Open Banking and the Consumer Data Right

Open Banking and the Consumer Data Right

In May last year, the Commonwealth Government announced that it would introduce an overarching Consumer Data Right (CDR), starting in the banking sector with the phased implementation of ‘Open Banking’ from 1 July 2019.

While the starting dates for the CDR have since changed, the ambition of the program remains unaltered, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) already engaged in preliminary discussions to extend the CDR beyond banking to the power and telecommunications industries.

So, what is Open Banking/CDR? And what is its potential impact on Authorised Deposit-taking Institutions (ADIs)?

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Lego Banking: A modular approach to banking customer experiences

Lego Banking:  A modular approach to banking customer experiences

In July I attended the Microsoft Inspire 2018 conference in Las Vegas.

The event was pretty impressive, not so much because of its size (and, yes, it was huge), but more so because of the clear and consistent strategy that was evident in everything.

And that strategy has direct relevance to the trajectory of banking software: to the way in which product strategists should be envisioning and architecting banking customer experiences (CXs).

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Apple Watch Series 3. A game changer for mobile wallets?

Apple Watch Series 3.  A game changer for mobile wallets?

A little over a year ago I wrote about some of the reasons for consumer dissatisfaction with Apple Pay on Apple Watch.

Last month’s announcement of Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) has the potential to change some of that, so it’s time to revisit the issue. Is Series 3 a game changer for mobile wallets?

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13 ways to conduct UX testing – and why it’s so important

13 ways to conduct UX testing – and why it’s so important

I recently came across a story about an approach to UX testing being used by Wells Fargo which highlights the importance of experimenting with different ways to conduct UX testing.

At one of its downtown San Francisco branches, Wells Fargo has set up an area called ‘Digital Express’.  This section of the branch provides customers with a series of tablets demonstrating proposed new new digital banking features/functions.  Customers can interact with the prototype solutions and provide quick and direct feedback to the bank, thus allowing the Wells Fargo product development team to ‘…test fast failures in a matter of weeks, rather than months or years’.

It’s an excellent example of the different ways in which UX testing can be conducted.

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Finovate Spring 2016 – Day 2 Highlights

Finovate Spring 2016 – Day 2 Highlights

The second day of Finovate Spring 2016 provided over 30 presentations on a range of perspectives across digital on-boarding, roboadvice, data analysis and security.  As with day 1, a common theme seemed evident:  a combination of digital self service + human interaction + artificial intelligence.

I’ve previously written about a selection of Day 1 presenters; here are a few highlights from Day 2.

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Finovate Spring 2016 – Day 1 Highlights

Finovate Spring 2016 – Day 1 Highlights

I’ve just returned from Finovate’s May 2016 Conference in San Jose, where a clear theme emerged:  a combination of digital self service + human interaction + artificial intelligence.

From an enormous range of 71 presenters (I think one dropped out) here are a few personal highlights from  Day 1.

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Can Apple Pay help to save Apple Watch?

Can Apple Pay help to save Apple Watch?

Like many people, I’ve previously come to regard the Apple Watch as ugly, inconvenient and pointless.

Initially I awaited its arrival with interest.  I trialed it with enthusiasm to learn how this new bit of hardware might help, and maybe even transform, my life.

But over time I found that I was using it less and less, the usability issues became harder to accommodate and the incessant buzzing on my wrist became more irritating than helpful.

And so, along with many people, I drifted away from its use.  It wasn’t a deliberate decision; more a question of losing interest.  And so for the last six months my Apple Watch has been relegated to the role of test device for app development.

That’s not to say that there aren’t many people who love their Apple Watch. There are plenty of people who love being so intimately aware of incoming phone calls, upcoming meetings, text messages, driving instructions, etc.  And there is a sizable population who like it for its fitness and health benefits.

It’s just that I’m not one of them.  I don’t use the fitness monitoring; I’m more irritated than excited by the alerts; and to be honest, I don’t like that it looks less like a a quality time piece and more like a small phone strapped to my wrist.  Call me traditional… but it doesn’t help that I don’t like its appearance.

watchcompare-0000

And I’m not alone – the internet is full of people bagging the device – all of which probably accounts for the watch’s apparent low sales volumes.

However, the other day, ANZ launched Apple Pay in Australia (disclosure:  I’m an ANZ customer) and I tried out Apple Pay, both on the phone and on the watch:  and I think I might be prepared to change my mind.

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Self-driving cars will change the world – and banking

Self-driving cars will change the world – and banking
These days it seems the news is full of stories about autonomous driving.

The other day I came across the video below.  It shows what can happen when an unprepared person is placed behind the wheel of a self-driving car.  In this case, the car was a Tesla in autopilot mode and the driver was the owner’s mother.

Source:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVU6ANI059M

The video highlights what can happen when standard expectations confront new modes of behaviour associated with technological innovation.  In this case the disjuncture is hugely discomforting for the lady sitting in a Tesla Model S.

But Tesla is not alone in developing self-driving cars.

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Fingerprint payments to be developed in time for Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Fingerprint payments to be developed in time for Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Last week the Japanese Government announced that it would commence development of fingerprint payment technology in time for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The system is part of a broader strategy to increase the annual number of foreign tourists to visiting Japan to 40 million by that date.

The way the system will work is that:

  • inbound tourists will register fingerprints when they arrive in the country
  • fingerprint records will be associated with a bank or credit card account
  • tourists will then pay for purchases by using fingerprint readers in stores, restaurants, etc
  • data collected by the system will be used to identify tourist movements and spending habits

JapanFingerprintPayments
Source:  The Yomiuri Shimbun

The system is to be initially trialed in 300 restaurants, shops and hotels popular with tourists, with a view to it being extended country-wide by 2020.

What are the implications?

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Apple Pay isn’t doomed yet. An Australian perspective on US mobile payments

Apple Pay isn’t doomed yet.  An Australian perspective on US mobile payments

Over the last six months, the news for Apple Pay has been pretty mixed.  While the payments system has grown its footprint internationally and recorded some successes, US experience has been far from stellar.

The key trend emerging is that while US consumers are happy to trial Apple Pay, ongoing usage is disappointing.  In fact, repeat usage is declining, as reported here, here, and here (there’s lots more) which must be of great concern to Apple.

Why are US consumers failing to utilise Apple Pay in greater numbers?  One answer, according to an article on PYMNTS.com called ‘Apple Pay Meets Its Biggest Foe Yet: Consumer Apathy’, is well… consumer apathy.

I think the real answer is more nuanced than that.

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