Digitalisation

ING Group CEO Ralph Hamers commits to open digital culture to drive innovation

ING Group is to open its planned new Amsterdam campus to external fintechs and other partners in a bid to drive innovation and collaboration. Ralph Hamers, the chief executive officer of ING Group, said the move was part of an essential commitment that included the need for its digital platforms to be open. Speaking at Europe’s largest fintech gathering, Money20/20, he revealed that the Amsterdam campus, due for completion in 2019, would bring together thousands of the best and brightest minds, ranging from ING employees to external companies and collaborators, to help “invent the future”.

ING Group CEO Ralph Hamers commits to open digital culture to drive innovation

Jun 25, 2018

ING Group is to open its planned new Amsterdam campus to external fintechs and other partners in a bid to drive innovation and collaboration. Ralph Hamers, the chief executive officer of ING Group, said the move was part of an essential commitment that included the need for its digital platforms to be open. Speaking at Europe’s largest fintech gathering, Money20/20, he revealed that the Amsterdam campus, due for completion in 2019, would bring together thousands of the best and brightest minds, ranging from ING employees to external companies and collaborators, to help “invent the future”.

Yamaha Motor Finance USA signs up with White Clarke Group

Yamaha Motor Finance USA has announced a partnership with technology supplier White Clarke Group. The deal is part of plans Yamaha Motor Finance first unveiled a year ago to bring its floorplan financing in-house, with a vision to provide a complete range of finance company services. It has selected CALMS Compass Floorplan Finance Software, which is already in use in its Canadian arm, as the platform for the new initiative.  

Yamaha Motor Finance USA signs up with White Clarke Group

Jun 21, 2018

Yamaha Motor Finance USA has announced a partnership with technology supplier White Clarke Group. The deal is part of plans Yamaha Motor Finance first unveiled a year ago to bring its floorplan financing in-house, with a vision to provide a complete range of finance company services. It has selected CALMS Compass Floorplan Finance Software, which is already in use in its Canadian arm, as the platform for the new initiative.  

Dragons and disruption: how do we make innovation happen?

On 13 September at the International Asset Finance Network conference 2018, I’ll be inviting three industry innovators to pitch their disruptive ideas for the future of auto, fleet or equipment finance to a group of judges who we have called, after the TV show, ‘The Finance Dragons’. Unlike Dragons’ Den, there’ll be no last minute investment deals to be done on stage, no-one will be trying to outbid each other and no-one is likely to say “I’m out” (although they may, given the right pitch, be in). Instead our dragons, and those pitching, are trying to do something that can only be a good thing: spending some time talking about, analysing, criticizing and hopefully applauding, new, innovative and disruptive ideas in front of an audience of senior finance professionals.

Dragons and disruption: how do we make innovation happen?

Jun 20, 2018

On 13 September at the International Asset Finance Network conference 2018, I’ll be inviting three industry innovators to pitch their disruptive ideas for the future of auto, fleet or equipment finance to a group of judges who we have called, after the TV show, ‘The Finance Dragons’. Unlike Dragons’ Den, there’ll be no last minute investment deals to be done on stage, no-one will be trying to outbid each other and no-one is likely to say “I’m out” (although they may, given the right pitch, be in). Instead our dragons, and those pitching, are trying to do something that can only be a good thing: spending some time talking about, analysing, criticizing and hopefully applauding, new, innovative and disruptive ideas in front of an audience of senior finance professionals.

Ford and GM among partners in global mobility blockchain initiative

Ford, General Motors, Groupe Renault and several other high-profile players in the automotive market have signed up to join the Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative (MOBI). The newly-formed alliance is dedicated to exploring blockchain for use in a new digital mobility ecosystem.

Ford and GM among partners in global mobility blockchain initiative

May 11, 2018

Ford, General Motors, Groupe Renault and several other high-profile players in the automotive market have signed up to join the Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative (MOBI). The newly-formed alliance is dedicated to exploring blockchain for use in a new digital mobility ecosystem.

White Clarke Group and Toyota Financial Services (UK) win award for digital innovation

Leading finance technology company, White Clarke Group, and Toyota Financial Services have received a joint accolade for their work on a digital innovation. The award is based on White Clarke Group’s CALMS Digital Processing Solution that went live with Toyota in October 2017. The CALMS Digital Processing Solution, including e-signature and e-identity capability, provides advanced digital processing capabilities for document generation and management, as well as helping streamline the customer experience and reduce operating costs.

White Clarke Group and Toyota Financial Services (UK) win award for digital innovation

May 04, 2018

Leading finance technology company, White Clarke Group, and Toyota Financial Services have received a joint accolade for their work on a digital innovation. The award is based on White Clarke Group’s CALMS Digital Processing Solution that went live with Toyota in October 2017. The CALMS Digital Processing Solution, including e-signature and e-identity capability, provides advanced digital processing capabilities for document generation and management, as well as helping streamline the customer experience and reduce operating costs.

Digital revolution “sounds the death knell for incrementalists”

Finance companies that compete by making only small improvements to their current services will come under threat from newer, more agile rivals, a leading industry expert has warned. Louise Beaumont, a start-up investor and industry advisor on open banking, points to the “democratisation of data” as the driving force behind fundamental changes in the finance eco-system.

Digital revolution “sounds the death knell for incrementalists”

May 01, 2018

Finance companies that compete by making only small improvements to their current services will come under threat from newer, more agile rivals, a leading industry expert has warned. Louise Beaumont, a start-up investor and industry advisor on open banking, points to the “democratisation of data” as the driving force behind fundamental changes in the finance eco-system.

Winning the war on cyber-crime — how your business should respond to online threats

Companies are fighting a cyber-war against criminals who carry out millions of daily attacks in a bid to steal personal data and defraud businesses of millions of dollars. That is the stark message from data security expert Royce Curtin, managing director of global intelligence at Barclays, who warns finance companies that they must constantly evolve their defences or risk falling victims to new scams. Gangs target companies to steal funds or increasingly to obtain customer data, which is then used to defraud consumers.

Winning the war on cyber-crime — how your business should respond to online threats

May 01, 2018

Companies are fighting a cyber-war against criminals who carry out millions of daily attacks in a bid to steal personal data and defraud businesses of millions of dollars. That is the stark message from data security expert Royce Curtin, managing director of global intelligence at Barclays, who warns finance companies that they must constantly evolve their defences or risk falling victims to new scams. Gangs target companies to steal funds or increasingly to obtain customer data, which is then used to defraud consumers.

Digital challenger bank Countingup attracts hundreds of SME customers

Countingup, the challenger bank that includes a built-in digital accountancy service, has attracted hundreds of SME customers since its launch this year. The online-only bank, which took just four months to come to market, offers a current account that can automatically carry out bookkeeping in real time. The company says this will save time, highlight tax savings and provide clarity to finance providers. The business was founded by Tim Fouracre, a chartered accountant who qualified with KPMG before setting up accountancy software company ClearBooks in 2008.

Digital challenger bank Countingup attracts hundreds of SME customers

Apr 30, 2018

Countingup, the challenger bank that includes a built-in digital accountancy service, has attracted hundreds of SME customers since its launch this year. The online-only bank, which took just four months to come to market, offers a current account that can automatically carry out bookkeeping in real time. The company says this will save time, highlight tax savings and provide clarity to finance providers. The business was founded by Tim Fouracre, a chartered accountant who qualified with KPMG before setting up accountancy software company ClearBooks in 2008.

BMW and Toyota outpace auto lending challenges through digitalisation

Digitalisation is transforming processes at auto finance companies to ensure they maintain market-leading products and services. BMW has used technology to improve its customer communication success levels, with call abandonment levels falling and successful contact rates doubling. At Toyota Financial Services, a modernisation process for lending decisions radically altered how it was able to handle customer repayment strategies and also accelerated growth without increasing headcount.

BMW and Toyota outpace auto lending challenges through digitalisation

Apr 16, 2018

Digitalisation is transforming processes at auto finance companies to ensure they maintain market-leading products and services. BMW has used technology to improve its customer communication success levels, with call abandonment levels falling and successful contact rates doubling. At Toyota Financial Services, a modernisation process for lending decisions radically altered how it was able to handle customer repayment strategies and also accelerated growth without increasing headcount.

White Clarke Group - Global Tech Report 2018

Digital customer engagement is fast becoming the norm, and lenders are already experimenting with using AI and machine learning to revolutionize customer service. Digital customer engagement is fast becoming the norm, and lenders are already experimenting with using AI and machine learning to revolutionize customer service. Existing options, such as phoning an agent in a call center, or chatting online, are expensive to provide and present challenges in ensuring information is delivered and recorded to comply with financial regulations. Auto finance companies are now in a technological arms race to develop new products that maintain customer loyalty and generate new business.

White Clarke Group - Global Tech Report 2018

Apr 16, 2018

Digital customer engagement is fast becoming the norm, and lenders are already experimenting with using AI and machine learning to revolutionize customer service. Digital customer engagement is fast becoming the norm, and lenders are already experimenting with using AI and machine learning to revolutionize customer service. Existing options, such as phoning an agent in a call center, or chatting online, are expensive to provide and present challenges in ensuring information is delivered and recorded to comply with financial regulations. Auto finance companies are now in a technological arms race to develop new products that maintain customer loyalty and generate new business.