Top trends in Finance 2022

Over the past few years, we have seen massive shifts in the finance industry. The ongoing pandemic has disrupted the conventional method of banking, and the need for more effective ways of banking has increased. During the last ten years, we have witnessed the extremity of the impact technology has on the financial sector, and more changes are expected to happen in the coming years.

Here are three important trends that are likely to flourish in finance this year:

Neobanks

A Neobank is a digital bank that works exclusively online and does not have any physical branches. These give people a cheaper alternative to traditional banks. Neobanks focus on selected services, like debit, credit, and overdrafts, while refraining from some of the more technical and costly services high-street banks have offered for decades. This works well for the younger generation who are least interested in mortgages, loans, and insurance.

As of March 2022, there are over 248 neobanks globally. From 2015 to 2021, the global neo banking industry flourished at a CAGR of 30%, and global sales are expected to reach US$ 2,595 billion by registering a CAGR of over 44% in the estimated period 2022-2032.

As neobanks do not have any physical branch, the hassle of creating an account by waiting for a longer period is excised. Furthermore, the growing income scale along with millennials and generation-Z’s preference to use smartphones to make life easy has made neobanks gain popularity.

Blockchain

Blockchain is a decentralized ledger of all transactions across a network; cryptocurrencies are powered by this technology. Blockchain technology makes it possible to transfer value online without the need for a mediator like a bank or credit card company. This industry has a staggering CAGR of over 60% between 2019 to 2025. The use of blockchain in the financial sector is anticipated to reach a value of 22.5 billion US dollars by the year 2026. According to recent research, industrial blockchain investment is expected to reach $11.7 billion by 2022. Several top-tier companies like Google, Visa, and Deloitte are making significant investments in blockchain technology.

Even though it is still in its starting stages, blockchain technology is already having a big influence on the financial sector, and more intriguing developments are expected to occur in the future.

Robotics

Robotics is revolutionizing the traditional way of banking through something called robotic process automation (RPA). Around 80% of the finance leaders have implemented or are planning to implement robotic process automation (RPA). RPA is a virtual workforce based on software that frees up human employees to focus on less tedious tasks that only humans do well.

RPA technology usually costs about one-third the amount of an offshore employee and one-fifth of an onshore employee, and that makes it a cost-effective, time-saving process. In 2021, the technology was valued at $1.88 billion and was expected to grow at a double-digit rate through 2024.

While new technologies and standards continue to be implemented, banks are looking to redefine the customer experience while enhancing process efficiency and reducing costs. A model for banking in the future must be built around dynamic, value-driven ecosystems with robust security infrastructure that can respond to real-time customer needs.