How Banks Can Refresh Their Digital Strategy in the New Normal

Well before COVID-19, online shopping and home delivery had become a normal part of everyday life for many people around the world. However, the current climate has seen a massive surge in the use of delivery and subscription services such as Amazon, Tesco, Ocado and Waitrose groceries, and Netflix, with the latter acquiring 16 million new global accounts in lockdown. In addition to these types of services, digital-only banks are being looked upon as a blueprint for how to best operate as a financial services firm during uncertain times.

Our analysis has found that consumers are anxious about how to manage and plan their finances and how to cope with the ‘new normal’. With many brick and mortar banks temporarily closed, the dependency on online and mobile banking has skyrocketed. Six million (12 percent) of UK adults have reportedly made the switch to digital banking in recent weeks, simply by downloading their bank’s digital application. With reduced in-person support, the analysis also found that a quarter of existing digital customers are using their banking apps more often during the crisis. We are confident this trend will continue and grow post-coronavirus.

However, the shift towards digital banking has raised valid concerns that the elderly and vulnerable, who make up millions of users, might get ‘left behind’. While record numbers of customers aged 65 and above have reportedly moved to online banking since the crisis, not everyone in society will be able to make the switch.4 Moreover, vulnerable people who embrace online banking could be especially susceptible to fraud, which was also risen during this period.5 Whichever trends continue to emerge, it is clear that banks and other financial services providers must keep the diverse needs of these sizable customer segments at the heart of their future strategy.

How banks are responding

Banks are now seeing call centers becoming overwhelmed with calls for support from customers – during the pandemic. In order to curb the spread of the virus and adhere to strict social distancing measures, many high-street banks have reduced their services, such as Lloyds Bank and Barclays, who have closed a host of their locations. Customers are being urged to use telephone and online banking services rather than visit brick and mortar locations for safety reasons.

Many businesses are fighting for survival and depend on vital lending support such as the CIBILS. More than 300,000 firms have made informal inquiries about seeking help from the scheme, and those looking to access support are finding it hard – with only 2 percent successfully accessing the CIBIL program. A huge number of businesses (38 percent) 10 are even abandoning banking applications during the crisis due to slow due diligence processes.

As a result, banks are struggling to address key issues in supporting their customers getting access to the support they require, whilst also fending off threats from new entrants into the market, keeping an eye on their bottom line and setting up robust support models for the future. Even after COVID-19, more customers are expecting to do all their banking without having to leave the comfort of their sofa. So, what can banks do to prepare for the ‘new normal’?

Rethinking Your Digital Strategy

Banks have a responsibility and an immediate need to manage and protect their revenue, processes, systems and employees during these uncertain times. However, these uncertain times also present banks with an opportunity to pivot and positions themselves for the future through a thoughtful digital strategy and roadmap. With COVID-19’s far-reaching impacts, digital strategies now require a 360-degree view for banks, ranging from service models to talent and location strategies.

Phase One: Tactical response

The first phase is a tactical response, where banks take immediate actions to support their employees and customers in an operational shift. This phase will see banks will enable their workforce to operate remotely and see a rapid move toward digital channels. During this period banks will see a surge of calls into their call centers and will need to ensure that these calls can be answered, with vulnerable clients are prioritized. Working on having a flexible work force will help keep jobs, provide better customer service, and encourage their clients to continue banking and being active.

The second phase focuses on the end-user, high-priority focus items. For instance, banks will need to review their customer journeys and ensure they are enabled to support digital channels, and how they can best support their customers, such as virtual help desks.

Phase Two: End-user, high-priority focus items

The second phase focuses on the end-user, high-priority focus items. For instance, banks will need to review their customer journeys and ensure they are enabled to support digital channels, and how they can best support their customers, such as virtual help desks. Having more online and simple tools will make life much easier for their clients and reduce stress on call centers. During the phase, strategic and customized thinking will be need create a migration plan for how their workforce return to their in-person roles in a way that fits their culture and ways of working.

Phase Three: Adopting a strategic focus

The third and final phase is adopting a strategic focus, where banks will need to evolve their service their service model and get ready for the ‘new normal’. Banks must develop scenarios taking into consideration post pandemic factors, such as economic client and the ‘new normal’ way of operating. These scenarios will support the ability for our clients to re-invent their business models, embed resilience and adapt and evolve their cost base and operational models. Generating prioritized initiatives to boost future growth based on market analysis and competitive bench marking will ensure stakeholders are aligned on their future vision.

Based on the trends we have analyzed through customer interviews and current acceleration of digitization, having a dynamic and robust digital strategy is now more important than ever. Financial services firms will need to able to keep up with the evolving customer expectations and demand and be able to mitigate operational challenges in a proactive and agile manner. We are entering a time when a strong digital strategy is becoming a necessity rather than luxury – welcome to the new normal.

(The authors, Allagancz, Remy Olsen and Cassim Virani, are senior business leaders at Capco Global Management & Technology Consultancy)