New Cisco research provides digital roadmap for capturing $405 b retail banking opportunity

Cisco announced a new research titled ‘Roadmap to Digital Value in the Retail Banking Industry’ which reveals that retail banks have the potential to realise $ 405.3 billion from 2015 to 2017 as the Digital Value at Stake (VaS). Yet, in 2015, financial services as a whole captured just 29% of that opportunity. Of the challenges slowing growth and innovation, cybersecurity weakness is certainly at the forefront. Cybersecurity concerns have prevented retail banks from adopting digital technologies and business models. And this has contributed to them missing out on more than 70% of the potential revenue opportunity.  

“With the pressing realities of agile ‘fintech’ disruptors, digital consumer demands, and complex regulatory hurdles, the question of how retail banks can compete and capture the revenue opportunity at hand has come to the fore,” says Mike Weston, Vice President, Cisco Middle East. “As the largest segment of financial services, retail banks play a critical role in any economy. The ability for digital technologies to create and drive new revenue opportunities, combined with the ability to lower operational costs through digitised business processes, brings tremendous opportunity. But, too many banks are moving slowly or not at all. By waiting to digitise their businesses, or by delaying new technology initiatives, banks risk not only missing out on the potential Value at Stake, but are actually at risk for being put out of business altogether.”

The new research, ‘Roadmap to Digital Value in the Retail Banking Industry’, outlines the Digital Value at Stake for retail banking – as well as a digital roadmap for success. The study reveals digital use cases that drive the fastest value and return on investment for retail banks. With the right technology investments such as analytics, mobility, video, and virtualised delivery models – and with a plan for navigating security risks – retail banks can create a blueprint for capturing their share of the hundreds of billions in Digital Value at Stake.

Cisco roadmap to digital value in the retail banking industry 

Retail Banks must accelerate digitisation or risk extinction: ‘Fintech’ startups are disrupting retail banks by unbundling their products and services. By doing this, they’re able to seize a share of the banks’ most profitable business while avoiding the barriers to entry that naturally come with being a full-service bank. These start-ups are digitising their offerings. Retail banks that fail to drive their digital transformation may be put out of business completely. According to a 2015 study by the Global Center for Digital Business Transformation (DBT Center), an IMD Business School and Cisco initiative, 4 out of the top 10 retail banks will be displaced by digital disruption in the next three years. However, only 27% are taking a proactive approach by disrupting their own businesses. Cisco’s research identified key digital use cases in the retail banking industry that drive more than 90% of the $ 405.3 billion opportunity. These digital solutions include video-based advisors, workforce transformation, mobile payments, virtual tellers, information-based consulting, white-label services, connected ads, marketing, and more. A critical foundational element across all the use cases? Cybersecurity. 

Cybersecurity Weakness is Slowing Digital Innovation in Retail Banking: Despite the tremendous opportunity and competitive pressures that come with digital transformation, retail banks are still slow to digitise. A recent Cisco study, ‘Cybersecurity as a Growth Advantage’ surveyed 1,014 senior finance and line-of-business executives globally and found that 71% agreed that cybersecurity risks and threats hinder digital innovation in their organisations. Another 39% of respondents said they’ve halted mission-critical initiatives due to these concerns. 

60% admitted their organisations are reluctant to innovate in areas such as digital products and services because of the perceived risks. Specific digital initiatives delayed potentially include omnichannel capabilities, wealth management and asset transfers, mobile banking and mobile payment capabilities, self-service and virtualised delivery models. Cisco’s economic analysis estimates that by not digitising more fully, incumbent retail banks missed out on $144 billion globally from 2011 to 2015.

Bottom line – cybersecurity concerns do not need to be a hindrance to digital innovation. Retail banks can transform cybersecurity from a liability into an asset that supports customer trust, innovation, and growth. All of these digital solutions depend on a robust cybersecurity foundation. 

“By assessing, adopting and combining the right digital use cases for their needs, and doing it securely, retail banks will capture their share of the Value at Stake and be in a position to operate more agilely and compete. By innovating and driving relevant new products and experiences to the market quickly, they can be the new disruptors,” Weston concludes.