Big data, cloud, social media, predictive analytics, mobility - more technology carts that have been added to the "digitization" roller coaster that is still in service with old carts such as e-commerce, online, and m-commerce. How do you maximize ROI and monetization impact of these digitization trends? The answer seems to depend very much on the industry you operate in as digital adoption by different industries is influenced by various factors such as consumer preferences, intensity of competition, physical vs virtual nature of goods and services being exchanged, financial impact of business process optimization, etc. For example, consumer experience is more important for virtual goods such as online music whereas merchandising and supply chain automation are crucial for grocery stores.

Here I will attempt to focus on cloud adoption considerations and how companies can maximize their ROI from cloud. It seems the key is in getting back to the basics on objectives - which are the key business process optimization levers that impact your company's top and bottom lines the most. Is it transforming the customer experience in the front-end and channel integration? Is it supply chain automation? Is it some other automation? or a combination of those? Only after knowing the answer to these questions can companies try to apply the benefits promised by the cloud - time to market, self service and cost reduction, automation, capacity on demand, etc. and decide on the right application areas for cloud introduction. Although privacy and regulatory considerations have an impact on cloud adoption, they can't be looked at from a macro perspective. By decomposing data and separating identifiable and non identifiable data elements, even a bank such as ANZ (Australia New Zealand) has been able to use public cloud for speed to market efficiency (source: Bank and Systems Technology magazine, Nov 2013).

With increasing adoption rates for mobile banking and millennials becoming banking consumers, discussions around real time banking are picking up momentum. Big banks that have supported real time banking for private clients are taking about extending it to mobile banking customers and small banks are introducing them as well (e.g. Independent Bancshares). The instant gratification millennials have derived from their hi-tech gadgets is natural to extend into their expectations from banks. They deposit funds; they want to be able to use them right away. They don't care to understand or sympathize with the banking system that takes a few days to clear checks. I have had discussions with customers as early as 2009 around real time clearing and settlements and our conclusion was that back offices were not ready for this level of automation and the business case was marginal.

The landscape has changed quite a bit recently. Mobile banking consumers will want access instant access to funds. Also tightening of the regulatory noose around banks' necks has created a desire to create alternate venues to raise fee revenue. Real time banking presents a perfect opportunity for banks that can allow consumers to access "float" funds by updating their deposit balance and other internal systems instantaneously without waiting for inter bank transfers and clearinghouses. Should funds deposited not clear, they can always levy charges for accessing funds using uncleared "float" balances!

American banker published a nice multi-part article on why payday lending remains expensive for the consumer. Read article
The aspect that interests me which the article does not cover is that mobile payments can revolutionize this market servicing consumers who are badly in need of financial help. Traditional players keep interest charges high banking on the consumer's immediate need for cash and inability to compare alternative offers. Many new entrants try to bring down interest rates. 

However, as the article explains, price is only one dimension in this market. Mobile payments can not only help bring down pricing by making more bids available to the consumer, they can also improve friendliness and convenience - other factors that drive consumers of payday lending to the traditional players. Fear of rejection is the only aspect that mobile payments cannot do much about; the onus is on the consumer to build their reputation by repaying the loans on time and building a good reputation and track record to bring down the cost of financing.