banking branches, offering services at their fingertips.
Accelerated Speed
Financial technology solutions boast remarkable speed, with transactions completed in mere seconds. This swift pace is particularly crucial in today’s fast-paced world, where time is of the essence. In contrast, traditional banking systems often entailed processes that could span days. But now, with the evolution of FinTech solutions, such delays can now be minimized.Â
Enhanced Safety and Security
Technology addresses safety and security concerns within the financial services sector. Traditional banking systems harbored vulnerabilities that increased the risk of theft. However, the introduction of software solutions in the financial services industry has given rise to sophisticated fraud and breach detection methodologies, ensuring the safety and security of one’s funds and private data.
Improved Customer Experience
Corporate finance technologies have significantly elevated the overall customer experience. Innovations such as smart contracts, mobile payment systems (e.g., Venmo), credit card platforms (e.g., PayPal), and chatbot systems have simplified clients’ lives. Technological wonders like universally accessible no security deposit credit cards have further reduced human errors, allowing most queries to be efficiently handled online, from the comfort of one’s home.
In today’s ever-changing financial world, it’s crucial for professionals to stay ahead with modern financial ideas, analytics, and strategies. That’s why IIM Mumbai has created a special course, the Executive Certificate Programme in Corporate & Strategic Finance. It is designed for both experienced finance pros and those aiming to become financial leaders. This course dives deep into important financial ideas and strategies, like understanding financial statements and new fintech innovations. You’ll learn through hands-on activities, real-world examples, and interactive sessions if you enroll in this course.
Trends and Innovation in Finance Technology
Open Banking BAAS
Open Banking, also known as Banking as a Service (BaaS), stands out as a prominent trend within the corporate finance landscape. It represents a cutting-edge development in the fintech sector, facilitating secure data sharing and collaboration among financial institutions, technology firms, and users. This innovation allows individuals to grant authorized third-party service providers access to their financial data, paving the way for personalized solutions such as budgeting applications, investment platforms, and loan marketplaces.
Facebook and Instagram have emerged as frontrunners in embracing this fintech trend, offering services like marketing and shopping. However, numerous other entities are poised to follow suit. Open banking has gained widespread recognition and seamless integration into financial ecosystems over recent years, and its prominence is expected to endure as one of the leading fintech trends in 2024 and beyond.
Digital Banking
Digital banking has long been at the forefront of the financial technology revolution. Traditional banking has experienced a noticeable decline as consumers increasingly favor the convenience and efficiency offered by digital alternatives. The surge in FinTech applications for digital banking has been further accelerated by the global COVID-19 pandemic, with lockdown regulations prompting a significant shift in consumer behavior.Â
IoT in Corporate Finance
The term Internet of Things abbreviated as IoT, pertains to a system of physical objects or “things” embedded with internet connectivity, software, and sensors. These devices autonomously gather and share data in real time, executing designated tasks such as financial transactions, fraud detection, and credit scoring, all without human intervention.
Considered among the groundbreaking trends in corporate finance technology, IoT has broadened the scope of financial services, resulting in improved customer satisfaction and the introduction of inventive solutions. The influence of IoT on the growth of the corporate finance sector is anticipated to undergo significant expansion in the coming years.
Neobanking
The burgeoning fintech landscape in India is witnessing a rise in online banks that function without physical branches. Referred to as Neobanks, these digital-only banking entities provide a comprehensive suite of services comparable to traditional banks. This includes online account initiation, virtual bank cards, instantaneous payments, budgeting tools, and various other features.Â
The anticipated transaction value within the Neobanking sector is forecasted to attain $113.60 billion by the year 2024. (Source: Statista)
Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL)
An emerging trend in fintech, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), empowers users to make purchases and defer the payment over a period. This innovative approach allows customers to divide the total amount into smaller, interest-free installments, typically over a fixed timeframe. Its popularity stems from its straightforwardness, swift approval process, and the absence of interest charges when payments are made punctually.
Alternative Lending (or P2P Lending)
Characterized by unconventional lending models and platforms, alternative lending is a fintech trend providing credit access beyond traditional banking channels. This encompasses peer-to-peer lending, crowdfunding, and online lending marketplaces.
According to market projections, the alternative lending sector is poised for substantial growth by 2026. This surge is propelled by factors such as the escalating demand for rapid and accessible credit, technological advancements, and the capability of alternative lenders to cater to borrowers who are underserved or overlooked.
Big Data and AI
AI and big data, as enabling technologies in corporate finance, facilitate the processing of previously inaccessible data and introduce innovative data processing methods. Advancements in NLP, computer vision, and voice recognition enable automated analysis of vast amounts of text, imagery, and spoken language, surpassing human capabilities. This progress implies a shift of repetitive tasks, like transcription, to AI programs.
The rising popularity of big data is closely tied to AI’s focus on unstructured data, such as satellite imagery, opening new frontiers in investment management. Machine learning and deep learning further enhance data analysis by uncovering more precise relationships, and challenging traditional linear programming techniques.
Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies
The emergence of blockchain technology has significantly progressed the landscape of digital finance within the corporate sector. This technological advancement has not only fortified the entire financial technology ecosystem but has also given rise to innovative cryptocurrency solutions like Bitcoin and Ethereum. These digital currencies have evolved into potent tools for effective wealth management. The transformative impact of blockchain extends to regular financial transactions, rendering them completely transparent and contributing to the establishment of a fully democratized financial environment. Moreover, the technology’s robust security features have instilled greater confidence in online financial services.
Security Measures
Undoubtedly, ensuring security and privacy is paramount in corporate finance. Innovations have been incorporated to bolster these safeguards. With the increasing adoption of FinTech solutions, safeguarding funds, personal information, and transactions has become a critical concern. Various cutting-edge technologies, such as biometric data, tokenization, and encryption, have been developed to fortify the security of contemporary financial services.Â
Finance technological tools play a crucial role in meeting all stipulations related to data privacy, automating requests for alterations to users’ personal data, and conducting system security testing. Additionally, they contribute to fraud detection, code review and audit processes, as well as the implementation of advanced risk systems. Consequently, these advancements have significantly enhanced the resilience of the modern banking system, making it more impervious to breaches compared to its traditional counterpart.
Cloud Computing
Specialized cloud service providers maintain these infrastructures, encompassing public, hybrid, and private clouds, to serve multiple enterprises or the general public. The integration of private and public clouds in a hybrid configuration, operating independently but interconnected through proprietary technologies, is deployable in business data centers or alternative hosting services. As cloud computing liberates banking institutions from non-core tasks such as managing IT infrastructure and data centers, it allows cost-effective access to flexible storage and computing services. This technological shift not only enhances efficiency but also leads to the emergence of new financial service formats, fundamentally transforming the relationship dynamics between clients and service providers.
API-Centric Financial Frameworks
API-centric financial frameworks describe a contemporary strategy within the corporate finance domain, wherein financial institutions, including banks, leverage Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to establish connections between their services and data and external software and applications.
Under an API-centric model, financial institutions extend access to their systems to external entities such as third-party developers, fintech firms, and even fellow banks. Through the use of APIs, these external entities gain authorized access to specific banking services and customer data, facilitating the development of novel financial products and services seamlessly integrated into the existing infrastructure of the bank.
Web3
As per Market.us, Web3, highlighted as one of McKinsey’s top five trends, has a significant marketing size of $6.63Â billion in 2024. This next-generation internet model decentralizes power, empowering users with enhanced control over data monetization and digital asset ownership.
In Web3, Decentralized Finance (DeFi) includes apps that act like regular banking services but with fewer protections. Instead of profits going to the company, they often go to users or providers. These apps usually use tokens for their governance.
Beyond finance, Web3 applications are exploring various sectors such as cross-border blockchain payments, wealth management, and select areas of capital markets, signaling a broader potential impact on financial services.
Case studies: Technology in Corporate Finance
IBM and Chatbots
Banks are leveraging chatbots for basic client service inquiries, complemented by the sophisticated financial analysis capabilities of IBM Watson. These chatbots, increasingly powered by AI, have the ability to learn from customer interactions, adapting and tailoring future engagements accordingly. By incorporating machine learning techniques that analyze both historical data and real-time inputs, these AI-driven chatbots play a crucial role in predicting and understanding future client behavior, presenting significant advantages for fintech businesses.
Billte and Cloud Computing
Billte, a Swiss company specializing in invoice management software, facilitates businesses in automating their billing procedures. This innovative technology transforms unstructured invoices into e-bills and QR-coded formats. Through diverse distribution channels such as email, SMS, automatic notifications, and real-time data, Billte ensures efficient delivery. Moreover, the software records partial payments in multiple currencies, contributing to heightened performance and liquidity for small and medium-sized businesses.
Plaid’s API Banking Model
A tangible illustration of the API-driven banking model is exemplified by Plaid’s collaboration with various banks. Plaid offers an API that establishes a secure connection between bank accounts and financial apps, enabling users to seamlessly share their financial data. This integration supports a streamlined and secure data-sharing process, exemplifying the integration of modern API technologies into the corporate finance landscape.
Amazon’s BNPL Service for SMEs
Amazon’s “Amazon Lending” service plays a pivotal role by providing short-term loans to small and medium-sized businesses operating on the platform. This service seamlessly integrates into the seller’s account, offering personalized financing options based on the seller’s historical performance and sales on Amazon. Notably, this approach simplifies the capital acquisition process for businesses, often resulting in reduced complexity and quicker approval times compared to conventional bank loans.
Preparing for Future
Technology has been a key driver of innovation and transformation in the finance industry, enabling new business models, products, and services that enhance efficiency, customer experience, and financial inclusion. However, technology also poses significant challenges and risks for finance professionals, such as cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and talent management. To succeed in the digital era, finance organizations need to adopt agile operating models, leverage advanced analytics and automation, and develop new skills and capabilities. By doing so, they can create more value for the business and society and shape the future of corporate finance.
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