So how does a competitor become an ally? To help rationalise the relationship underpinning this trend, it’s important to consider the recent emergence of the term ‘embedded finance’.
What is embedded finance?
Embedded finance typically refers to the integration of financial services or tools within the products or services of a non-financial organisation. Popular examples include innovations like Open Banking and Buy Now Pay Later. These have been widely and rapidly adopted across the e-commerce industry, offering greater efficiency and convenience to online consumers.
But as recent developments prove, such affiliations can also occur within the financial sector itself.
With tech-focused firms discovering ever more ways to streamline online transactions and money lending processes, established banks are embarking on an integration drive. Recent research found that 92% of financial institutions are currently innovating or have plans to innovate embedded fintech experiences to improve their digital suites.
What do fintechs offer?
Recent research suggests more than two-thirds of financial institutions leverage external partnerships instead of developing solutions in-house. So why are banks so reluctant to take the DIY approach? To start with, partnering with a third party can help to reduce risk, which is a substantial worry for banks looking to implement new services. According to a recent report, almost one-third of survey respondents said that stopping fraud was their top concern.
But risk prevention isn’t the only attraction to working with fintechs. There are numerous other advantages that such companies offer, including:
- Agility
The most successful fintechs are those that react quickly to commercial changes, however unexpected. For example, the need for contactless payment solutions during the pandemic spearheaded the success of mobile payment providers, who rose quickly to the challenge.
- Differentiation
The financial industry asks many questions. Increasingly, fintechs are providing the answers. With a diversity of innovative companies honing in on specific subsections of the market, banks can be assured that they’re working with masters in their field.
- Tech focus
As one of the most powerful drivers of efficiency, technology makes money management cheaper, faster, and more accessible. Employing staff from tech-focused backgrounds, fintechs are well-positioned to identify, develop, and implement cutting-edge digital solutions.
Is embedded finance here to stay?
A recent study found that 75% of consumers are drawn to the cost-effective and seamless services provided by fintechs. Additionally, 52% said that banking with a traditional financial institution was not “fun,” with 49% saying that their current banking relationship was unrewarding.
While these figures may appear discouraging to established banks, they’re indicative of an exciting industry trend, and one which all financial providers should embrace. Modern commercial consumers are tired of traditional banking services. They want more options, greater convenience, and better ways to manage payments.
The growing popularity of fintechs demonstrates which way the wind is blowing. It’s therefore imperative for banks to ensure they maintain their commitment to innovation, which means partnering with those currently at the forefront.
At Dapio, we understand the value of such synergies, which is why we’ve developed our products and services to be as accessible as possible. Whether it's our smart mobile payments system or our payment link technology, we’re committed to delivering transformative solutions for both consumers and businesses.
Find out more: https://dapio.com/