Digital migration to dominate discussions at 10th Retail Banking Expo & Forum

Region’s leading annual industry conference adds new exhibition component to line-up as IT investment by MEA financial community hits US$4.3 billion in 2014; trend set to continue as customers demand faster, simpler, smarter access and products plus 24/7 connectivity

The annual Middle East Retail Banking Forum & Expo returns to Dubai from 6-7 April 2015 for its 10th anniversary edition, with an expanded line-up of insightful conference sessions and the addition of an onsite exhibition.

Taking place at The Ritz-Carlton DIFC, organiser Fleming Gulf Exhibitions has over 50 high profile speakers and panelists confirmed, who will address the 250 delegates already registered.

Around 40 international exhibitors have also confirmed participation including Adobe, Equifax, Global Payment Services, Infosys Finacle, Loxon, Omega Financial Solutions, SunGard Retail Banking, Temenos and Vasco Data Security, with 1,000 visitors representing more than 40 countries expected to visit during the two-day event.

“With a decade-long reputation as the leading retail banking forum in the region, this year’s event will once again tackle the issues shaping the future of the industry, led - unsurprisingly - by technological innovation as the digital banking trend continues to dominate developments in the GCC,” said Alex Heuff, Exhibition Director, Fleming Gulf Exhibitions.

Investment in innovation is the current hot topic among the region’s retail banking community as digital migration becomes inevitable and customers demand faster, simpler, smarter access and products with 24/7 connectivity.

“Looking just at the UAE, 2014 was a seminal year in terms of digital innovation with a number of new platform launches and a greater focus on utilising social media channels to engage customers with the virtual branch concept seen on Facebook for example,” remarked Heuff.

“To capitalise on this acceleration in the digital sphere, we have introduced an exhibition component this year, to bring together leading international players to showcase their products and meet potential partners face-to-face,” he added.

Focusing on all aspects of core retail banking and financial payment technologies, key conference session topics for 2015 include winning customer loyalty, financial services software, fighting online payment fraud, migrating to contactless, how technology is transforming the user experience, the next big payment trends, and the future of mobile.

High profile speakers this year include Sanjoy Sen, MD Retail Banking ASPAC for ANZ; David Power, Group Chief - Retail and Private Banking Office, Kuwait Finance House; Suresh Bajpai, Head of Retail Banking, Doha Bank; Mujtaba Naqvi, Head of Global Brand Business Development, Habib Bank Limited; and Rana Zeeshan Saleem, Head of Personal Banking UAE and Retail Banking KSA for Emirates NBD.

Following opening remarks from Asad Bhatia, Head of Consumer Banking for Ban Nizwa, the two full days of conference sessions will kick off with a day one highlight under the Integrating Retail Banking Technology theme set to be the Guru Panel session entitled ‘Evaluating the Next Step’.

“This session will address a number of key issues including building cost-effective customer service and integrating processes and technologies that will enable banks to actually build and act on individual customer requirements,” said Heuff.

“Putting the customer experience first, backed by system functionality, is a formula that is rapidly gaining traction in the region, resulting in increased levels of IT investment. According to global advisory services firm International Data Corporation, IT spending by financial institutions in the Middle East & Africa region last year were tipped to hit US$4.3 billion, up 10.8% year-on-year, and this trend is continuing,” he added.

Technological innovation will also be a major focus on day two of the conference with an exciting round table discussion featuring a line-up of tech gurus including Terry Kane, Head of Auto, Finance, Telco and Travel - MENA region for Facebook Inc., who will share expert insight on the latest developments covering everything from mobile payments, cashless transactions and contactless and prepaid payments to online product innovation.

Says Heuff: “The streamlining of banking services through investment into innovation is effectively eliminating the need for face-to-face interaction and so the region’s financial institutions need to ensure that in the absence of human contact, the banking experience is ultra-efficient.

“We're seeing this in action in the region with the arrival of cardless ATM cash withdrawals and remote video banking options. This is also driving ‘mobile first’ design strategies and the development of mobile phone compatible solutions that can engage prospective customers from the initial enquiry stage; and quickly convert them into actual account holders.”