Moments of currency change are where fortunes are made and lost. In January 2026, Bulgaria will enter one of those moments. The country will adopt the euro and officially retire the Bulgarian lev, marking a major euro adoption milestone and reshaping how investors, banks, and global firms manage currency risk in the region. The shift represents one of the most significant macroeconomic transitions in Bulgaria’s modern history and is already drawing attention across FX markets.

To understand how dramatically foreign exchange movements can shift value, consider one of the most famous examples in modern financial history. In September 1992, investor George Soros, “the man who broke the British Bank,” bet against the British pound, anticipating that the UK’s exchange rate policy would collapse. The resulting exchange rate crisis, now known as Black Wednesday, became a defining moment in forex trading and demonstrated how quickly policy decisions can trigger massive market dislocations.

By selling roughly $10 billion worth of pounds, his Quantum Fund earned ~$1 billion in profit when the currency was forced to devalue. The trade earned Soros the nickname “the man who broke the Bank of England” and remains a lasting example of how quickly confidence and capital flows can move entire currency systems.

GBP/USD exchange rate from May 1992 to April 1993, highlighting the dramatic plunge during Black Wednesday. When George Soros famously shorted the pound, forcing the UK out of the ERM and triggering one of the most significant currency crises in modern history

To be clear, Bulgaria is not in crisis. The Soros example simply underscores how consequential currency decisions can be. Even when they unfold calmly and by design, currency transitions reshape the texture of daily life. The significance of Bulgaria’s transition becomes more clear when you consider what the lev has long represented. Safety. Families relied on it through political uncertainty and economic swings, saved it for holidays, passed it down during milestones, and trusted it in moments when little else felt predictable. Over time, the lev became a source of stability as Bulgaria navigated decades of change and gradually aligned itself with the European Union..

Its retirement feels both symbolic and historic. But for global markets, currency traders, banks, and companies engaged in cross border business, the transition is not just symbolic. It introduces real operational changes that require early attention. This article explains what is happening, why it matters, and how organizations can prepare.

Some quick facts help frame the scale of this shift.

Map of Bulgaria

Bulgaria has a population of roughly 6.5 million.

The country’s GDP is about 90 billion U.S. dollars (World Bank, 2024)

Its largest trade partners are EU member states, Turkey, and China.

Why Bulgaria Is Adopting the Euro

​​Although the move from the Lev to the Euro is monumental, many Bulgarians also see it as a natural progression. ​​When Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007, Euro adoption was always part of the long-term plan. Adopting the Euro gives Bulgaria a stronger foundation for investment, more predictable trade relationships, and smoother participation in Europe’s financial systems. It is the natural next step in a journey the country has been moving toward slowly, intentionally, and with growing confidence. That measured approach fostered public and institutional trust, leading European authorities to approve Bulgaria’s entry into the Eurozone on January 1, 2026 (European Commission, 2023; European Central Bank, 2023).

How Euro Adoption Affects Currency Markets

Bulgaria’s economy includes manufacturing, agriculture, energy, and service sectors. Its exports include refined petroleum, machinery, copper products, and apparel. It imports machinery, fuels, vehicles, and pharmaceuticals (OECD, 2024). The Euro supports smoother trade relationships within these sectors and reduces barriers for European partners.

Once Bulgaria switches to the Euro, the Lev will quietly disappear from global currency screens. Traders will no longer see familiar pairs like USD to BGN or GBP to BGN. Anything involving Bulgaria will now flow through euro-based pairs instead. In practical terms, the Lev simply stops being part of the conversation.

For people working on trading desks or in treasury teams, this creates a shift in how risk is measured day to day. Hedging strategies built around the Lev will transition to euro-based approaches. Models that once accounted for Lev-specific volatility will have to be rewritten. Automated trading programs that reference BGN pricing will need to be updated or retired. Even the market data providers that feed information into these systems will phase out Lev pricing entirely.

And while Bulgaria may be a smaller player in the global economy, the retirement of a national currency is never insignificant. It ripples through the internal workings of trading floors, risk management teams, and the systems that support them . It is a reminder that even quiet changes in one part of the world can require thoughtful adjustments across the financial landscape.

Combined with industry standard year-end code-freezes, Perficient has seen and helped clients stop their Lev trading weeks before year-end.

The Infrastructure Work Behind Adopting the Euro

Adopting the Euro is not just a change people feel sentimental about. Behind the scenes, it touches almost every system that moves money. Every financial institution uses internal currency tables to keep track of existing currencies, conversion rules, and payment routing. When a currency is retired, every system that touches money must be updated to reflect the change.

This includes:

• Core banking and treasury platforms
• Trading systems
• Accounting and ERP software
• Payment networks, including SWIFT and ISO 20022
• Internal data warehouses and regulatory reporting systems

Why Global Firms Should Pay Attention

If the Lev remains active anywhere after the transition, payments can fail, transactions can be misrouted, and reconciliation issues can occur. The Bank for International Settlements notes that currency changes require “significant operational coordination,” because risk moves across systems faster than many institutions expect. 

Beyond the technical updates, the disappearance of the Lev also carries strategic implications for multinational firms. Any organization that operates across borders, whether through supply chains, treasury centers, or shared service hubs, relies on consistent currency identifiers to keep financial data aligned. If even one system, vendor, or regional partner continues using the old code, firms can face cascading issues such as misaligned ledgers, failed hedging positions, delayed settlements, and compliance flags triggered by mismatched reporting. In a world where financial operations are deeply interconnected, a seemingly local currency change can ripple outward and affect global liquidity management and operational continuity.

Many firms have already started their transition work well in advance of the official date in order to minimize risk. In practice, this means reviewing currency tables, updating payment logic, testing cross-border workflows, and making sure SWIFT and ISO 20022 messages recognize the new structure. 

Trade Finance Will Feel the Change

For people working in finance, this shift will change the work they do every day. Tools like Letters of Credit and Banker’s Acceptances are the mechanisms that keep international trade moving, and they depend on accurate currency terms. If any of these agreements are written to settle in Lev, they will need to be updated before January 2026.

That means revising contracts, invoices, shipping documents, and long-term payment schedules. Preparing early gives exporters, importers, and the teams supporting them the chance to keep business running smoothly through the transition.

What Euro Adoption Means for Businesses

Switching to the Euro unlocks several practical benefits that go beyond finance departments.

• Lower currency conversion costs
• More consistent pricing for long-term agreements
• Faster cross-border payments within the European Union
• Improved financial reporting and reduced foreign exchange risk
• Increased investor confidence in a more stable currency environment

Because so much of Bulgaria’s trade already occurs with Eurozone countries, using the Euro simplifies business operations and strengthens economic integration.

How Organizations Can Prepare

The most important steps for institutions include:

1. Auditing systems and documents for references to BGN
2. Updating currency tables and payment rules
3. Revising Letters of Credit and other agreements that list the Lev
4. Communicating the transition timeline to partners and clients
5. Testing updated systems well before January 1, 2026

Early preparation ensures a smooth transition when Bulgaria officially adopts the Euro. Ensure that operationally you’re prepared to accept Lev payments through December 31, 2025, but given settlement timeframes, prepared to reconcile and settle Lev transactions into 2026.a

Final Thoughts

The Bulgarian Lev has accompanied the country through a century of profound change. Its retirement marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in Bulgaria’s economic story. For the global financial community, Bulgaria’s adoption of the Euro is not only symbolic but operationally significant.

Handled thoughtfully, the transition strengthens financial infrastructure, reduces friction in global business, and supports a more unified European economy.

References 

Bank for International Settlements. (2024). Foreign exchange market developments and global liquidity trends. https://www.bis.org

Eichengreen, B. (1993). European monetary unification. Journal of Economic Literature, 31(3), 1321–1357.

European Central Bank. (2023). Convergence report. https://www.ecb.europa.eu

European Commission. (2023). Economic and monetary union: Euro adoption process. https://ec.europa.eu

Henriques, D. B. (2011). The billionaire was not always so bold. The New York Times.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2024). Economic surveys: Bulgaria. https://www.oecd.org

World Bank. (2024). Bulgaria: Country data and economic indicators. https://data.worldbank.org/country/bulgaria

1. Introduction to Modern Cloud Architecture

In today’s world, architects generally prefer to keep their compute resources—such as virtual machines and Kubernetes servers—spread across multiple clouds and on-premises environments. Specifically, they do this to achieve the best possible resilience through high-availability and disaster recovery. Moreover, this approach allows for better cost efficiency and higher security.

2. The Challenge of Management Complexity

However, this distributed strategy brings additional challenges. Specifically, it increases the complexity of maintaining and managing resources from different consoles, such as Azure, AWS, and Google portals. Consequently, even for basic operations like restarts or updates, administrators often struggle with multiple disparate portals. As a result, basic administration tasks become too complex and cumbersome.

3. How Azure Arc Provides a Solution

Azure Arc solves this problem by providing a simple “pane of glass” to manage and monitor servers regardless of their location. In addition, it simplifies governance by delivering a consistent management platform for both multi-cloud and on-premises resources. Specifically, it provides a centralized way to project existing non-Azure resources directly into the Azure Resource Manager (ARM).

4. Understanding Key Capabilities

Currently, Azure Arc allows you to manage several resource types outside of Azure. For instance, it supports servers, Kubernetes clusters, and databases. Furthermore, it offers several specific functionalities:

• Azure Arc-enabled Servers: Connects physical or virtual Windows and Linux servers to Azure for centralized visibility.

• Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes: Additionally, you can onboard any CNCF-conformant Kubernetes cluster to enable GitOps-based management.

• Azure Arc-enabled SQL Server: This brings external SQL Server instances under Azure governance for advanced security.

5. Architectural Implementation Details

The Azure Arc architecture revolves primarily around the Azure Resource Manager. Specifically, when a resource is onboarded, it receives a unique resource ID and becomes part of Azure’s management plane. Consequently, each resource installs a local agent that communicates with Azure to receive policies and upload logs.

6. The Role of the Connected Machine Agent

The agent package contains several logical components bundled together. For instance, the Hybrid Instance Metadata service (HIMDS) manages the connection and the machine’s Azure identity. Moreover, the guest configuration agent assesses whether the machine complies with required policies. In addition, the Extension agent manages VM extensions, including their installation and upgrades.

7. Onboarding and Deployment Methods

Onboarding machines can be accomplished using different methods depending on your scale. For example, you might use interactive scripts for small deployments or service principals for large-scale automation. Specifically, the following options are available:

• Interactive Deployment: Manually install the agent on a few machines.

• At-Scale Deployment: Alternatively, connect machines using a service principal.

• Automated Tooling: Furthermore, you can utilize Group Policy for Windows machines.

8. Strategic Benefits for Governance

Ultimately, Azure Arc provides numerous strategic benefits for modern enterprises. Specifically, organizations can leverage the following:

• Governance and Compliance: Apply Azure Policy to ensure consistent configurations across all environments.

• Enhanced Security: Moreover, use Defender for Cloud to detect threats and integrate vulnerability assessments.

• DevOps Efficiency: Enable GitOps-based deployments for Kubernetes clusters.

9. Important Limitations to Consider

However, there are a few limitations to keep in mind before starting your deployment. First, continuous internet connectivity is required for full functionality. Secondly, some features may not be available for all operating systems. Finally, there are cost implications based on the data services and monitoring tools used.

10. Conclusion and Summary

In conclusion, Azure Arc empowers organizations to standardize and simplify operations across heterogeneous environments. Whether you are managing legacy infrastructure or edge devices, it brings everything under one governance model. Therefore, if you are looking to improve control and agility, Azure Arc is a tool worth exploring.

Perficient is proud to be named a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Experience Build Services 2025 Vendor Assessment (Doc #US52973125, October 2025) and IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Experience Design Services 2025 Vendor Assessment (Doc #US52973225, October 2025). These IDC MarketScapes assessed providers, offering a comprehensive framework including product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current/future market success factors.

“We believe being recognized by IDC for Experience Design and Experience Build reinforces the impact we have on behalf of clients creating personalized, seamless interactions that accelerate growth. In today’s experience-driven economy, that’s the competitive advantage that matters,” says Erin Rushman, general manager of digital marketing and experience design operations at Perficient.

What This Inclusion Means for Perficient

Being named a Major Player, we believe, underscores our dedication to transforming customer experiences and empowering businesses through personalized, seamless, and impactful interactions. Perficient combines strategy and research with human-centered design to help organizations craft agile, customer-focused solutions that thrive in dynamic markets. By leveraging data-driven insights, personalization, AI, and more, we deliver end-to-end experiences that deepen engagement and drive measurable business impact.

According to the IDC MarketScape for Experience Design Services, “Perficient has strong capabilities in digital offering design and offers leading-edge experience design services backed by a global innovation network.” The report also notes, “In conversations with Perficient’s reference clients, the three areas where experience design services buyers commended the vendor highly were for the quality of its professionals, for its industry specific capabilities, and differentiation as a vendor.”

The IDC MarketScape for Experience Build Services states, “As an independent digital experience agency, Perficient combines business and technology transformation capabilities, including a robust collection of supporting assets and tools, with a focus on the design and build of customer experiences. Perficient has strong personalization capabilities.”

Additionally, Perficient was named a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape for Customer Experience Strategy Consulting Services 2025 Vendor Assessment (Doc #US52973025, September 2025). We believe this inclusion reflects our commitment to delivering AI-first solutions that transform customer experiences through scalable, high-impact innovations. It establishes Perficient as a trusted partner, driving unmatched success in the experience-driven market of tomorrow.

Read the News Release: Perficient Named a Major Player in Three IDC MarketScapes For AI-First Approach to Customer Experience

What This Inclusion Means for Our Clients

Perficient continues to be a leader in experience strategy and design, helping clients align vision, accelerate innovation, and achieve lasting transformation. We enable businesses to embed AI into processes and deliver personalized customer experiences at scale. By expanding and strengthening alliances with partners, we ensure our solutions remain innovative and leading-edge, empowering clients to stay ahead in a dynamic market.

Exceptional CX is essential for growth and loyalty. Our expertise across platforms and global delivery ensures brands can quickly adapt, innovate, and meet rising customer expectations. Explore our expertise to see how we can be a partner in your experience journey.

We’re thrilled to announce that Perficient has been honored with a 2025 Fall Culture Excellence Top Workplace award in the Professional Development category! This recognition from Energage highlights our dedication to cultivating an exceptional workplace culture that champions, challenges, and celebrates every colleague.

We’re proud to be recognized for our commitment to career growth and professional development. Earlier this year, Perficient was named a 2025 USA Today Top Workplace and a 2025 Technology Top Workplaces winner. Building on that momentum, our 2025 Fall Culture Excellence Top Workplace award, driven entirely by colleague feedback, spotlights our leadership in empowering our people through meaningful development programs, training, and career advancement resources.  

This marks the second consecutive year Perficient has earned a national top workplace award for professional development, underscoring our long-term investment in our people. Continue reading to discover the programs and initiatives that shape our award-winning culture and inspire colleague growth. 

Empowering Career Development Through Growth for Everyone 

Perficient fosters a culture of continuous learning where every colleague has the tools, resources, and support to thrive personally and professionally. We understand that growth looks different for everyone, which is why we celebrate every step of the journey—from everyday wins to career-defining milestones. Anchored in Perficient’s People Promise, our award-winning Growth for Everyone system provides a robust framework of professional development resources, training programs, and tools that empower colleagues to take ownership of their careers and reach their full potential. 

LEARN MORE: Perficient’s Award-Winning Culture Prioritizes Growth for Everyone 

Our Growth for Everyone Programming 

Our people are the foundation of our success, and we’re committed to making growth not just encouraged, but accessible to all. Our Growth for Everyone system includes a variety of professional development programs designed to build leadership capabilities and sharpen job-specific skills.

• Consultant Curriculum is for Technical and Business Consultants who want to take their skills to the next level. It offers colleagues a mixture of self-paced online modules, instructional videos, articles, assignments, and sessions recorded by subject matter experts. Organized into three cohorts, this program provides a clear path for career progression by aligning colleagues with their current role and next career step: Associate to Consultant, Consultant to Senior Consultant, and Senior Consultant to Lead Consultant.
• Learning to Lead is for individual contributors interested in stepping into people leadership roles. Through six themed modules, participants gain practical insights supported by monthly facilitated training sessions and individual assessments, all focused on leadership best practices and effective team management.
• Leading With Impact is our flagship program for global people leaders, designed to strengthen leadership skills and build deeper relationships with direct reports. Over six months, participants gain clear, actionable strategies to successfully lead and inspire their teams through individual assignments, peer cohorts, and engaging live sessions. 
• Once colleagues have graduated from one of the above leadership development programs, they’re invited to participate in Elevate, an optional resource providing access to on-demand curriculum and live sessions centered on leadership excellence.

READ MORE: Explore Perficient Colleagues’ Growth for Everyone Stories 

Our Structured and Self-Guided Resources

Alongside our Growth for Everyone programs, we champion career development with structured pathways and resources to guide colleagues on their journeys. Our Career Paths resource provides colleagues with a clear planning framework for career progression. Featuring a variety of role-specific profiles, it outlines job expectations, recommended next steps, and suggestions for growth.

To further support career advancement, we also offer two complementary toolkits: our Career Development Toolkit, a practical guide for colleagues planning to kickstart their growth journey, and our Leadership Toolkit, which equips leaders with materials to facilitate meaningful career development discussions with their colleagues. Together with these resources, Perficient Academy serves as a centralized hub for on-demand training, supporting continuous learning and development at every stage.

Building Skills for an AI-First World 

With more than 7,000 global colleagues, Perficient brings together the best and brightest in the industry to deliver AI-first solutions for the world’s most innovative companies. Our people-centric culture ensures every colleague feels valued, supported, and equipped to succeed in an AI-driven future.  

Beyond Growth for Everyone, we offer AI training and bootcamps that help colleagues become AI-first and confidently embrace emerging technologies. Our AI Enablement Training series includes curated videos and assessments that show colleagues how to unlock AI’s benefits and leverage our approved tools.  

READ MORE: Revolutionizing Work With Microsoft Copilot: A Game-Changer in AI Integration 

In addition to our AI Enablement Training, we’ve launched five new partner-specific bootcamps designed to help colleagues harness the power of AI, deepen their expertise, and explore new career opportunities. These bootcamps—Databricks, WRITER, Salesforce, Agentforce, and Data Cloud—build on our initial AI training modules and cater to different skillsets with flexible formats, from blended learning and hands-on projects to virtual sessions. 

Perficient’s recognition as a 2025 Professional Development Top Workplace reflects our unwavering commitment to colleague growth, innovation, and success. Through our Growth for Everyone system and AI training programs, we’re building a future-ready workforce where learning is celebrated, leadership is nurtured, and career advancement is accessible to all. As we embrace our AI-first future, we remain focused on what matters most: championing our people, helping them achieve their goals, and empowering every colleague to drive meaningful impact throughout their careers.  

READY TO GROW YOUR CAREER?  

It’s no secret our success is because of our people. No matter the technology or time zone, our colleagues are committed to delivering innovative, end-to-end digital solutions for the world’s biggest brands, and we bring a collaborative spirit to every interaction. We’re always seeking the best and brightest to work with us. Join our team and experience a culture that challenges, champions, and celebrates our people.  

Visit our Careers page to see career opportunities and more!  

Go inside Life at Perficient and connect with us on LinkedIn, YouTube, X, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. 

Perficient Hyderabad Diwali 2025 brought the office to life with bright lights, joyful traditions, and strong team spirit. From colourful decor to fun games, every part of the office reflected festive cheer and togetherness.

People across India celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights, with happiness and traditions. If you’d like to know more, visit Wikipedia to explore how Diwali inspires celebrations across the country.

Kicking Off

To begin the day, we held our monthly town-hall. During this session, teams shared recent wins, discussed updates and aligned on upcoming goal. As a result, the mood was upbeat and set  the tone for the celebration.

Decor Highlights

Soon after, the office transformed into a Diwali wonderland. A bright pookolam welcomed everyone at the entrance, made with fresh flowers and glowing diyas. Additionally, streamers and decorative lights added charm to every corner. The decor wasn’t just beautiful – it showed the creativity and spirit our teams bring to work.

Sweet Treats, Sweeter Smiles

To make the day even sweeter, chocolates were shared across teams. This small gesture brought smiles and lifted everyone’s mood. After all, it’s often the little things that make celebrations special.

Later, everyone gathered for festive lunch that featured a mix of traditional dishes and crowd favourites. The shared meal gave teams a chance to relax, connect and enjoy the flavours of season together.

Dressing Up for Occasion

Meanwhile, employees arrived in their festive best. Sarees, kurtas, sherwanis and lehengas filled the office with colour and elegance. It was heartwarming to see everyone embrace the spirit of Diwali and celebrate our diverse traditions.

Games, Laughter and Team Bonding

Later in the day, the office bussed with light-hearted activities. Fun and memory games sparked laughter and friendly competition. Consequently, it was refreshing break from routine and helped teams bond more closely.

Capturing the Joy

Naturally, we couldn’t let the day end without capturing the memories. Teams posed for group photos in front of the beautiful backdrops. These snapshots are now part of tour shared story – a reminder of that joy we create when we come together.

Curious how our celebrations have evolved over the years? Check out our post on Dussehra Unity Festivities at Hyderabad Office for more festive highlights and inspirations.

Diwali at the office wasn’t just a celebration. It was a moment to pause, connect, and appreciate the light we bring into each other’s lives. Looking ahead, here’s to many more festivals filled with warmth, unity and sparkle!

The Rise of AI in Banking

AI adoption in banking has accelerated dramatically. Predictive analytics, generative AI, and autonomous agentic systems are now embedded in core banking functions such as loan underwriting, compliance including fraud detection and AML, and customer engagement. 

A recent White Paper by Perficient affiliate Virtusa Agentic Architecture in Banking – White Paper | Virtusa documented that when designed with modularity, composability, Human-in-the-Loop (HITL), and governance, agentic AI agents empower a more responsive, data-driven, and human-aligned approach in financial services.

However, the rollout of agentic and generative AI tools without proper controls poses significant risks. Without a unified strategy and governance structure, Strategically Important Financial Institutions (“SIFIs”) risk deploying AI in ways that are opaque, biased, or non-compliant. As AI becomes the engine of next-generation banking, institutions must move beyond experimentation and establish enterprise-wide controls.

Key Components of AI Data Governance

Modern AI data governance in banking encompasses several critical components:

1. Data Quality and Lineage: Banks must ensure that the data feeding AI models is accurate, complete, and traceable.

Please refer to Perficient’s recent blog on this topic here:

AI-Driven Data Lineage for Financial Services Firms: A Practical Roadmap for CDOs / Blogs / Perficient

2. Model Risk Management: AI models must be rigorously tested for fairness, accuracy, and robustness. It has been documented many times in lending decision-making software that the bias of coders can result in biased lending decisions.

3. Third-Party Risk Oversight: Governance frameworks now include vendor assessments and continuous monitoring. Large financial institutions do not have to develop AI technology solutions themselves (Buy vs Build) but they do need to monitor the risks of having key technology infrastructure owned and/or controlled by third parties.

4. Explainability and Accountability: Banks are investing in explainable AI (XAI) techniques. Not everyone is a tech expert, and models need to be easily explainable to auditors, regulators, and when required, customers.

5. Privacy and Security Controls: Encryption, access controls, and anomaly detection are essential. These are all done already in legacy systems and extending it to the AI environment, whether it is narrow AI, machine learning, or more advanced agentic and/or generative AI it is natural to ensure these proven controls are extended to the new platforms. 

Industry Collaboration and Standards

The FINOS Common Controls for AI Services initiative is a collaborative, cross-industry effort led by the FINtech Open-Source Foundation (FINOS) to develop open-source, technology-neutral baseline controls for safe, compliant, and trustworthy AI adoption in financial services. By pooling resources from major banks, cloud providers, and technology vendors, the initiative creates standardized, open-source technology-neutral controls, peer-reviewed governance frameworks, and real-time validation mechanisms to help financial institutions meet complex regulatory requirements for AI. 

Key participants of FINOS include financial institutions such as BMO, Citibank, Morgan Stanley, and RBC, and key Technology & Cloud Providers include Perficient’s technology partners including Microsoft, Google Cloud, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). The FINOS Common Controls for AI Services initiative aims to create vendor-neutral standards for secure AI adoption in financial services.

At Perficient, we have seen leading financial institutions, including some of the largest SIFIs, establishing formal governance structures to oversee AI initiatives. Broadly, these governance structures typically include:

– Executive Steering Committees at the legal entity level
– Working Groups, at the legal entity as well as the divisional, regional and product levels
– Real-Time Dashboards that allow customizable reporting for boards, executives, and auditors

This multi-tiered governance model promotes transparency, agility, and accountability across the organization.

Regulatory Landscape in 2025

Regulators worldwide are intensifying scrutiny of Artificial Intelligence in banking. The EU AI Act, the U.S. SEC’s cybersecurity disclosure rules, and the National Insititute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”) AI Risk Management Framework are shaping how financial institutions must govern AI systems.

Key regulatory expectations include:

– Risk-Based Classification
– Human Oversight
– Auditability
– Bias Mitigation

Some of these, and other regulatory regimes have been documented and summarized by Perficient at the following links:

AI Regulations for Financial Services: Federal Reserve / Blogs / Perficient

AI Regulations for Financial Services: European Union / Blogs / Perficient 

The Road Ahead

As AI becomes integral to banking operations, data governance will be the linchpin of responsible innovation. Banks must evolve from reactive compliance to proactive risk management, embedding governance into every stage of the AI lifecycle.

The journey begins with data—clean, secure, and well-managed. From there, institutions must build scalable frameworks that support ethical AI development, align with regulatory mandates, and deliver tangible business value.

Readers are urged to read the links contained in this blog and then contact Perficient, a global AI-first digital consultancy to discuss how partnering with Perficient can help run a tailored assessment and pilot design that maps directly to your audit and governance priorities and ensure all new tools are rolled out in a well-designed data governance environment.

Here’s Why Perficient’s Elite Partner Status Will Make a Difference 

Databricks recently announced its acquisition of Tecton, a leading real-time feature store, to expand its AI agent capabilities. The move, covered by outlets including Reuters, InfoWorld, and AiTech365, enhances Databricks’ real-time data processing within Agent Bricks, enabling ultra-fast, contextual decision-making across use cases such as fraud detection, personalization, and risk scoring. 

What Does the Tecton Acquisition Mean for Databricks? 

The acquisition is significant because it closes one of the largest gaps in moving AI from experimentation to production at scale. Building on Tecton’s long-standing partnership and investor ties with Databricks—as well as shared clients like Coinbase—the deal strengthens Databricks’ market position and accelerates its ambition to lead enterprise AI infrastructure. 

Why it Matters: 

Real-Time AI Capabilities 

• Tecton’s feature platform enables sub-10 ms feature serving, allowing AI agents and applications to respond instantly with fresh data (fraud detection, chatbots, personalized recommendations). 

• By bringing this into Databricks, enterprises can now handle data prep, model training, and real-time inference all on one unified platform. 

Seamless Workflows from Raw Data to Production AI 

• Traditionally, teams stitched together multiple tools for data engineering, feature engineering, and deployment—causing delays and friction. 

• With Tecton integrated, Databricks now offers a streamlined path from raw data → features → models → production, reducing complexity and accelerating time-to-value. 

Enterprise-Grade Scale and Governance 

• Companies often struggle to reuse features across teams or maintain consistency between training and production. Tecton standardizes this process, improving accuracy and governance.

• Now, enterprises get that consistency inside the Databricks intelligence ecosystem—without juggling extra platforms. 

Ecosystem Strength 

• The acquisition expands Databricks’ capabilities into feature store and real-time AI territory. 

• For enterprises already on Databricks, it eliminates the need to adopt yet another specialized tool. 

Perficient: An Elite Partner in Real-Time AI Adoption 

As of March 17, 2025, Perficient achieved Databricks Elite Partner status, recognizing our deep expertise across data engineering, AI/ML, analytics, and governance. With more than 160 Databricks-certified consultants, we deliver end-to-end, mission-ready solutions—from lakehouse design to MLOps/LLMOps—across Azure, AWS, and GCP. 

Perficient was on the ground at the Databricks Data + AI World Tour 2025 in Dallas on September 4th, immediately following the Tecton announcement. 

“The acquisition of Tecton marks a turning point in how enterprises operationalize AI. By embedding real-time feature serving directly into the Databricks Intelligence Platform, organizations can build AI systems that not only learn but also react instantly to business-critical events,” said Nick Passero, director of Databricks at Perficient.

“As a Databricks Elite Partner, Perficient is uniquely positioned to help clients harness this capability—guiding them through integration, optimizing their architectures, and accelerating their path from experimentation to enterprise-scale AI.”    

Now with Tecton’s real-time feature services in the fold, Perficient is ideally positioned to help clients integrate, optimize, and scale—turning data intensity into AI agility. 

Three Ways Perficient Can Help Clients Harness Tecton-Powered AI 

1. Integration Best Practices: Perficient guides clients on embedding Tecton-powered real-time feature serving into their existing Databricks environments—ensuring workflows remain seamless, performant, and cost-effective. 

1. Accelerated Innovation with Confidence: With Tecton’s sub-10 ms latency, sub-100 ms freshness, and 99.99% uptime guarantees, Perficient helps clients deploy responsive agentic systems backed by enterprise-grade reliability. 

1. Comprehensive, Future-Ready AI Architectures: From strategy and design to deployment and governance, Perficient architects full-stack AI systems—including real-time feature stores, MLOps pipelines, AI agents, and dashboards—for use cases spanning personalization to risk mitigation. 

Build with Databricks + Perficient 

Databricks’ acquisition of Tecton is a milestone in the evolution of AI infrastructure. It empowers enterprises to build AI agents that think, react, and adapt in real time. Perficient, with our Elite Partner status, deep technical expertise, and strategic advisory capabilities, is ready to help organizations harness this shift and translate it into measurable business outcomes. 

Want to get started? Reach out to our Databricks experts to explore how real-time AI agents powered by Tecton can redefine your business. 

As a global AI-first consultancy, we’re driving meaningful results through AI-powered innovation and digital transformation, creating lasting impact for businesses and their customers. Our thought leaders actively engage with top global analyst firms, including Forrester, IDC, and more. These partnerships not only validate our capabilities but also amplify the impact we deliver to our clients every day. So far, we’ve secured 35 analyst report inclusions in 2025. 

Perficient Named a Major Player in IDC MarketScape for Software-Defined Vehicles 

Perficient was named a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide IT Professional Services for Software Defined Vehicles 2025 Vendor Assessment (doc# US51813124, September 2025). The IDC MarketScape evaluated software defined vehicles (SDV) professional service providers, creating a framework to compare vendors’ capabilities and strategies. 

“We’re proud of our long-term partnerships with clients that have led to continuous improvements and innovations in the automotive ecosystem. Whether we’re powering subscription-based monetization, unlocking predictive insights, or creating more connected and personalized customer experiences, Perficient is helping drive what’s next in mobility.” 

Justin Huckins, director of digital strategy and automotive industry lead, Perficient

According to IDC, Perficient “excels in its off-board SDV capabilities with advanced data analysis platforms supporting multiple automotive use cases and guides OEMS through strategic tools like the Envision framework and maintains strong partnerships with top-tier tech and automotive players. Customers appreciate its marketing campaigns and messaging around automotive offerings” 

Read More: Perficient Named a Major Player in IDC MarketScape for Worldwide IT and Engineering Services for Software-Defined Vehicles

Perficient’s Continued Inclusion in IDC Market Glances 

For the third year in a row, Perficient has been included in the category of IT Services Providers in the IDC Market Glance: Customer Experience Services, 2Q25 report (doc #US52469525, June 2025). According to IDC, “Agentic AI and GenAI are working their way into marketing and sales technologies and services, beginning with a pragmatic focus on automating, improving and scaling existing business processes and offerings. New AI-based business models have yet to emerge, but AI is already putting existing CX services under pressure to change.” 

Two additional IDC Market Glance reports were both healthcare-focused: IDC Market Glance: Payer, 1Q25 (doc# US53200825, March 2025) and IDC Market Glance: Healthcare Provider Operational IT Solutions, 1Q25 (doc# US52221325, March 2025.)  

In the IDC Market Glance: Healthcare Provider Operational IT Solutions report, Perficient is included in the newly introduced categories of IT Services and SI Services. We believe our inclusion underscores our expertise in leveraging AI-driven automation and advanced analytics, optimizing technology investments, and navigating evolving industry challenges. 

Highlighted in Forrester Landscapes 

Perficient has been recognized in Forrester’s report, The Connected Product Engineering Services Landscape, Q2 2025. Our clients rely on us not only for engineering and implementation, but also for the high-value strategic work that drives connected product success. 

Explore More: Build a Powerful Connected Products Strategy

Perficient was included in The Digital Transformation Landscape, Q2 2025. In this landscape, Perficient is recognized as a large-sized consultancy with an industry focus on financial services, healthcare, and industrial products, with a geographical presence in North America, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.  

Perficient was also included in The AI Technical Services Landscape, Q2 2025. Forrester defines AI Technical Services as: “The delivery capability of repeatable and scalable AI solutions, encompassing AI and data infrastructure, governance, training, and innovation.” We help clients harness the power of AI to solve complex business challenges and create meaningful transformation. 

Perficient Insights Contributed to Forrester Research 

Perficient’s work with a leading automotive manufacturer’s GenAI virtual assistant was included in Forrester’s report titled Design GenAI-Powered Experiences Responsibly. At the Forrester CX Summit North America in 2024, the author of this report, Principal Analyst Gina Bhawalkar, presented Perficient’s work with this automaker during her session. 

Perficient was interviewed by Forrester for their report titled The Future of Commerce (US). Perficient’s commitment to innovation and ability to deliver high-impact solutions positions us to meet the growing demand for AI-driven, intelligent commerce in an ever-evolving landscape. Our experts were also interviewed for the Forrester report, The Impact of AI on Digital Experience Platforms. We believe our inclusion in the research for this report reflects our expertise in helping enterprise clients implement and optimize DXPs through AI-powered transformation.

“AI is redefining what’s possible in digital experience. The convergence of agentic and Generative AI is empowering brands to create more human, adaptive, and intelligent interactions at scale.”

Mark Polly, principal of customer experience platforms, Perficient.

 

Perficient Director Priyal Patel is quoted in Forrester’s report, Becoming An Intelligent Healthcare Organization Is An Attainable Goal, Not A Lost Cause. “Today’s decisions should be guided by long-term thinking, envisioning your organization’s business needs five to 10 years into the future,” says Priyal, emphasizing the importance of a shared strategic vision. 

Deepening Analyst Relationships to Amplify Perficient’s Impact

Perficient continues to gain recognition from leading analyst firms like Forrester and IDC, reinforcing our global presence and growing influence in AI and emerging technologies. Visit our Analyst Coverage page to explore additional mentions and stay informed on how we’re shaping the future of technology. 

We’re proud to announce that we’ve earned our 8th Adobe specialization in Adobe’s Real-time Customer Data Platform. This milestone reflects our continued commitment to delivering exceptional digital experiences and deepens our already robust Adobe partnership.

View our other specializations in the Adobe partner directory.

What is Adobe’s Real-time CDP?

Real-time Customer Data Platform is a powerful solution that enables organizations to unify customer data from multiple sources in real-time, creating actionable profiles that drive personalized, omnichannel experiences. As customer expectations continue to rise, Real-time CDP empowers brands to activate their data with precision, speed, and relevance.

Why This Specialization Matters

Achieving an Adobe specialization is no small feat. Adobe’s rigorous program evaluates partners on their technical expertise, successful implementations, and proven customer impact. This new Real-time CDP specialization validates Perficient’s ability to architect and deploy scalable data solutions that help clients unlock the full potential of their customer data.

Delivering Real-time Impact Across Industries

Our team has already helped leading brands across industries leverage Adobe’s Real-time CDP to:

• Break down data silos and unify fragmented customer information
• Build real-time, privacy-compliant customer profiles
• Activate audiences across channels for personalized engagement
• Drive measurable business outcomes through data-driven marketing

“This specialization is a testament to our team’s deep expertise in Adobe Experience Cloud and our ability to help clients harness real-time data to deliver meaningful customer experiences,” said Lynn Brading, Global Adobe Alliance Director at Perficient.

How We’re Innovating and Growing With Adobe

As we continue to expand our Adobe capabilities, this specialization reinforces our position as a trusted advisor for enterprise organizations seeking to modernize their digital ecosystems. Whether you’re just beginning your journey with Real-time CDP or looking to optimize an existing implementation, Perficient is ready to help.

Let’s Connect

Explore our Adobe partner page to learn more about our specializations, success stories, and how we can help you turn data into a strategic advantage.

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the digital landscape, organizations are seeking clarity on how to strategically integrate AI into their digital experience platforms (DXPs). In its latest report, The Impact of AI on Digital Experience Platforms, Forrester explores how DXP vendors are embedding AI agents to streamline experience operations and expand toolsets — from copilots to code generators. Perficient was proud to contribute its DXP and AI expertise to this research, joining the group of vendors and service providers interviewed for the report. 

“Generative AI (GenAI) is reshaping digital experience platforms (DXPs) by automating content and campaign creation, powering intelligent copilots for marketers and developers, and boosting customer engagement through predictive insights and personalization.” —Forrester, The Impact of AI on Digital Experience Platforms

Why AI Belongs in the DXP Conversation

Today’s tech leaders face a growing challenge: delivering consistent, personalized experiences across a fragmented landscape of devices, channels, and customer expectations. DXPs are uniquely positioned to address this complexity. As Forrester notes, DXPs are rich in customer interaction data, support high-value business outcomes, and serve a diverse set of practitioners — all of which make them fertile ground for AI innovation. 

“DXP is a trove of trusted customer interaction data… Unleashing AI on this data enables organizations to understand audience intent and respond to that intent with irresistible offers.” — Forrester, The Impact of AI on Digital Experience Platforms

And Perficient’s experts agree that DXPs are a great place to start when integrating AI into experience delivery. 

“Marketing and IT leaders are under pressure to deliver personalized, omnichannel experiences at scale, and that’s exactly where DXPs shine. By embedding AI into the core of these platforms, clients can unlock the full value of their customer data and streamline operations across content, commerce, and campaigns,” said Mark Polly, Perficient Principal, Customer Experience Platforms.  

Agentic AI Ushers in a New Era of Experience Operations

The report highlights the rise of agentic AI and how these intelligent agents operate within DXPs to automate tasks, answer questions, and optimize workflows. These agents are transforming how marketers, developers, and content creators interact with their platforms, reducing friction and accelerating time to value. 

Perficient’s experience with orchestration tools and AI agents reinforces this trend. While many vendors offer orchestration capabilities, Perficient often helps clients integrate these tools across their broader tech ecosystem. 

” For marketing and IT leaders, true orchestration moves beyond linear workflows; it’s about integrating platforms like AEM and Optimizely to create a dynamic, responsive system. This integration is the key to driving operational efficiency and gaining the unified insights needed for deeper customer engagement. AI agents play a critical role here, transforming those rigid workflows into the real-time orchestration that a modern customer journey demands. Adoption is still in its early stages, which is where we help clients build a strategic advantage,” said Perficient digital strategy principal Grant Davies. 

Emerging GenAI Use Cases in DXPs

From brand-aware content creation to code generation and experimentation, GenAI is also rapidly expanding its footprint in DXP environments. Vendors like Adobe, Sitecore, and Salesforce are launching copilots and agents that empower users to create, test, and optimize experiences with unprecedented speed and precision. 

Perficient is already helping clients explore these capabilities and align them with business goals. 

Polly said, “We’re seeing real momentum around GenAI use cases in DXP from brand-consistent content creation to intelligent experimentation. These capabilities aren’t just flashy features; they’re solving real business problems like reducing time to market and improving conversion rates. The key is aligning AI with measurable outcomes and ensuring strong governance.” 

Perficient Wins 2025 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Award for GenAI Integrity Accelerator   Learn More

Strategic Adoption Requires Strong Foundations 

Successful AI adoption in DXPs requires more than just technology. Organizations must invest in strong data foundations, human oversight, and change management to ensure responsible and effective use of AI. These are areas where Perficient continues to guide clients with strategic consulting and hands-on implementation. 

We believe our inclusion in the research for Forrester’s report, The Impact of AI on Digital Experience Platforms, reflects our deep expertise in helping enterprise clients implement and optimize DXPs. Whether it’s integrating predictive analytics, deploying cognitive copilots, or improving data governance, our teams are leading the way in enabling AI-powered transformation. 

We’re honored to be interviewed for this research and proud to contribute to the evolving conversation around AI in digital experience. If you’re exploring how to bring AI into your DXP strategy, we invite you to connect with us and keep the conversation going. 

Access the report here (available to Forrester subscribers or for purchase).

Contact us  to learn more. 

Perficient has officially announced a groundbreaking partnership with WRITER, the leader in agentic AI for the enterprise. This 360-degree collaboration marks a pivotal moment in our AI-first journey, combining WRITER’s powerful end-to-end agent platform with Perficient’s deep consulting expertise to deliver scalable, secure, and transformative AI solutions to the Global 2000. 

To explore the significance of this partnership, I sat down with Bill Davis, Perficient’s Senior Vice President and Head of Partners and Ecosystem, to discuss what this means for our clients, our colleagues, and the future of enterprise AI. 

Connor Stieferman: Bill, what makes this partnership with WRITER so significant for Perficient and the broader market? 

Bill Davis: This partnership represents a major milestone not just for Perficient and WRITER, but for the enterprise AI landscape as a whole. WRITER is gaining serious momentum in the market, and their agentic AI platform is redefining how organizations think about productivity, automation, and intelligence at scale. By combining WRITER’s cutting-edge technology with Perficient’s deep industry expertise and global implementation capabilities, we’re creating a force multiplier for enterprise transformation. Together, we’re enabling organizations to move beyond isolated AI experiments and into scalable, secure, and measurable deployments.  

To put it simply, this partnership sets a new standard for how AI can be adopted and operationalized across industries. 

Connor: What makes Perficient a strong partner for a company like WRITER? 

Bill: WRITER is leading the way in agentic AI, and companies at that level need partners who can match their pace and deliver enterprise-grade execution. Perficient brings deep industry expertise, a global delivery model, and a strong track record of helping large organizations adopt emerging technologies at scale. We understand how to translate innovation into business outcomes with speed and precision. We also add a critical strategic layer, helping clients identify where agentic AI can drive the most value, designing tailored solutions, and ensuring successful adoption. By jointly going to market with WRITER, we’re co-developing best-in-class, industry-specific agentic solutions that deliver real outcomes for enterprise customers.  

Connor: How does this partnership reflect Perficient’s AI-first strategy? 

Bill: Our AI-first strategy is about embedding intelligence into everything we do — from internal operations to client solutions. By broadly deploying WRITER agents across our own enterprise, we’re demonstrating a top-down and bottom-up commitment to transformation. We’re not just advising clients on AI; we’re living it. This partnership allows us to build and deploy custom agents that automate our own workflows, generate contextual content, and deliver insights, showcasing what’s possible when AI is fully integrated into a business. 

Connor: What’s the significance of WRITER being Perficient’s first 360-degree partner? 

Bill: It’s a testament to the depth of our collaboration. Our relationship extends well beyond jointly going to market together. Each organization is deeply committed to the other’s success. The alignment extends across our executive, sales, marketing, and technology teams and reflects the strength of our shared vision. This level of partnership is rare — and it positions us to lead the market in agentic AI adoption. 

Connor: What kind of value can clients expect from this collaboration? 

Bill: Clients will see accelerated time-to-value through rapid deployment of tailored AI agents. They’ll benefit from embedded intelligence that integrates seamlessly with their existing systems, along with strategic guidance from our AI experts to ensure adoption and ROI. Plus, WRITER’s platform offers enterprise-grade security and governance, which is critical for large-scale deployments. Together, we’re helping clients cut through the noise and focus on fast, secure outcomes. 

Connor: What excites you most about what’s ahead? 

Bill: Honestly, it’s the opportunity to help our clients become agent builders themselves. We’re not just delivering tools — we’re enabling transformation. And we’re doing it alongside the exceptional team at WRITER. They’re agile, collaborative, and deeply committed to moving fast and getting things done right. Partnerships work best when both sides are aligned, and WRITER brings the same obsession over client outcomes that we value at Perficient. Together, we’re empowering organizations to reinvent how they work, innovate, and grow. The future of enterprise AI is agentic, and Perficient and WRITER are at the forefront of making that future real. 

Final Thoughts 

Perficient’s partnership with WRITER is a bold step forward in our mission to transform enterprises through AI. By combining cutting-edge technology with deep consulting expertise, we’re helping clients unlock the full potential of agentic AI. 

Stay tuned for more updates as we roll out new solutions, launch innovation labs, and continue to lead the way in enterprise AI transformation. 

On the hundredth anniversary of its circulation, Automotive News launched a series on the technological innovations driving the shift to “software-defined vehicles” (SDVs). The articles explore the fragmented U.S. roadmap to software integration, intensifying global competition, OEM progress to date, and the uncertainties shaping automakers’ strategies. 

This coverage signals an evolution. As automakers race to redefine themselves as technology companies, the industry is grappling with how software will reshape value, competition, and consumer trust. 

Perficient’s Connected Products Research Provides Clarity 

At Perficient, our latest connected products research “Build a Powerful Connected Products Strategy” adds a critical layer of data to the SDV conversation: distinguishing not what automakers think matters most — but what consumers actually care about.

“OEMs are making strategic bets on software-defined vehicles, but consumers are weighing very different factors when making purchase decisions. The gap between those perspectives is significant — and closing it is critical,” said Justin Huckins, Director, Strategy, Automotive Industry Lead.  

This difference matters. OEMs navigating still-undefined SDV pathways need data-based consumer signals to guide product architecture, user experience, data governance, and connected services. Otherwise, they risk widening the gap between industry emphasis and end-user expectations. 

Four Key Insights: Where Automakers and Consumers Diverge 

Our research gathered perspectives from 1,307 respondents including consumers, OEMs, and manufacturers, surfacing a series of misalignments: 

1. Trust is the top consumer priority, but not for manufacturers. Only 22% of manufacturers flagged “trust” as a critical factor in adoption — yet consumers consistently rank it #1. 
2. Consumers don’t feel informed about data collection. Despite widespread anxiety about data privacy, only 19% of consumers feel fully aware of what their vehicles are collecting. 
3. Experience outweighs engineering. “Consumers are more worried about the experience than the engineering. OEMs often enter the connected space for internal reasons — field data, R&D — but buyers expect tangible value in everyday use,” said Kevin Espinosa, Director, Strategy, Manufacturing Industry Lead. 
4. Integration matters. 38% of consumers highlighted integration with other connected devices as a key feature. This points to expectations of seamless cross-device ecosystems — from vehicles to homes to mobile apps. 

Why this Research Matters in the Race to Software Defined Vehicles 

• Trust as a foundation: Software-defined vehicles amplify consumer concerns around data handling, privacy, and transparency.  “It’s alarming that manufacturers and their customers don’t value trust in the same way,” said Jim Hertzfeld, Area Vice President. Trust is no longer a secondary issue; it’s the foundation for adoption. 

• The global race, China’s edge & collaboration: As Automotive News highlights, China’s accelerated SDV progress creates global pressure. Collaborative development models will only succeed if OEMs align around consumer trust and clarity. 

• Roadmap clarity through consumer signals: With the SDV roadmap still fuzzy, consumer insights provide directional clarity on where to invest — from UX and subscriptions to data governance and operating models. “OEMs are looking to monetize, but customers are looking for better experiences. Whoever reconciles that disconnect first will lead the next wave of SDVs,” added Justin. 

Shaping SDV Strategies Around What Buyers Value 

As the SDV era accelerates — with new architectures, shared development models, and software updates over the air — aligning strategy with consumer expectations around transparency and privacy will be just as important as the technology itself.  

Leveraging our position as the global AI-first consultancy, Perficient partners with Fortune 2000 companies across industries—healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and more—to digitize operations, modernize with cloud and AI, and unlock insights from connected data platforms. That cross-industry vantage point matters, because there are now more connected products in the world than people, and vehicles are becoming one of the most important nodes in this ecosystem. 

If you’re exploring how SDV strategies can be shaped by what buyers truly value, our research offers a tangible perspective. Download Build a Powerful Connected Products Strategy or schedule an interview with our industry leaders to discuss how consumer insights can inform your software defined vehicle strategy.