“The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.” – Confucius.

 A room full of smart people, eyes glinting with the thrill of the future. Words like predictive models, AI-driven insights, and automated decisioning fly across the table like a Wimbledon final. Budgets, approved. Deadlines, drawn. Headlines, dreamed about.

But no one talks to or notices the quiet, slightly awkward one in the room, “it’s Data Governance”. The one who isn’t flashy … The one who shows up early with spreadsheets. The one who asks annoying questions, such as, “Where did this data come from?” and “Can we really trust this source?”

And yet, in almost every great technology story and every technology failure, Data Governance is the silent architect, whether you call it that or not. It was present, building the foundation… or sometimes silently watching as the castle falls.

The Illusion of Data-Driven Greatness

Some time back, I was working on a project where a major trading platform launched a new engine to automate trade surveillance and compliance monitoring.

Dollars were invested. The system promised to detect insider trading, front-running, and wash trade patterns too subtle for human eyes to catch. At first, everyone celebrated… until the false positives began to roll in. Legitimate trades were flagged as suspicious!!! Compliance officers were drowning in noise!!! Clients grew agitated, and regulatory auditors began asking uncomfortable questions.

When traced back, the root cause wasn’t the model itself. It was the data feeding it!

• Trade timestamps were off by milliseconds across systems.
• Reference data on instrument types was incomplete.
• Entity mappings between clients and brokers were outdated by over 9%.
• Historical compliance notes were inconsistently formatted and misclassified.

The model learned from incorrect data… and produced inaccuracy at an exponential scale. The organization had to suspend the AI engine and return to manual reviews in parallel, a massive operational setback.

The real problem wasn’t a technology failure. It was a data governance failure.

Why Data Governance is the New Competitive Edge

In the coming decade, success won’t be determined by who has the flashiest algorithms. Algorithms are cheap, open-source, and are increasingly commoditized. Success will hinge on who has better data, the companies that:

• Know where their data comes from.
• Know how it has been transformed.
• Know its limitations, its biases, and its gaps.
• Know how to course-correct in real time when something goes wrong.

Data governance used to be framed as a compliance tax… a necessary evil. But in the AI economy? It has become the operating system. Companies that treat governance like a strategic weapon, like a competitive differentiator, will build systems that are faster, smarter, safer, and more trusted. Everyone else will just be building very expensive sandcastles at low tide and praying tides don’t change.

The Risks Few Are Talking About

People love to talk about risks in the AI-driven world in sci-fi terms: rogue robots, existential threats, AI Models running for president

The real risk, one that is already unfolding in boardrooms and regulatory filings today, is much simpler: bad data feeding powerful systems.

• False alerts triggering unnecessary audits.
• Missed detection of real financial crimes.
• Market surveillance breakdowns causing regulatory breaches.
• Systemic compliance failures due to unseen data quality gaps.

All because governance was an afterthought.

The New Playbook for the AI Economy

If you’re a business leader, here’s the shift you need to make:

Smart organizations are now embedding governance into the very DNA of how they build, deploy, and manage AI systems. They’re asking:

• Who owns this dataset?
• How do we know it’s complete?
• What biases are hiding here?
• How do we certify and monitor trustworthiness over time?

And they’re investing accordingly — not reactively, but proactively.

Respect the Architect

Here’s the thing about architects. If they do their jobs right, no one notices them. The building just stands tall, sturdy, unshakable against storms. But what about when the foundation is weak? When the beams are poorly set? When the wiring is rushed? Well, then everyone notices. Usually, it’s too late. Data Governance is the silent architect of the AI structures. It’s time we gave it the respect and the investment it deserves. Because in the end, it’s not the flashiest ideas that win.
It’s the ones built on unshakable foundations.

Remember: “It is not the beauty of a building you should look at; it is the construction of the foundation that will stand the test of time.” – David Allan Coe.

Keeping up with today’s fast-paced technological environment, with businesses undergoing a significant transformation in operations, customer interactions, and innovation, can be challenging. Partnering with the right digital transformation service provider is essential for success. A proven track record in guiding businesses through digital complexities is crucial for unlocking their full potential, driving efficiency, and ensuring exceptional customer experiences, leading to long-term success.

The Digital Transformation Services Landscape, Q2 2025 Report

The recent Forrester report defines digital transformation services as – “Service providers that offer multidisciplinary capabilities to support enterprises in articulating, orchestrating, and governing strategy-aligned business transformation journeys, driving change across technology, ways of working, operating models, data, and corporate culture to continuously improve business outcomes.” This report provides an in-depth overview of 35 digital transformation service providers, offering valuable insights into the current market landscape.

Understanding the Providers

Forrester meticulously researched each service provider through a comprehensive set of questions. According to Forrester, “organizations leverage digital transformation services to:

• Articulate and orchestrate strategy-aligned transformation journeys.
• Align tech modernization with people, organization, and culture changes.
• Navigate transformation risks.”

Leaders can compare digital transformation service providers listed in the report based on size, offerings, geography, and business scenario differentiation to make informed decisions.

Core Business Scenarios

The report identifies the core business scenarios that are “most frequently sought after by buyers and addressed by digital transformation services solutions.” These scenarios include enterprise transformation, customer experience (CX) transformation, data and analytics transformation, and infrastructure and operational transformation.

Our Inclusion

We are proud to be listed in the Forrester Digital Transformation Services Landscape report as a digital transformation consultancy with an industry focus in the sectors of financial services, healthcare, and industrial products, and a geographic focus in four regions: North America (NA), Asia Pacific (APAC), and Latin America (LATAM).

As a dynamic global organization, we believe that with our cohesive, integrated strategy, we can deliver from any of our geographic locations and bring together the best team and the best value for the customer.

Access the Forrester report, The Digital Transformation Services Landscape, Q2 2025 to find out more.

Your Digital Transformation Journey

Seeing the world through your customers’ eyes is the best way to meet their needs. Our Digital Business Transformation practice enables leaders to meet the demands of today’s fast-changing, customer-centric world. We help you articulate a vision, formulate strategy, and align your team around the capabilities you need to stay ahead of disruption. Together, we resolve uncertainty, embrace change, and establish a North Star to guide your transformation journeys.

We implement the Envision Strategy Framework, a continuous and adaptive process that feeds real-world insights back into strategic decisions. This framework is informed by customer empathy and grounded in executional know-how. We put customers at the center of our digital strategy formulation process.

Supporting this is Envision Online, a comprehensive digital transformation platform that amplifies strategic decision-making based on the Envision Framework. With proprietary tools and a wealth of industry data, we deliver swift, actionable insights to help understand your organization’s competitive positioning.

Learn more about the report.

Forrester does not endorse any company, product, brand, or service included in its research publications and does not advise any person to select the products or services of any company or brand based on the ratings included in such publications. Information is based on the best available resources. Opinions reflect judgment at the time and are subject to change. For more information, read about Forrester’s objectivity here .

A mid-sized bank I was consulting with for their data warehouse modernization project finally realized that data isn’t just some necessary but boring stuff the IT department hoards in their digital cave. It’s the new gold, the ticking time bomb of risk, and the bane of every regulatory report that’s ever come back with more red flags than a beach during a shark sighting.

Welcome to the wild world of data governance, where dreams of order collide with the chaos of reality. Before you start mainlining espresso and squeezing that stress ball shaped suspiciously like your last audit report, let’s break this down into 7 steps that might just keep you sane.

1. Wrangle Some Executive Buy-In

Let’s not pretend. Without exec sponsorship, your data governance initiative is just a Trello board with high hopes. You need someone in a suit (preferably with a C in their title) to not just bless but be convinced about your mission, and preferably get it added to their KPI this year.

Pro tip to get that signature: Skip the jargon about “metadata catalogs” and go straight for the jugular with words like “penalties” and “reputational risk.” Nothing gets an exec’s attention quite like the threat of their club memberships being revoked.

2. Tame the Scope Before It Turns Into a Stampede

Organizations  have a knack for letting projects balloon faster than a tech startup’s valuation. Be ruthless. You don’t need to govern every scrap of data from the CEO’s coffee order to the janitor’s mop schedule.

Focus on the critical stuff:

• Customer data (because knowing who owes you money is kind of important)
• Transaction history (aka “where did all the money go?”)
• Regulatory reporting (because nobody likes surprise visits from auditors)

Start small, prove it works, then expand. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was a decent data governance structure.

3. Pick a Framework (But Don’t Treat It Like Holy Scripture)

Sure, you could go full nerd and dive into DAMA-DMBOK, but unless you’re gunning for a PhD in bureaucracy, keep it simple. Aim for a model that’s more “I get it” and less “I need an interpreter”.

Focus on:

• Who’s responsible for what (RACI, if you must use an acronym)
• What data belongs where
• Rules that sound smart but won’t make everyone quit in protest

Remember, frameworks are like diets – the best one is the one you’ll actually stick to.

4. Recruit Your Data Stewards (and Convince Them It’s Not a Punishment)

Your data stewards are the poor souls standing between order and chaos, armed with nothing but spreadsheets and a dwindling supply of patience. Look for folks who:

• Actually understand the data (a rare breed, cherish them)
• Can handle details without going cross-eyed
• Won’t melt down when stuck between the rock of compliance and the hard place of IT

Bonus: Give them a fancy title like “Data Integrity Czar.” It won’t pay more, but it might make them feel better about their life choices.

5. Define Your Terms (Or Prepare for the “What Even Is a ‘Customer’?” Wars)

Get ready for some fun conversations about what words mean. You’d think “customer” would be straightforward, but you’d be wrong. So very, very wrong.

• Establish a single source of truth
• Create a glossary that doesn’t read like a legal document
• Accept that these definitions will change more often than a teenager’s social media profile

It’s not perfect, but it’s governance, not a philosophical treatise on the nature of reality.

6. Build Your Tech Stack (But Don’t Start with the Shiny Toys)

For the love of all that is holy and GDPR-compliant, don’t buy a fancy governance tool before you know what you’re doing. Your tech should support your process, not be a $250,000 band-aid for a broken system.

Figure out:

• Who gets to see what (and who definitely shouldn’t)
• How you’re classifying data (beyond “important” and “meh”)
• Where your golden records live
• What to do when it all inevitably goes sideways

Metadata management and data lineage tracking are great, but they’re the icing, not the cake.

7. Make It Boring (In a Good Way)

The true test of your governance structure isn’t the PowerPoint that put the board to sleep. It’s whether it holds up when someone decides to get creative with data entry at 4:59 PM on Fridays.

So:

• Schedule regular data quality check-ups
• Treat data issues like actual problems, not minor inconveniences
• Set up alerts (but not so many that everyone ignores them)
• Reward the good, don’t just punish the bad

Bonus: Document Everything (Then Document Your Documentation)

If it’s not written down, it doesn’t exist. If it’s written down but buried in a SharePoint site that time forgot, it still doesn’t exist.

Think of governance like flossing – it’s not exciting, but it beats the alternative.

Several mid-sized banks have successfully implemented data governance structures, demonstrating the real-world benefits of these strategies. Here are a few notable examples:

Case Study of a Large American Bank

This bank’s approach to data governance offers valuable lessons for mid-sized banks. The bank implemented robust data governance practices to enhance data quality, security, and compliance. Their focus on:

• Aligning data management with regulatory requirements
• Ensuring accurate financial reporting
• Improving decision-making processes

resulted in better risk management, increased regulatory compliance, and enhanced customer trust through secure and reliable financial services.

Regional Bank Case Study

A regional bank successfully tackled data quality issues impacting compliance, credit, and liquidity risk assessment. Their approach included:

1. Establishing roles and responsibilities for data governance
2. Creating domains with assigned data custodians and stewards
3. Collecting and simplifying knowledge about critical data elements (CDEs)

For example, in liquidity risk assessment, they identified core CDEs such as liquidity coverage ratio and net stable funding ratio.

Mid-Sized Bank Acquisition

In another case, a major bank acquired a regional financial services company and faced the challenge of integrating disparate data systems. Their data governance implementation involved:

• Launching a data consolidation initiative
• Centralizing data from multiple systems into a unified data warehouse
• Establishing a cross-functional data governance team
• Defining clear data definitions, ownership rules, and access permissions

This approach eliminated data silos, created a single source of truth, and significantly improved data quality and reliability. It also facilitated more accurate reporting and analysis, leading to more effective risk management and smoother banking services for customers.

Parting Thought

In the end, defining a data governance structure for your bank isn’t about creating a bureaucratic nightmare. It’s about keeping your data in check, your regulators off your back, and your systems speaking the same language.

When it all comes together, and your data actually starts making sense, you’ll feel like a criminal mastermind watching their perfect plan unfold. Only, you know, legal and with fewer car chases.

Now go forth and govern. May your data be clean, your audits be boring, and your governance meetings be mercifully short.

The financial services sector is experiencing transformative changes driven by technological advancements and innovative trends. We are witnessing the integration of AI, the rise of hyper-personalization, and the adoption of advanced digital platforms, all of which are revolutionizing operations and client interactions. Additionally, the emergence of embedded finance and an increased focus on regulatory compliance are compelling financial institutions to continuously adapt and innovate.

Our experts have identified the most impactful trends across banking, wealth and asset management, and payments. This blog brings together these insights, presenting the top financial services trends for 2025.

Financial Services Trend #1: AI Transforming the Future of Finance

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the financial services industry, driving significant advancements across banking, wealth and asset management, payments, and beyond. In 2025, AI will be a cornerstone of innovation, transforming customer interactions, enhancing operational efficiency, and fostering a more inclusive and sustainable financial ecosystem. The integration of AI is reshaping the landscape by addressing challenges such as data protection, regulatory compliance, and the modernization of legacy systems.

Recommended Approach: To fully harness the potential of AI, financial institutions should prioritize improving their data strategy, ensuring high-quality, reliable, and trustworthy data. Leveraging advanced data analytics, AI, and machine learning can provide real-time insights into customer preferences, behaviors, and financial needs, creating highly individualized experiences that improve engagement and loyalty. AI-powered chatbots can handle routine inquiries, freeing human agents for complex issues, while AI-driven algorithms enhance fraud detection and risk management.

You May Also Enjoy: Transforming Industries, Powering Innovation

Financial Services Trend #2: The Rise of Hyper-Personalization

In today’s fast-paced world, customers expect financial services to be as unique as their individual needs and preferences. Hyper-personalization is revolutionizing the industry by shifting the focus from traditional models to a customer-centric approach, significantly enhancing satisfaction and retention rates. Advancements in data analytics, AI, and machine learning, enable financial institutions to offer highly personalized services. The transformation is further accelerated by shifting client demographics, rising expectations, and competitive pressure from tech-driven players and financial product innovation.

Recommended Approach: Employing augmented analytics for predictive insights and personalized financial strategies helps anticipate customer needs and proactively offer solutions. User research and behavioral analytics can define and optimize the user journey, supporting meaningful hyper-personalization at each touchpoint. Utilizing cloud computing and modern data integrations for scalable data management and real-time collaboration, along with advanced visualization tools and API integrations with third-party data, enables financial institutions to isolate priority scenarios and accelerate deeply tailored outreach. This comprehensive approach will be crucial for attracting and retaining customers, fostering loyalty, deepening engagement, and driving long-term growth.

Success In Action: Elevating ESG in Wealth Management Portfolios

Financial Services Trend #3: Embedded Finance Boosts Revenue and Reach

Embedded finance is transforming the financial services landscape by integrating financial products directly into non-financial platforms. Driven by the demand for faster transactions and the need for businesses to offer comprehensive financial services within their existing ecosystems, various industries are embedding payment, lending, insurance, and investment options into their platforms. This integration not only enhances customer experience but also opens new revenue streams and market opportunities for financial institutions.

Recommended Approach: To capitalize on the rise of embedded finance, financial institutions should focus on several key strategies. First, they should form strategic partnerships with fintech companies and non-financial platforms to extend their reach and integrate their services effectively. Investing in technology, including upgrading IT infrastructure to support embedded finance and adopting cloud-based solutions, is crucial. Developing robust APIs will enable seamless integration of financial services into third-party platforms, ensuring security, reliability, and ease of use. By adopting these strategies, financial institutions can unlock new revenue streams, expand customer reach, and enhance distribution channels.

Explore More: Turn Data into Customer Delight

Financial Services Trend #4: Leveraging Advanced Digital Platforms

The financial services industry is undergoing a significant transformation with the rise of advanced digital platforms. These platforms are reshaping how financial institutions manage payments, wealth, and client interactions. The convergence of innovative financial systems and comprehensive digital tools enables personalization, omni-channel experiences, and enhanced customer engagement. This transformation is fueled by technological advancements, regulatory changes, and increasing consumer expectations for personalized experiences.

Recommended Approach: To thrive in this evolving landscape, financial institutions should integrate advanced analytics and AI to enhance transaction success rates, fraud detection, and customer insights. Embracing mobile and cloud-based solutions will ensure flexible, anytime-anywhere access to essential data and tools. Automation can streamline administrative tasks, enabling a do-it-yourself (DIY) model for clients while allowing institutions to focus on personalized services. By modernizing legacy systems and integrating digital platforms with existing services, financial institutions can offer seamless, efficient, and personalized experiences.

Success In Action: Cloud-Native Microservices Drive Next-Generation Products

Financial Services Trend #5: Thriving Amid Regulatory Changes

The financial services industry is facing an increasingly complex regulatory environment. New rules focused on data privacy, cybersecurity, and sustainability are being implemented to ensure stability and consumer protection. These changes require significant adjustments in risk management, compliance frameworks, and operational protocols, leading to higher compliance costs and operational expenses.

Recommended Approach: To navigate these regulatory shifts, financial institutions must balance innovation with compliance. Adopting compliance technologies that automate regulatory reporting and streamline processes will help institutions stay agile. Leveraging AI and machine learning can enhance real-time transaction monitoring, fraud prevention, and compliance processes such as know your customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) checks. Investing in advanced technologies will help identify potential risks and ensure compliance with evolving regulations. By staying informed and proactive, financial institutions can mitigate risks, maintain trust with customers and regulatory authorities, and remain competitive in the dynamic financial landscape.

See Also: Strategies + Solutions to Ensure Regulatory and Compliance Excellence

Discover Your Potential With Perficient

We bring extensive financial services industry insights and end-to-end digital expertise to accelerate efficiencies and power data for differentiated, trust-enhancing experiences. 

• Business Transformation: Drive strategic initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and foster innovation across financial institutions.
• Data + Analytics: Harness data and analytics to boost insights, accelerate decision-making, and optimize financial processes.
• Modernization: Leverage modern technology and architecture to drive integrated, transformative financial solutions.
• Risk + Compliance: Control risk, meet regulations, and stay ahead of financial industry changes.
• Consumer Experience: Enhance customer journeys through personalized, seamless, and engaging digital financial service experiences.

We are trusted by leading technology partners and mentioned by analysts. Discover why we have been trusted by 18 of the 20 largest commercial banks, 16 of the 20 largest wealth management firms, and 25+ leading payments and card processing companies. Explore our financial services expertise and contact us to learn more.

In the latest episode of the “What If? So What?” podcast, Jim Hertzfeld had the pleasure of speaking with Efi Pylarinou, a renowned FinTech expert, speaker, and author of “The Fast Future Blur.” Efi shares her journey from Wall Street to becoming a leading voice in financial technology and innovation. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including the concept of everywhere banking, the impact of AI, and the future of financial services.

Efi Pylarinou’s career has taken her from the cutthroat world of Wall Street to the serene landscapes of Switzerland. With a background in traditional financial services, Efi has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of technology in the industry and emphasizes the importance of adapting to new tech cycles and the challenges posed by legacy systems.

One of the key topics Jim and Efi discuss is everywhere banking, which encapsulates two industry trends: open banking and embedded finance. Efi explains that financial services are no longer confined to physical branches or mobile apps. Instead, banking can be integrated into commerce sites, travel platforms, and educational portals. This shift is driven by advancements in technology and changing consumer expectations.

Efi also highlights the critical role of AI in financial services. While AI is not new, recent advancements have opened up new possibilities for intelligent banking. However, she stresses that simply using AI as a tool is not enough. Businesses need to adopt an AI-native mindset to truly harness its potential.

Another significant trend is the evolution of digital identity and blockchain technology. Efi talks about how these innovations revolutionize our thoughts about money and financial transactions. With more than 90% of central banks exploring digital currencies, the future of money is poised to change dramatically.

Listen to the full episode to stay updated on the latest trends in FinTech and financial services.

Subscribe to the “What If? So What?” podcast for more engaging conversations with industry experts.

Listen now on your favorite podcast platform or visit our website.

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Meet our Guest

Efi Pylarinou, Top Global Tech Thought Leader On FinTech

Dr. Efi Pylarinou is a seasoned Wall Street professional and ex-academic who has become a Top Global Fintech, Linkedin, and Tech Thought Leader. Author of The Fast Future Blur, she’s also a domain expert with a Ph.D. in Finance, founder of the Financial Services Intelligence Hub, a prolific content creator, and Faculty at Fast Future Executive.

Connect with Efi

Meet the Host

Jim Hertzfeld is Area Vice President, Strategy for Perficient.

For over two decades, he has worked with clients to convert market insights into real-world digital products and customer experiences that actually grow their business. More than just a strategist, Jim is a pragmatic rebel known for challenging the conventional and turning grand visions into actionable steps. His candid demeanor, sprinkled with a dose of cynical optimism, shapes a narrative that challenges and inspires listeners.

Connect with Jim:

LinkedIn | Perficient

As we progress through 2025, the banking industry is set for substantial transformation driven by several key trends. Digital transformation will remain a powerful force, with advancements in AI and machine learning enabling unparalleled operational efficiencies and hyper-personalized customer experiences. Banks will look to transform the way they do business by moving beyond their walls with the maturing of open banking and embedded finance.

To stay competitive, banks must adapt and embrace emerging industry trends. This will require being more inquisitive and innovative compared to previous years, as the adoption of AI and cloud technologies continues to expand.

Banking Trend #1: Hyper-Personalization for Customer Satisfaction

Customers increasingly demand personalized banking experiences tailored to their unique needs and preferences. Hyper-personalization transforms the traditional banking model into a customer-centric approach, significantly boosting satisfaction and retention rates. Banks can use advanced data analytics and AI to deliver highly personalized financial services, such as customized savings plans and tailored investment advice. By leveraging data, banks can anticipate customer needs and proactively offer solutions, like recommending mortgage products or providing financial wellness tools based on individual spending patterns. Delivering these tailored experiences will be a crucial differentiator for banks aiming to attract and retain customers.

Recommended Approach: Banks should leverage advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) to create highly individualized experiences. By understanding customer preferences, behaviors, and financial needs in real-time, banks can offer tailored products, services, and communication, leading to a more seamless and intuitive customer experience. This approach improves engagement and loyalty, increases revenue opportunities, and provides competitive differentiation.

See Also: Transforming Industries, Powering Innovation

Banking Trend #2: Adapting to Regulatory Shifts

As the banking landscape evolves, staying compliant with regulatory requirements becomes increasingly challenging, especially with the rise of open banking, AI, and data privacy concerns. In 2025, banks will face a more complex regulatory environment, with new rules focused on data privacy, cybersecurity, and sustainability. The rise of digital banking, cryptocurrency, blockchain, and AI adoption across banking operations will prompt regulatory bodies to implement clearer frameworks and guidelines to ensure stability and consumer protection.

Recommended Approach: Navigating constant changes in risk and regulatory environments is crucial for banks in 2025. By ensuring compliance with regulations, banks mitigate risks and maintain trust with customers and regulatory authorities. To stay ahead, banks should adopt compliance technologies that automate regulatory reporting and help them stay agile in a rapidly changing landscape. Investing in advanced technologies like AI and machine learning can help identify potential risks and streamline compliance efforts. By adopting these strategies, banks can better manage the dynamic risk and regulatory environment, ensuring compliance while maintaining competitiveness and customer trust.

Related: Strategies + Solutions to Ensure Regulatory and Compliance Excellence

Banking Trend #3: Embedded Finance Enables Industry Crossover

Embedded finance integrates financial services into non-financial platforms, allowing users to access banking services within applications they already use. By embedding payment, lending, and insurance services into apps and websites, non-financial companies are able to offer financial products directly to their customers. For example, ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft offer in-app payment options, and e-commerce platforms provide financing options at checkout. By integrating financial services into non-financial platforms, banks can tap into new markets and customer bases, generating additional revenue.

Recommended Approach: Banks looking to start or deepen their embedded finance solutions should take several key steps. These steps include identifying strategic partnerships and collaborating with fintech companies and non-financial platforms that align with their goals. These partnerships provide the necessary technology and customer reach to implement embedded finance solutions effectively. Next, invest in technology by upgrading IT infrastructure to support embedded finance, including adopting cloud-based solutions and modern technologies that offer the agility and scalability needed for seamless integration. Create robust APIs that allow third-party platforms to integrate your financial services. Ensure these APIs are secure, reliable, and easy to use. Leverage advanced data analytics to understand customer behavior and preferences, helping you offer personalized financial services that meet the specific needs of your customers.

You May Enjoy: 6 Digital Payment Trends Set to Transform 2025

Banking Trend #4: Leveraging AI for Insights and Automation

AI and automation have evolved from buzzwords to essential components of banking operations. In 2025, AI will play a pivotal role in customer service, fraud detection, risk management, and personalized financial advice. AI-powered chatbots will handle routine customer inquiries, freeing human agents to tackle more complex issues. Additionally, AI-driven algorithms will enhance banks’ ability to detect emerging fraud patterns and mitigate risks more effectively. Automation will streamline internal processes, leading to cost reductions and improved operational efficiency.

Recommended Approach: To fully utilize AI, banks need to prioritize improving their data strategy, recognizing that high-quality, reliable, and trustworthy data is essential for AI to deliver significant outcomes. They need to align AI initiatives with the bank’s overall business goals. Then identify areas where AI can add the most value, such as customer service, fraud detection, and risk management and focus on value-driven AI use cases. They also need to invest in modern technology and infrastructure for agility and scalability.

Read More: Transform Your Business With Cutting-Edge AI and Automation Solutions

Banking Trend #5: Responsive Resilience

Responsive Resilience continues to be a key banking trend in 2025, emphasizing the ability of financial institutions to adapt swiftly and effectively to changing conditions. Banks must be prepared to respond to economic fluctuations, market changes, and unexpected events. This requires robust risk management frameworks and the ability to pivot strategies quickly. A compounding factor, the shift to digital has caused increased exposure to financial fraud and cyber threats.

Recommended Approach: Invest in advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, and cloud computing to enhance operational efficiency and adaptability. These technologies can automate processes, improve decision-making, and provide real-time insights. Utilize data analytics to gain deeper insights into customer behavior, market trends, and potential risks. This data-driven approach allows banks to make informed decisions and respond swiftly to changes in the banking landscape.

Explore More: Reimagine Business for the Digital Age

Banking Trend #6: Embracing Open Banking and Connected Ecosystems

Although many institutions have deprioritized open banking in recent years, establishing an open banking strategy now offers significant benefits. Open banking continues to revolutionize the financial industry by enabling secure data sharing between banks and third-party providers through APIs. It unlocks a wealth of third-party financial data, enabling banks to better-tailor products and services, enhance customer loyalty, improve operational efficiencies, and open new revenue streams. This trend will change how banks engage with third-party financial service providers, fostering the development of innovative financial products and services. Open banking will drive greater competition, promote collaboration, and empower consumers with more choices and personalized banking experiences. Examples include budgeting apps that aggregate data from multiple bank accounts, personalized financial advice based on spending patterns and streamlined loan application processes by accessing a customer’s financial data to provide a more accurate and personalized credit score.

Recommended Approach: Banks must establish a clear vision for open banking that aligns with their overall business goals. They should determine specific objectives, such as driving innovation, improving customer experience, or expanding market reach. Additionally, banks need to update their IT infrastructure to support open banking. This includes developing secure and reliable APIs for data sharing and ensuring systems are resilient and scalable.

See Also: 1033 Open Banking Mandate Blueprint for Success

Unlocking New Opportunities in 2025

Our end-to-end digital solutions drive business outcomes, enhance experiences, and ensure robust risk and compliance management to improve operational efficiency and business resilience.

• Business Transformation: Align the business with an actionable roadmap to optimize operations, improve service, and enhance profitability.
• Modernization: Advance technologies to enhance digital capabilities and customer engagement.
• Data + Analytics: Proactively leverage integrated data and AI to refine banking product portfolios and mitigate risks.
• Risk + Compliance: Strengthen risk management frameworks, ensure adherence to banking regulations, and enhance operational stability.
• Consumer Experience: Improve customer satisfaction with hyper-personalized banking services and intuitive digital experiences.

Discover why we have been trusted by 18 of the 20 largest commercial banks. Explore our financial services expertise and contact us to learn more.

Driven by factors ranging from generational wealth transfer to technological advancements, Perficient’s Principal in Wealth and Asset Management, Gerardo Montemayor, provides valuable insights into the wealth management trends set to transform the industry in 2025.

Wealth Management Trend #1: Hyper-Personalized Experiences With AI

Driven by advancements in AI, big data, and machine learning, hyper-personalization is reshaping wealth management firms’ ability to tailor financial services based on individual preferences, behaviors, and investment goals. This transformation has been accelerated by a confluence of shifting client demographics and expectations along with mounting competitive pressure from emerging tech-driven players, financial product innovation, and industry consolidation. To remain competitive, wealth managers are driven to strengthen client relationships, redefine client experience, foster loyalty, deepen engagement, and drive long-term growth.

Recommended Approach: By leveraging user research and behavioral analytics, journey sciences help define and optimize the user journey, supporting more-meaningful hyper-personalization that addresses customer needs and preferences at each touchpoint. AI, machine learning, and big data analytics for predictive insights and personalized financial strategies require well-governed, securely democratized data. Cloud computing and modern data integrations unlock the benefits of scalable data management and real-time collaboration while advanced visualization tools and API integrations with third-party data equip teams to isolate priority scenarios and accelerate deeply tailored outreach.

Learn More: Optimize Every Touchpoint

Wealth Management Trend #2: Client Advisor Empowerment

Empowered client advisors drive AUM growth. Wealth managers, meanwhile, aim to boost advisor collaboration and, together, grow their book of business. To be effective, both groups need the tools and insights to drive faster progress, efficiently delivering high-quality, proactively personalized service in less time and with fewer manual tasks. With those efficiencies in place, these important business contributors can focus on strategic, high-value activities—ultimately driving client acquisition, retention, and long-term growth.

Recommended Approach: Empower client advisors with cutting-edge technologies that enhance efficiency, provide deeper insights, and strengthen client engagement, transforming raw information into actionable insights that support personalized investment strategies and tailored financial advice. Strategically implemented AI, augmented analytics and visualizations can accelerate smarter decision-making, while intelligent automation equips teams to streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and drive significant cost savings. Ease client management and foster seamless collaboration with compliant CRM and messaging tools. Mobile and cloud-based solutions enable anytime, anywhere, access to critical data and tools, ensuring greater flexibility.

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Wealth Management Trend #3: Navigating ESG in a Shifting Political Landscape

The political environment significantly influences the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations in wealth management. With the current administration rethinking of ESG, regulatory frameworks are rapidly evolving, creating both challenges and opportunities for investors and their advisors. Despite federal pushback, state-level initiatives and international regulations, particularly from the EU, continue to drive the importance of ESG. Investors are increasingly focused on aligning their portfolios with personal values, financial goals, and global sustainability trends, even as they navigate a complex and often contradictory regulatory environment. This dynamic underscores the need for adaptability and vigilance in ESG investing.

Recommended Approach: Build regulatory agility without losing site of investors’ expectations and consider how digital efficiencies and advisor enablement can differentiate your brand experiences. Advanced analytics and AI can provide personalized scoring, risk assessment, and greenwashing detection, ensuring transparency and data-driven decision-making. Big data integration is crucial for obtaining a unified view of diverse data sources, supporting robust ESG insights – particularly as ESG reporting becomes more fragmented when no longer mandated. Additionally, proactive regulatory insights can equip your organization to mitigate risks and capitalize on new opportunities. By staying agile and informed, investors can continue to drive long-term growth and meaningful impact through sustainable investment strategies.

Success In Action: Elevating ESG in Wealth Management Portfolios

Wealth Management Trend #4: Omnichannel Access

Digital platforms are reshaping how investors monitor portfolio progress, driven by expectations for convenience, accessibility, and personalized services. Omnichannel tools enhance client experience by offering seamless access to investment portfolios, performance insights, and account management tools. These platforms not only serve existing clients but also expand wealth management services to a broader audience. Additionally, they enable a wider range of investment products, support a do-it-yourself (DIY) model, and facilitate more strategic client collaboration, allowing for deeper engagement and more effective financial planning.

Recommended Approach: Mobile and cloud-based solutions form the backbone of digital platforms, providing seamless, anytime-anywhere access to critical data and tools for greater flexibility. Automation platforms support the DIY model, streamlining administrative tasks and enhancing efficiency. Additionally, custom development allows wealth managers to differentiate their services, offering tailored solutions and personalized collaboration channels to strengthen client relationships.

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Wealth Management Trend #5: Optimizing Operational Efficiencies

In the current macro-environment, wealth and asset management firms face rising costs, global volatility, increasing competition, and compliance challenges. Despite expanding industry assets and revenues, operating margins are under pressure, making profitability a top priority. Firms are also navigating a landscape of mergers and acquisitions, strategic outsourcing, and vendor consolidation to hone core strengths and boost a competitive edge. These business pressures drive the need for digital investments to enhance efficiency and maintain profitability.

Recommended Approach: Leverage a power combination of process mining and automation to streamline operational workflows and improve experiences. Process mining helps identify and prioritize inefficiencies, errors, and delays in complex business processes that are prime for optimization. Automation platforms, in turn, reduce costs by intelligently handling time-consuming tasks in back-office operations, portfolio management, reporting, and compliance, allowing advisors and client support teams to focus on what matters most: nurturing meaningful relationships and delivering value. By enhancing data quality and supporting advisors’ strategic planning efforts, these technologies drive scalability and sustainable growth, enabling firms to remain competitive. These advantages can be further amplified with a digital partner that offers robust, agile global delivery capabilities and platform relationships, maximizing cost savings without compromising quality and ensuring rapid deployments that drive business outcomes.

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Embrace the Future and Transform Your Wealth Strategy

We empower wealth and asset managers with proactive insights, hyper-personalized experiences, and proactive risk management to drive sustainable growth.

• Business Transformation: Develop and optimize strategies and processes for efficient wealth management operations.
• Modernization: Upgrade technology and processes to ensure seamless integration and enhanced, streamlined client advisor experiences.
• Data + Analytics: Harness data-driven insights for personalized investment strategies, client collaboration, and operational efficiency.
• Risk + Compliance: Implement robust strategies to safeguard investor relationships and ensure regulatory adherence.
• Consumer Experience: Enhance engagement and satisfaction with tailored advisory services and digital tools.

Discover why we have been trusted by 16 of the 20 largest wealth management firms. Explore our financial services expertise and contact us to learn more.

The rapidly evolving payments industry is driving industry leaders to adapt their strategies in response to emerging trends. As technology advances and consumer expectations shift, staying ahead of these trends is crucial for success.

Payments Trend #1: AI-Driven Payment Innovations

The landscape of payments and financial services in 2025 will be marked by groundbreaking innovations and user-centric designs powered by Generative AI (GenAI). The industry faces numerous challenges, including protecting sensitive data, navigating evolving regulations, and outdated legacy systems. As these AI technologies evolve, they will transform consumer interactions with payment systems, fostering a more inclusive and sustainable financial ecosystem. This transformation will require a delicate balance between innovation and compliance, ensuring that advancements in AI contribute to a secure and efficient payments landscape.

Recommended Approach: GenAI can assist various payment processes by creating personalized and tailored payment experiences through loyalty programs, discounts, and curated product recommendations. Additionally, AI can enhance accessibility and mobile development through voice and conversational payments, improving user experience. The conversational nature of GenAI will be crucial in making transactions seamless and frictionless for consumers. To harness AI’s potential effectively, it’s essential to develop a strategy that considers payment regulations to ensure consumer protection, data privacy, and ethical use of AI. The future of payments promises not only enhanced efficiency and security but also personalized experiences that align with broader societal values.

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Payments Trend #2: The Rise of Real-Time Payments

Real-time payments in the US are expected to see widespread adoption across various sectors, driven by the integration of embedded finance, enhanced biometric authentication, and improved accessibility for consumers and businesses. Traditional payment methods like checks and ACH transfers are likely to decline, especially in business-to-business transactions. Consumers are increasingly using mobile wallets and embedded payments in non-financial platforms, while businesses are leveraging the momentum of business-to-business real-time payments facilitated by networks like FedNow. However, the payment industry encounters challenges such as user education and awareness, integration complexities across platforms and financial institutions, and ongoing regulatory considerations.

Recommended Approach: Payment companies should adopt and expand real-time payment solutions, leveraging networks like FedNow and RTP. Embracing advanced security features such as biometric authentication will enhance user experience and protect data. Ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for all consumers, including those underserved by traditional banking systems, is crucial. Additionally, businesses should explore new revenue models through premium features and address integration complexities with robust data governance and analytics. By focusing on these key areas, companies can effectively manage the challenges and opportunities presented by the widespread adoption of real-time payments.

Success In Action: Ensuring Interoperable, Compliant Real-Time Payments

Payments Trend #3: Navigating the New Regulatory Landscape

The payment industry faces drastic regulatory changes driven by the new administration. Ongoing changes to regulators, protocols, and best practices may have a lasting impact on nonbank financial companies (NBFCs), banks, fees, buy now, pay later (BNPL) services, payment apps, and digital wallets. These changes require significant adjustments in risk management, compliance frameworks, and operational protocols. Enforcing consumer protections will become a gray area, creating operational headaches for consumers and financial institutions. Additionally, the Consumer Credit Control Act (CCCA), currently under consideration, could have significant implications for payment providers. These regulatory changes impact banks and their third-party partners, requiring reassessment of partnerships and compliance strategies. Overall, companies need to adapt to these changes, leading to higher compliance costs, operational expense, and cultural shifts to thrive.

Recommended Approach:   To navigate these changes, businesses must balance innovation with compliance. AI will be pivotal in this transition, enabling automation of key compliance processes such as know your customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) checks. Additionally, AI’s capacity for real-time transaction monitoring and fraud prevention will help companies stay ahead of evolving regulatory demands.  The fintech industry, once celebrated for its agility and innovation, now faces a future shaped by heightened regulation. Leveraging AI-driven compliance solutions will be essential for managing global operations effectively in this increasingly complex landscape.

Related: 1033 Open Banking Mandate Blueprint for Success

Payments Trend #4: Optimizing Payment Orchestration Platforms

Payment orchestration platforms (POPs) are poised to play a critical role in the evolving payments landscape in 2025, driven by technological advancements, regulatory changes, and shifting consumer demands. The growth of cross-border transactions, fueled by global e-commerce expansion, necessitates platforms that can handle multiple payment methods, currencies, and compliance requirements. Advanced analytics and AI integration are becoming essential for improving transaction success rates, fraud detection, and overall business intelligence. Additionally, regulatory developments will shape the operation of POPs, aiming to enhance security and reduce fraud. Emerging regions like Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America are key growth areas, with partnerships enabling access to local payment methods.

Recommended approach: To navigate this trend, payment institutions should focus on several strategies. POPs market consolidation is leading to more robust, full-stack solutions that integrate orchestration capabilities into broader platforms. Embracing advanced analytics and AI tools will be crucial for optimizing payment processes and enhancing customer experiences. Institutions should also prioritize the implementation of smart checkout experiences to improve authorization rates and streamline payment options. Staying up to date with regulatory developments and ensuring compliance with new regulations like the third (PSD3) in the EU and the role of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) will be essential. Finally, integrating POPs with existing financial services and e-commerce platforms will modernize legacy systems and provide more seamless payment experiences, ensuring institutions remain competitive in the digital economy.

Success In Action: At the Heart of Financial Services

Payments Trend #5: The Rapid Adoption of Embedded Payments

Embedded payments are rapidly evolving, and 2025 will mark a major turning point for their adoption in the U.S. Businesses and consumers demand faster, more seamless transactions, driving the expansion of embedded payment solutions across industries. While e-commerce and fintech have been early adopters, industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, real estate, and B2B services are now integrating payment capabilities directly into their platforms. Expect more ERP systems, procurement platforms, and business management tools to embed payment functions, reducing reliance on third-party processors. As embedded payments become mainstream, U.S. regulators will tighten compliance requirements around data security, AML, and consumer protection.

Recommended Approach: Companies must meet evolving KYC and compliance standards, fostering trust and security in digital transactions. Beyond payments, businesses should integrate lending, insurance, and investment options directly into their platforms through embedded finance. Partnering with Banking as a Service (BaaS) providers will allow companies to offer customers seamless access to financial products without switching platforms, further blurring the lines between traditional banking and digital platforms. Additionally, adopting tokenized payments, stablecoins, and decentralized finance (DeFi) integrations within embedded payment systems will be crucial. With Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal leading the charge, expect an increase in one-click, biometric, and voice-activated payments built into everyday digital experiences. Companies that fail to integrate seamless payment experiences risk losing customers to competitors offering faster, frictionless transactions.

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Payments Trend #6: Crypto and Payments Intersect

In 2024, crypto made a strong comeback, with Bitcoin surpassing $100,000, driven by its integration into exchange-traded funds. The industry has matured, with blockchain innovations extending beyond crypto enthusiasts and into mainstream finance. Traditional financial institutions are increasingly leveraging blockchain to address complex challenges, while the U.S. continues efforts to regulate and integrate digital assets effectively. Emphasis on security, trust, and usability is essential for blockchain’s success. With these elements in place, financial institutions are embracing blockchain-based solutions, including tokenized money and assets, to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.

Recommended Approach: Companies should explore the coexistence of stablecoins and tokenized deposits. Banks are investigating tokenized deposits, blockchain-based representations of commercial deposits, to enable faster settlements and programmable payments. Meanwhile, stablecoins, pegged to fiat currency, are gaining traction in remittances and business transactions, with approximately $150 billion in circulation. A clear regulatory framework will strengthen their role, leading to an integrated system where tokenized assets and money interact seamlessly. Regulatory clarity will drive adoption, with the U.S. and EU providing models for certainty. Central banks focus on blockchain solutions for financial institutions, enhancing institutional settlements and facilitating faster cross-border capital movement. Interoperability and trust will be crucial, with institutional interest in crypto growing. The future of crypto is no longer speculative, it is becoming a fundamental part of the financial system.

See Also: Be at the Forefront of Innovation

Navigating the Road Ahead

We help payment and fintech firms innovate and boost market position with transformative digital experiences and efficient operations.

• Business Transformation: Create a roadmap to innovate products, enhance experiences, and reduce transactional risk.
• Modernization: Implement technology to improve payment processing, fraud management, and omnichannel experiences.
• Data + Analytics: Proactively leverage integrated data and AI to optimize transactions, manage fraud, and personalize experiences.
• Risk + Compliance: Enhance compliance and risk management to safeguard transactions and customer data.
• Consumer Experience: Deliver convenient, seamless experiences with user-friendly secure payment solutions.

Discover why we have been trusted by 25+ leading payments and card processing companies. Explore our financial services expertise and contact us to learn more.

The insurance industry in 2025 is at a pivotal point, with key digital insurance trends leading the charge in transforming how carriers operate and interact with customers. Carriers must innovate, adapt to these changes, and leverage new technologies to maintain a competitive edge.

Insurance Trend #1: Building Business Resilience

Underwriting actions in response to increased claim frequency and severity are expected to stabilize combined ratios across most property and casualty insurance lines in 2025. At the end of 2024, Moody’s changed its insurance outlook to “stable,” citing their belief in the adequacy of rate increases to cover forecast claims cost. However, these higher rates are having noticeable impacts on consumers. 2024 closed with record-high average auto premiums which were up 26% from 2023. Customers are reacting by shopping insurance providers.

Recommended Approach: To buffer these external pressures, carriers and intermediaries must focus on operational efficiency, which can be accelerated through technology. Modernizing infrastructure and investing in intelligent automation and AI are crucial. Technology alone won’t solve all issues; carriers must ensure transparent, effortless, and personal interactions with producers and consumers across the value chain.

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Insurance Trend #2: Digital Distribution Across the Value Chain

In 2025, carriers will continue to innovate with new tools and services to interact with customers and producers as roles, sales channels, and client relationships evolve. Carriers must digitize their operations, incorporating modern technology and data to automate and enhance the value chain experience, allowing consumers and producers to mitigate risk confidently.

Recommended Approach: Evolving distribution necessitates innovations such as embedded insurance to enhance brand awareness for producers and digital-direct consumers, offering convenience, transparency, and choice. Agencies will continue to play a critical role in navigating difficult underwriting conditions by tailoring policy coverages and providing transparency, which requires that they have access to modern sales and servicing tools. Adopting these strategies supports an intuitive, experience-driven buying process for both agents and direct customers.

Related: 3 Key Insurance Takeaways From InsureTech Connect 2024

Insurance Trend #3: Enhanced Customer Experience

Underwriting actions to restore profitability have negatively impacted industry perceptions and experiences. Tighter underwriting tolerance and rate increases have challenged producers and financially burdened consumers. Industry experiences have lagged due to outdated technologies, product-centric processes, and lack of transparency. Consumers prioritize customer experience in their purchase decisions, and producers favor carriers offering ease of use and flexibility on modern platforms.

Recommended Approach: Successful carriers leverage operational data to create actionable insights across a connected digital ecosystem, delivering integrated, seamless, tailored experiences. This approach goes beyond traditional omni-channel engagement, incorporating evolving technologies like social media, chatbots, and IoT, while respecting customer preferences and privacy. Omni-channel engagement offers smarter business decisions, real-time system access, and meaningful connections at every touchpoint.

Success In Action: Proving Rapid Value and Creating Better Member Experiences

Insurance Trend #4: AI Disruption and Enablement

AI and ML promise to enhance decision-making, servicing, and settlement processes in the insurance industry. AI won’t replace humans but will offer efficiencies that free up human mindshare, supporting the industry’s noble purpose of safeguarding futures amidst disruption.

Recommended Approach: AI, when applied to claims, underwriting, and customer engagement, creates a market advantage. We help clients advance AI capabilities through virtual assistants, generative interfaces, agentic frameworks, and product development, enhancing team velocity by integrating AI team members.

Explore More: Transform Your Business With Cutting-Edge AI and Automation Solutions

Insurance Trend #5: Assess Risk Using Data

The pace of change in the industry will continue to accelerate, with social inflation, weather, and economic inflation pressuring carrier loss ratios. Emerging risks like cyber threats create opportunities for new products but bring volatility that traditional risk models can’t predict.

Recommended Approach: The digital era introduces capabilities like personalization, AI, and document digitization. A strong data fabric becomes critical to enabling the trust and availability needed to support foundational and transformative opportunities and turn data into useful organizational information. Many insurance companies are data-rich but intelligence-poor, limiting their ability to identify and mitigate emerging risks. Prioritizing predictive modeling and data analytics is crucial to staying ahead of the competition.

Related: Data-Driven Companies Move Faster and Smarter

Next Steps: 2025 and Beyond

Carriers and brokers count on us to help modernize, innovate, and win in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Our solutions power personalized omnichannel experiences and optimize performance across the enterprise.

• Business Transformation: Activate strategy and innovation ​within the insurance ecosystem.​
• Modernization: Optimize technology to boost agility and ​efficiency across the value chain.​
• Data + Analytics: Power insights and accelerate ​underwriting and claims decision-making.​
• Customer Experience: Ease and personalize experiences ​for policyholders and producers.​

We are trusted by leading technology partners and consistently mentioned by analysts. Discover why we have been trusted by 13 of the 20 largest P&C firms and 11 of the 20 largest annuity carriers. Explore our insurance expertise and contact us to learn more.

It’s difficult, in the consulting services industry, to explain the requirement for existence of a core thought leadership group to augment the sales and marketing teams that are tasked with collection of logos. In today’s hypercompetitive and fast evolving marketplace, the lines between thought leadership and sales are increasingly intertwined… Thought leadership, when done right, isn’t just about looking and talking smart (though that’s nice); It’s about building credibility, earning trust, and yes, making sales easier. Banks, financial institutions, and insurance companies know this dance all too well, and their recent playbook is packed with lessons for the rest of us.

The Synergy Between Thought Leadership and Sales

Let’s face it… Thought leadership in a consulting business isn’t just about dumping PDFs on your website or spouting off buzzwords at conferences. It’s about serving up fresh, insightful perspectives that make your audience say, “Wow, they really get it…” For sales teams, it’s the perfect assist. Instead of chasing down leads with worn-out pitches, they’ve got something substantial, something that sparks meaningful conversations. Imagine this: An insurance exec armed with a research-packed whitepaper on managing industry-specific risks… suddenly, they’re less of a salesperson and more of a trusted advisor. Boom.

In the financial sector, where trust is paramount, thought leadership plays a crucial role in establishing credibility. By sharing valuable insights and demonstrating deep industry knowledge, consulting partners can position themselves as trusted advisors rather than mere service providers, or worse, body shoppers.

Real-Life Examples

1. A major American Bank’s Initiative “Women’s Global Banking Insights” – The large bank struck gold with a series of reports focused on empowering women financially. Did they post cute slogans and call it a day? Nope… They dug deep, offering data and advice that real businesses could use. The payoff? Corporate clients who not only took notes but also opened accounts. Talk about turning insights into income…
2. Insurance Providing company’s Sustainability Commitment – They went all-in on sustainability and climate resilience, and they didn’t just stop at fluffy PR. They published juicy whitepapers and hosted can’t-miss webinars about sustainable investing and ESG trends. Cue the applause from institutional investors. The result? Not just warm fuzzies… they scored big with sustainability-linked insurance sales. Proof that doing good can be good for business.
3. Card Business’s Small Business Advocacy – During the COVID-19 chaos, this card company became a lifeline for small businesses with its Recovery Insights platform. It was like a treasure trove of data on consumer trends and recovery strategies… Think actionable, not academic. Businesses loved it. Mastercard’s sales of related tools and products? Through the roof. Who doesn’t love a partner who really gets their pain points?

Thought Leadership Directly Aids Sales

1. By Lead Nurturing: Blogs, webinars, and reports give your prospects reasons to stick around and reasons to buy… eventually.
2. By Priming Brand Preference: By demonstrating deep understanding of industry challenges, companies can become top-of-mind when customers seek solutions.
3. By Creating Urgency: Well-crafted thought leadership content can highlight emerging issues, creating a sense of urgency for potential clients to act.
4. By Facilitating Multi-Stakeholder Engagement: In complex B2B sales, thought leadership helps engage various decision-makers within an organization by providing relevant insights for each role.
5. By Transcending Transactional Relationships: Thought leadership enables sales teams to build long-term, value-driven relationships with clients, moving beyond one-time transactions.
6. By Upselling Opportunities: Your clients see your content and think, “Wow, these folks are ahead of the curve…” Suddenly, they’re buying more because they don’t want to miss out

Bottom line?

As we move towards what some are calling “AI Powered Thought Leadership,” the integration of thought leadership and sales is likely to become even more pronounced This evolution will likely see a greater emphasis on data-driven insights, personalized content delivery, and the use of AI to identify and address emerging industry trends. By committing to strong thought leadership initiatives, companies can directly enhance their sales efforts, build stronger client relationships, and establish themselves as trusted industry leaders. As the landscape continues to evolve, those who master this synergy will be well-positioned to thrive in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Thought-Leadership isn’t just about flexing your brainpower… It’s a full-on growth strategy. When done well, it’s a win-win for the sales team, the clients, and let’s be real, your bottom line. Who says being thoughtful doesn’t pay off?

We’re pleased to announce that Perficient has been named a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Adobe Experience Cloud Professional Services 2024-2025 Vendor Assessment (Doc #US51741024, December 2024). We believe this recognition is a testament to our commitment to excellence and our dedication to delivering top-notch Adobe services to our clients.

Continue reading to learn more about what the IDC MarketScape is, why Perficient is named a Major Player, and what this designation means to our clients.

Understanding This IDC MarketScape

This IDC MarketScape evaluated Adobe Experience Cloud professional service providers, creating a framework to compare vendors’ capabilities and strategies. Many organizations need help planning and deploying technology, and finding the right vendor is critical.

According to Douglas Hayward, senior research director for CX services and strategies at IDC, “Organizations choosing an Adobe Experience Cloud professional service should look for proof that their vendor has high-quality professionals who have a track record in empowering their clients and delivering the best value for the fairest price.”

This IDC MarketScape study provides a comprehensive vendor assessment of the Adobe Experience Cloud professional services ecosystem. It evaluates both quantitative and qualitative characteristics that contribute to success in this market. The study covers various vendors, assessing them against a rigorous framework that highlights the most influential factors for success in both the short and long term.

Perficient is a Major Player

We believe being named a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape is a significant achievement for Perficient and underscores our Adobe Experience Cloud capabilities, industry and technical acumen, global delivery center network, and commitment to quality customer service. We further believe the study is evidence of our expertise and continued focus on solving our clients’ business challenges.

Hayward said, “In our evaluation of Perficient for the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Adobe Experience Cloud Professional Services 2024-2025 Vendor Assessment, it was evident that Perficient has global delivery expertise that combines an experience design heritage with strong capabilities in digital experience transformation.”

The IDC MarketScape also says, “Based on conversations with Perficient’s clients, the vendor’s three main strengths are value creation, people quality, and client empowerment.”

Our Commitment to Excellence

At Perficient, we are committed to maintaining and improving our services and solutions. We continuously strive to innovate and enhance our capabilities and offerings to meet the evolving needs of our clients, further empower them, and drive value.

Learn More

You can also read our News Release for more details on this recognition and make sure to follow our Adobe blog for more Adobe platform insights!

Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to affect every aspect of the world economy and play a significant role in the global financial system, leading financial regulators around the world to take various steps to address the impact of AI on their areas of responsibility. The economic risks of AI to the financial systems include everything from the potential for consumer and institutional fraud to algorithmic discrimination and AI-enabled cybersecurity risks. The impacts of AI on consumers, banks, nonbank financial institutions, and the financial system’s stability are all concerns to be investigated and potentially addressed by regulators.

It is the goal of Perficient’s Financial Services consultants to help financial services executives, whether they lead banks, bank branches, bank holding companies, broker-dealers, financial advisors, insurance companies or investment management firms, the knowledge to know the status of AI regulation and the risk and regulatory trend of AI regulation not only in the US, but around the world where their firms are likely to have investment and trading operations.

In the summer of 2024, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (“HKMA”) issued multiple guidance documents to financial services firms covering their use of artificial intelligence in both customer-facing applications as well as anti-money laundering and detecting and countering terrorist financing (“AML/CTF”). Specifically, the HKMA issued:

1. The guiding principles issued by the HKMA on August 19, 2024 (“GenAI”) in customer-facing applications (“GenAI Guidelines”). The GenAI Guidelines built on a previous HKMA circular “Consumer Protection in respect of Use of Big Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence by Authorized Institutions” dated November 5, 2019 (“2019 BDAI Guiding Principles”) and provide specific guidelines to financial services firms on the use of GenAI; and
2. An AML/CTF circular issued by the HKMA on September 9, 2024, that requires financial services firms with operations in Hong Kong to:
   1. undertake a study to consider the feasibility of using artificial intelligence in tackling AML/CTF, and
   2. submit the feasibility study and an implementation plan to the HKMA by the end of March 2025.

Leveraging the 2019 BDAI Guiding Principles as a foundation, the GenAI Guidelines adopts the same core principles of governance and accountability, fairness, transparency and disclosure, and data privacy and protection, but introduces additional requirements to address the specific challenges presented by GenAI.

Consistent with the HKMA’s recognition of the potential use of GenAI in consumer protection in the GenAI Guidelines, the HKMA Circular also indicates that the HKMA recognizes the considerable benefits that may come from the deployment of AI in improving AML/CTF. In particular, the HKMA Circular notes that the use of AI powered systems “take into account a broad range of contextual information focusing not only on individual transactions, but also the active risk profile and past transaction patterns of customers…These systems have proved to be more effective and efficient than conventional rules-based transaction monitoring systems commonly used by covered firms.”

Given this, the HKMA has indicated that financial services firms with operations in Hong Kong should:

• give due consideration to adopting AI in their AML/CTF monitoring systems to enable them to stay effective and efficient; and
• undertake a feasibility study in relation to the adoption of AI in their AML/CTF monitoring systems and based on the outcome of that review, should formulate an implementation plan.

The feasibility study and implementation plan should be signed off at the board level and submitted to the HKMA by March 31, 2025.