Connect with us

Finance

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT MIGHT BE FINANCIAL SERVICES’ SECRET WEAPON IN 2021

Published

on

By Stephanie Vaughan, Global Legal Practice Director, iManage RAVN

 

No industry has escaped the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but financial services has had a particularly hectic year.

The pandemic threw a wrench into the gears of the global economy, bringing “business as usual” grinding to a halt. Many businesses and individuals found themselves unable to meet their financial commitments, requiring huge government economic interventions to stave off financial collapse and a potential global economic depression.

As we look forward to the coming year, financial services firms of all shapes and sizes will need to access every tool in their toolkit to ensure they safely navigate the months ahead. Knowledge management (KM) might just be the secret weapon they’re looking for to not only survive, but thrive, in this changing world.

 

The two approaches: data analytics versus content production

In recent years, different KM approaches from around the globe have converged.

The US has long incorporated a data-driven approach to KM, focusing on search, structuring data and analytics. In the UK and across other parts of the globe, KM efforts have focused less on data analytics, and more on producing content and knowhow.

For quite some time, these approaches were kept separate – even in organisations that operated internationally. But a cross-pollination has taken place, and US knowledge teams are starting to focus more and more on content curation. At the same time, UK knowledge teams are looking to analytics and data-oriented projects to extract new insights.

As the two approaches merge, KM becomes better suited than ever to deliver value to organisations in new ways. This is for two reasons. First, it enables processes to be defined and helps join the dots between different exercises. Second, it enables knowledge to be delivered to the people who need it in new and better ways.

 

KM helps to define processes

Within most financial services organisations, innovation and KM have been separate functions. Most of the press coverage and hype has been associated with themes such as AI and blockchain. In the meantime, knowledge managers have had their noses to the grindstone getting on with their work, outside the spotlight.

Increasingly, however, firms are realising that that innovation doesn’t happen on its own. Through lack of adoption of technology or lack of tangible change, people are starting to realise that scaling innovation is part of a wider process that requires an in-depth understanding of internal processes. This, together with increasing acknowledgement of the cost to the wider institution of inefficiencies and lack of processes in a highly regulated environment, is where KM steps in. With a focus both on content creation and data analytics, KM can provide the vital role of increasing understanding around key processes. Only once those processes are understood can technology start to enable real and lasting change.

 

Example: LIBOR

The upcoming LIBOR transition provides a helpful example.  Financial institutions have financial products linked to LIBOR valued at more than USD 350 trillion. LIBOR is due to be phased out at the end of 2021. This means that all documentation underpinning these financial products must be amended so that they no longer refer to LIBOR. This is known as the “LIBOR re-papering” exercise.

The first problem financial institutions face is to identify all those products that do, in fact, refer to LIBOR. Because of the scale on which this exercise must be carried out, it is often not cost-effective to employ humans to undertake this exercise. Instead, financial institutions have deployed AI tools to identify documents that contain references to LIBOR, in order that these documents can be subjected to analysis and amended. This isn’t over-hyped AI: this is the identification of a problem that needs a solution powered by AI.

It is also a problem that could have been lessened if there had been effective KM processes in place. Indeed, it is off the back of repeated regulatory changes such as LIBOR that many financial institutions are beginning to realise just how important KM is. KM plays a vital role here to help with  remediation – i.e. cataloguing the processes and best practices that must be applied to this exercise, so that financial products can continue into 2022 and beyond. Additionally, KM also assists by allowing financial institutions to have in-depth knowledge and data insights across their contracts. An effective KM system allows firms to combine content-based and data-centric approaches making solving problems such as LIBOR easier.

 

KM helps to bring discrete processes together

The KM role goes even further, using the LIBOR opportunity to identify other risks during a large-scale contract analysis.

For example, what COVID-19 specific scenarios could these same processes be applied towards? Are there leases in a commercial real estate portfolio that need to be renewed? Are there hidden deadlines contained in contracts that would otherwise be overlooked? LIBOR has presented an opportunity for financial institutions to overhaul their contract management systems. AI plays a role in all of these exercises – but it is KM that it is pulling the strings and spotting the links between what would otherwise be discrete exercises.

 

No office necessary

Even businesses with the most advanced KM functions have traditionally relied on people “popping their head around your door” to have a chat. As workforces get used to remote working, KM has a huge part to play here.

In a distributed work environment, it is harder for employees to rely on know-how being stored in people’s heads and inboxes. Here, KM only grows in importance, delivering existing best practices and curated content to the knowledge workers who need it to carry out their jobs effectively.

AI again works hand-in-hand with KM here, providing new ways to proactively surface important knowledge assets and offer them up to professionals. The partnership between AI and KM will inevitably lead to Netflix-like suggestions: “people accessing this template also viewed this survival guide.” This partnership is nothing without a KM team focusing on the right content and the right data points.

The post-pandemic world will not be without its challenges, but financial services firms can take comfort in the fact that they have KM as a secret weapon at their disposal, and KM can rightfully and deservedly bask in some of its newfound glamour.

 

About the author

Stephanie Vaughan is Global Legal Practice Director at iManage RAVN. She leads the team at iManage that engages with law firms, corporates, and professional services firms to help them understand and adopt artificial intelligence technology in a practical manner – while fostering a culture of innovation in their organisations. A lawyer by training, prior to iManage RAVN, she was at international law firm, Allen & Overy, where she worked in the Market Innovations Group and the Derivatives and Structured Finance Group, delivering global technology focused projects to clients. For these projects, she was involved in everything from design to delivery and ongoing running of the programs.

Business

How can law firms embrace automation and revolutionise their payments?

Published

on

Attributed to: Ed Boal, Head of Legal at Shieldpay

 

Once again, AI is dominating international headlines. This time, it’s due to a closed-door meeting this month between tech leaders and US senators to discuss the technology’s regulation.

AI and automation isn’t just for the likes of Big Tech. We’re seeing predictive and automated technologies transform almost every sector and the legal industry is no exception. In fact, recent research from HBR Consulting found that 60% of law departments had implemented a legal data analytics tool last year and more than 1 in 4 indicated they were using AI for at least a single use case.

However, adoption isn’t without its challenges. Reticence remains among some and there’s also the danger of ‘transformation fatigue’ slowing real progress. If law firms want to reap the many benefits of automation – including revolutionising their payment processes –  these challenges need to be carefully considered and thoughtfully addressed.

 

An area of great opportunity

Often seen as conservative, the legal industry has been gradually warming up to the idea of automation and technology.

While some pioneering firms have been quick to embrace automation tools, others remain cautious about disrupting their established workflows. As we navigate this landscape, it’s clear that certain areas of legal services are ripe for innovation.

One area is contract management. The process of drafting, reviewing, and managing contracts has traditionally been time-consuming and prone to human errors. Automation can alleviate these pain points by streamlining the entire lifecycle of contracts, from creation to renewal, thereby enhancing efficiency and reducing risks.

Another promising domain is legal research. Thanks to advancements in natural language processing and machine learning, legal professionals can now leverage AI-powered research tools that analyse vast volumes of legal data to provide accurate insights and case precedents swiftly.

But, while progress is undoubtedly being made, the legal sector still lags other sectors when it comes to innovation.

 

What’s getting in the way of progress?

This isn’t always down to a resistance to change. Often, it’s a result of firms spreading their resources too thinly across numerous technology initiatives.

Ed Boal

Attempting to tackle everything at once can result in ‘transformation fatigue’, where the benefits of individual innovations get diluted – leading to frustration and slower progress.

Before legal firms embark on digital transformation projects, a critical first step is introspection. Recognising and acknowledging areas where legacy processes and manual tasks still hold sway is paramount to optimising the impact of automation.

For many firms, archaic practices continue to consume valuable time and resources, diverting attention from higher value, billable tasks. One often-overlooked area is payments.

Legal firms play a critical role in complex transactions, from M&A and real estate deals to litigation and arbitration payments. The associated admin and processes represent a drain of firms’ time and resources. Spanning everything from collating stakeholder payment details and verifying payee identity to ensuring compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti Money Laundering (AML) regulation, this adds unnecessary stress for lawyers – who would rather dedicate their time and expertise to their clients’ legal needs.

The repercussions of such time-consuming financial processes reverberate throughout the entire organisation. Administrative burden weighs heavily on the team, affecting productivity and ultimately, the bottom line: recent research from Shieldpay, surveying the UK’s Top 100 law firms, found that almost 1 in 3 (32%) say KYC collection and verification checks take 4-9 working days.

At the same time, firms are exposed to significant financial risk which can make handling client funds a costly endeavour. Not only are they penalised with fines if found to be in breach of stringent client account rules but firms are also subject to hefty premiums for Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance. No wonder 73% of all legal professionals and 90% of junior law professionals are concerned about the risks and time costs associated with holding client funds.

 

Revolutionising  payment transactions

In short, manual payment processes are more than just an inconvenience for modern law firms. They can damage relationships with clients – who have come to expect a fast, painless and automated payout experience in a digital world – and impede revenue generation by tying up top talent in an endless cycle of paperwork and (unbillable) admin.

So how can firms take the pain out of legal payments?

Fortunately, new payment technologies have emerged as a formidable ally. Third-party payment providers offering solutions for law firms, such as escrow and paying agent services for specific transactional deals, or more embedded payment solutions such as managed accounts (TPMAs) – i.e. outsourced client account functions – offer secure and instant transactions, while prioritising transparency and automation.

TPMAs operate as an escrow payment service in which the third-party – a licensed external payments partner – receives and disburses funds on behalf of a firm and their client(s).

With advanced encryption ensuring data security, working with a regulated payment partner means legal professionals and their clients can engage in financial transactions with peace of mind – while law firms benefit from improved operational efficiency.

And the advantages don’t stop there. Enhanced transparency builds a sense of confidence and trust, while the elimination of manual data entry and repetitive tasks allows legal professionals to devote more time to legal services and fostering stronger relationships with their clients.

AI and automation has much to offer the legal sector. But its adoption must be carefully planned in order to avoid transformation fatigue that risks stalling progress altogether. With typically shallower pockets than Big Tech giants, it’s important for law firms to focus their efforts on specific areas that could benefit from automation, rather than rush to overhaul their entire way of working, all at once. This controlled phase-out is the key to avoiding adoption frustration, seeing a real impact on profits and productivity and setting firms up for real, lasting change.

Continue Reading

Business

In-platform solutions are only a short-term enhancement, but bespoke AI is the future

Published

on

By Damien Bennett, Global Director, Principal Consultant, Incubeta

 

If you haven’t heard anyone talking about artificial intelligence (AI) yet, then where have you been? Conversations about AI and its advantages to society have been a key talking point over recent months, with advances being made in the generative AI race and ChatGPT opening a whole plethora of possibilities. Many have highlighted the advantages of AI, but notably it’s ability to create human-like content.

But these discussions have only scratched the surface of what AI is capable of doing. It is for far more than just essay writing, adding Eminem to your rave and photoshopping dogs into pictures.

In marketing, we have been using AI for years, for everything from analyzing customer behaviors to predicting market changes. It’s enabled us to segment customers, forecast sales and provide personalized recommendations, having a huge impact on how our industry works.

It is even, for the more savvy marketers of the world, becoming a key tool in maximizing budget efficiency – which is apt, considering over 70% of CMOs believe they lack sufficient budget to fully execute their 2023 strategy.

Now, as AI becomes more intelligent, the number of efficiencies it can unlock continues to rise. Not only can it help brands get the most out of their available resources and identify any areas of waste, but it can also help highlight new opportunities for growth and maximize the impact of your budget allocation.

The trick, however, is to veer away from the norm of using in-platform solutions with a one-size-fits-all approach and create your own, bespoke solutions that are tailored to your business needs.

 

Pitfalls of in-platform solutions

In-platform solutions aren’t by any means a bad thing. In fact, built-in AI tools have become increasingly popular, owing to their ease of integration, user-friendly interfaces and minimal set up requirements. They come pre-packaged with the platform, offering the user the ability to leverage AI technologies without the need for in-depth technical expertise or the upfront cost of building a solution from scratch.

However, the streamlined and accessible nature of in-platform AI solutions comes at the expense of complexity and customization. They are designed to serve a broad user base, but for the most part are built using narrow AI solutions with predefined features and workflows.

This makes them great for assisting with common AI tasks, but they lack the flexibility to tailor functionality towards unique business requirements or innovative use cases, limiting the potential efficiencies and cost savings that can be unlocked. Additionally, if a business’ competitors are using the same platform, they are probably using the same AI solution, meaning any strategic advantage gained from these will be reduced.

Bespoke AI solutions, on the other hand, may carry a higher initial investment – but can offer a significantly more attractive ROI over a short amount of time.

 

Why customized and adapted AI is the key

The difference between bespoke AI and in-platform solutions is similar to that between home cooked food and a microwave meal. Yes, it is more time consuming to prepare, and yes it likely carries more of an upfront cost, but the end result is going to be far more appealing and will carry more long-term value (financially… not nutritionally).

That’s because bespoke solutions, by nature, will have been tailored to address your brands specific needs and challenges. These custom-built tools allow for much greater efficiencies by streamlining workflows across different channels, automating more complex tasks, and providing deeper, more relevant insights.

The increased level of optimization can significantly improve productivity and reduce operational costs over time, offering a higher ROI. The increased flexibility of bespoke AI also allows brands to implement innovative use cases that can significantly differentiate them from their competitors.

The data analyzed can be specifically chosen to match business requirements, as can the outputs of the AI tool, providing a significant advantage when understanding and acting on the insights provided.

Additionally, these tools are, by nature, more scalable. They can be updated, upgraded and expanded as needs change, ensuring they continue delivering value as the business grows. They can also be designed to integrate with any existing IT infrastructure, from CRM systems and databases to marketing platforms and sales tools – leading to more efficient and effective decision-making.

 

Managing finances with AI

It’s no secret that AI in marketing automation has, and will continue to, revolutionize the way marketing is done. It has a bright, if slightly terrifying, future and can help CMOs to unlock new efficiencies, maximize the impact of their budgets and increase their ROI. And as this technology becomes more advanced, its impact will only increase.

But we already know that…and so does everyone else.

So, in order for businesses to make themselves stand out from the crowd , they must look to fully adopt the power of AI. Creating a customized and unique AI solution could be the way to set yourself apart from your competitors. A bespoke AI tool can provide brands and businesses with features unique to them and their business needs. As a result, companies will benefit from more useful data and better results to make more data-driven decisions for their business. Ultimately, this will help brands to maintain a competitive edge over their competitors, deliver ROI and most importantly optimize their budgets.

Continue Reading

Magazine

Trending

Business18 hours ago

How can law firms embrace automation and revolutionise their payments?

Attributed to: Ed Boal, Head of Legal at Shieldpay   Once again, AI is dominating international headlines. This time, it’s...

Business2 days ago

In-platform solutions are only a short-term enhancement, but bespoke AI is the future

By Damien Bennett, Global Director, Principal Consultant, Incubeta   If you haven’t heard anyone talking about artificial intelligence (AI) yet,...

Business3 days ago

Exploring the Transformative Potential and Ethical Challenges of AI in Wealth Management

Nuno Godinho, Group CEO of Industrial Thought Group   In recent years, the advent of AI has sparked both excitement...

4 common myths about the role of open source in financial services 4 common myths about the role of open source in financial services
Banking3 days ago

Are SaaS platforms challenging banks for a piece of the payments pie?

Attributed to: Ralph Dangelmaier, Global CEO of BlueSnap   The finance industry is at a tipping point with software firms...

Banking3 days ago

Emerging technology will power long-term sustainability within the UK banking industry 

By Peter-Jan Van De Venn, VP Global Digital Banking at Hexaware Mobiquity.   Sustainability has been a big focus for...

FinTech Trends In 2022 FinTech Trends In 2022
Business3 days ago

Is your business suffering with Fintech FOMO?

Tom Kiddle, Chief Commercial Officer at Equals Money   It’s a challenging time for businesses of all sizes, but the past three...

Banking3 days ago

The Future of Banking: Streamlined Cash Management for ATMs

Gaetano Ziri, Innovation Manager, Auriga   “Maintaining free access to cash for the community demands robust strategies to mitigate the...

Top 103 days ago

Can AI revolutionise wealth management?

~ The benefits of AI when collecting and analysing financial data ~   Global fintech company Finder reported that around...

AI and machine learning AI and machine learning
Finance3 days ago

Where is the value in generative AI for financial services?

Michael Conway, Executive Partner, Data, AI and Technology Transformation Service Line Leader at IBM Consulting   The New York Times...

Technology3 days ago

Connecting the security dots with cyber fusion 

Anuj Goel, Co-founder and CEO at Cyware  Against the backdrop of Russian-based hacktivists declaring war on Europe’s financial systems, the...

Business3 days ago

Exploring the symbiotic advantages of SoftPoS for merchants and consumers

By: Brad Hyett, CEO at phos by Ingenico   Amid the dynamic shifts that have come to define today’s fintech...

Finance4 days ago

Investing In Bitcoin: What You Need To Understand Before You Buy

Bitcoin—the digital currency that launched a financial revolution—is more than a trending investment. This decentralized currency, free from traditional banking...

News6 days ago

How the LEI Can Help Financial Institutions ‘Address’ a Growing Challenge in ISO 20022

The vast complexity and inconsistency of address formats globally presents significant challenges for financial institutions. In this blog, GLEIF’s Head...

Banking7 days ago

Building towards an inclusive financial future

By Catharina Eklof, CCO of IDEX Biometrics    From the visually impaired to displaced migrants, the unbanked, and people living...

Business1 week ago

Euro deep tech M&A deal value expected to reach $20bn+ in the next 15 months

Written by Oliver Warren, Associate at DAI Magister   Investment in European deep tech has mirrored the broader decline in...

Business1 week ago

Why ESG Investing Is Becoming More Important

Author: Urtė Karklienė, Sustainability Manager at Oxylabs   Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) term was first mentioned in a 2004...

Banking1 week ago

Preparing banks for digital transformation

By Joman Kwong, Strategic Solutions Manager, Financial Services at Laserfiche   Today, digital transformation is imperative for every industry. After...

Finance1 week ago

The critical tech to deliver personalised digital financial experiences 

Jay Sanderson, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Digital Experience at Progress   Providing customers with outstanding digital experiences is now a must...

Banking1 week ago

Bank-fintech partnerships can shape the future of cross-border payments

Steve Naudé, Head of Wise Platform   People and businesses are more interconnected than ever. In today’s global economy, international...

Business2 weeks ago

DORA Compliance in Financial Organisations: What You Need to Know

Nick Hogg, Director of Security Training, Fortra   The regulatory landscape is tightening for European banking, financial, and insurance institutions....

Trending