Connect with us

Technology

Banking in the United Arab Emirates stands at an inflection point between the traditional branch-based model and a digital AI-enabled future – new Capco survey

Published

on

Nine in ten UAE survey respondents want apps that provide personalized insights into their finances

73% say they are comfortable having AI guide day-to-day financial decisions

DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — A desire for more insights into personal finances, a willingness to share data to unlock individually tailored services, and a high level of comfort with AI-driven guidance are key themes to emerge from the new survey of UAE retail banking customers conducted by Capco, the global management and technology consultancy.

As the UAE pushes forward with ambitious plans to grow its digital economy, Capco’s Bank of the Future survey of over 1,200 UAE banking service users aged between 18 and 65 found that 89% have become more confident in using mobile and digital banking services over the last two years. Eight in ten (83%) now use mobile apps to access banking, offering a solid foundation for future banking innovation.

In addition, 87% of respondents say they would be attracted to an app that offered personalized insights into their finances, including 41% who say this would be ‘extremely attractive’. The survey also reveals that 72% would ‘definitely’ or ‘probably’ share additional personal data – such as social media profiles or wearables data – to unlock personalized products, services or offers.

In support of its main survey, Capco conducted more focused polling of 500 consumers that looked specifically at the adoption of digital-first banking services. This found that nine in ten UAE respondents (89%) now have digital-first accounts, including both international and UAE-based firms. Three-quarters (76%) have an account with a UAE-based digital-first provider.

Capco’s survey findings highlight opportunities for UAE banks and fintechs to capitalize on positive attitudes to data sharing and innovation to deliver the products and services that consumers say they want. It also offers recommended paths forward for banks as they explore how best to apply the latest approaches to data analytics and AI to address customers’ aspirations.

James Arnett, Managing Partner, APAC & Middle East at Capco, said: “Consumers in the UAE are looking for products and services that provide a more bespoke user experience, including personalized financial insights. Seizing this opportunity will require an ever more nuanced understanding of individual consumer’s aspirations, and banks and other providers will need to prepare by investing in improved data management and advanced analytics.”

Naim Alame, Managing Partner, Middle East at Capco, said: “Consumers want convenient, integrated financial services and seamless digital journeys enabled by improved connectivity, data analytics and AI. Delivering the products and experiences that consumers want will require more agile banking models and significantly greater collaboration with third parties in order to embed value-added financial services ever more deeply into customers’ lives.

“For the bank of the future, collaboration may prove to be as important a priority as disruption. Offering a mobile-first experience that embeds payment aggregations, finance options and other ecosystem services to provide a more seamless and holistic experience will be the key to keeping customers engaged.”

Other key findings in Capco’s UAE survey report include:

86% of respondents would be attracted by a banking app that integrates financial services with the non-financial services they use in their daily lives, such as ride hailing and e-commerce.

37% would find such an app ‘extremely attractive’.

The characteristics that would convince a respondent to use a specific bank or financial institution include ‘a wide range of services’ (51%) and ‘more accessible services’ (45%).*

‘Trust in the company’ (39%) and ‘highly personalized products’ (34%) are also seen as important. 

Four in ten of respondents (41%) cite cashback options as a value-added feature they consider when selecting a new card or account.*

Other important features respondents would consider include discounts on travel (33%), monthly offers such as retail discounts (32%) and the ability to use points to make purchases (32%).

As digitalization accelerates, 72% of those using payment services identify online payments as a preferred payment method and 69% mention digital wallets.*

Cash remains a preferred payment method for 51% of respondents, and cheques continue to be preferred by 28%.In Capco’s recent Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) banking survey, online payments (65%) and cards (65%) were the leading preferred methods of payment, while 57% of respondents cited digital wallets, 55% mentioned cash, but only 11% chose cheques.

The UAE played host to the COP28 global climate conference in late 2023, and almost nine in ten respondents (88%) say it is important that their primary bank has a proactive stance on ESG issues.

In our KSA banking survey, 80% of respondents stated that this is important.

*Multiple responses permitted

Capco’s UAE survey report can be accessed here.

 

About Capco

Capco, a Wipro company, is a global management and technology consultancy specializing in driving digital transformation in the financial services industry. Capco operates at the intersection of business and technology by combining innovative thinking with unrivalled industry knowledge to fast-track digital initiatives for banking and payments, capital markets, wealth and asset management, insurance, and the energy sector. Capco’s cutting-edge ingenuity is brought to life through its award-winning Be Yourself At Work culture and diverse talent. To learn more, visit www.capco.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/banking-in-the-united-arab-emirates-stands-at-an-inflection-point-between-the-traditional-branch-based-model-and-a-digital-ai-enabled-future–new-capco-survey-302235150.html

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

Madhive Enhances Data Partnership with Datonics, the Industry’s First Certified CarbonNeutral® Data Provider

Published

on

By

Over 1,000 Datonics data segments are now live within Madhive’s Data Marketplace, giving buyers even more ability to reach desired audiences across local CTV

NEW YORK, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Audience data company and the industry’s first CarbonNeutral® data provider Datonics, has expanded its partnership with Madhive, the only unified operating system for local media, to help advertisers more effectively target and reach audiences across local CTV. Buyers can now access over 1,000 Datonics audience segments directly within Madhive’s data marketplace, including niche personas, commerce behaviors, lifestyle interests, and more—enhancing precision targeting across local CTV campaigns.

“By extending the availability of our data through Madhive’s platform, we are partnering with a leader in local CTV and helping businesses to reach customers through this growing channel,” said Michael Benedek.

“Local advertisers need every dollar to work harder—and that starts with precision. At Madhive, we’re committed to empowering local TV advertisers with smarter, more efficient ways to reach their audiences. By deepening our partnership with Datonics, we’re bringing advanced targeting to our platform, enabling all advertisers to connect with the right consumers at the right time. Datonics’ granular, high-quality data and shared commitment to sustainability make them a natural fit as we help modernize local advertising for a more effective and responsible future,” said Luc Dumont, SVP of Business Development at Madhive.

These new segments are the latest addition to Madhive’s Data Marketplace, which enables advertisers to connect directly with curated audience segments, including behavioral, demographic, and transactional data, and more. Through partnerships with top-tier data providers, the marketplace offers high-quality audiences at efficient costs, leading to higher match rates and broader reach for marketers. With access to nearly every CTV household, the marketplace enables hyperlocal targeting down to the zip code and congressional district level.

Datonics recently became the first audience data company to be certified as a CarbonNeutral® Enterprise. Datonics has invested in verified carbon removal, avoidance and reduction projects with Climate Impact Partners and followed the CarbonNeutral® Protocol. To further its commitment to sustainability, Datonics is also a member of The Climate Registry, a global non-profit organization that provides public and private companies with a publicly accessible registry of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) data. Datonics is also a supporter of the US chapter of Ad Net Zero, an organization devoted to helping companies reduce the carbon emissions from advertising operations.

“The local CTV market presents a lot of opportunity to advertisers – both local and national. By extending the availability of our data through Madhive’s platform, we are partnering with a leader in local CTV and helping businesses to reach customers through this growing channel. Our focus on sustainability provides an added benefit of reducing the overall carbon footprint of advertising initiatives,” said Michael Benedek, CEO, Datonics. “Through our expanded partnership, we hope that advertisers are able to experience better results with their campaigns by reaching precisely those audiences that are right for their products and services.”

About Datonics:

Datonics is an Audience Data company that has aggregated and curated the most accurate, robust and comprehensive data set comprising online, offline, and mobile activity. Agencies and their client brands use the Datonics Audience Targeting Segments & Audience Insights (TM) / CRM Enrichment suite to understand, engage with, acquire and retain their target customers – planning, activating, and targeting media campaigns across programmatic display, mobile, streaming audio, CTV and DOOH. Datonics is a member and former board member of the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI), a member of the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and the Leadership Council of the Ad Council. Datonics is a sustainability leader, member of Ad Net Zero, and recognized as the first certified CarbonNeutral® Audience Data company.

About Madhive

Madhive is the only unified operating system built to empower local media companies to scale their advertising businesses and extend their reach to new audiences. Madhive’s customizable end-to-end platform supports the entire campaign lifecycle from proposal generation and planning to omnichannel buying, real-time optimization, and measurement. With robust workflow software that integrates seamlessly into existing systems, Madhive equips sellers with powerful tools to drive revenue. Trusted by leading local media enterprises like Fox, Scripps, and Hearst, as well as agencies such as Lifebrands, Madhive powers over 30,000 campaigns for small and medium-sized businesses every day. To learn more, visit Madhive.com.

Media Contact

Gina Preoteasa, Datonics, 1 (646) 867-0647, Gina@gbp.news, www.Datonics.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/madhive-enhances-data-partnership-with-datonics-the-industrys-first-certified-carbonneutral-data-provider-302457368.html

SOURCE Datonics

Continue Reading

Technology

Manulife Investment Management Announces Formation of Lakefront Fiber to Serve Hyperscale, Carrier and Municipal Customers

Published

on

By

BOSTON, May 19, 2025 Manulife Investment Management, through certain affiliates, (“collectively, Manulife IM”) today announced the formation of Lakefront Fiber, LLC (“Lakefront Fiber”), a joint venture with Midwest Fiber Networks (“MWFN”).

“We are pleased to partner with MWFN, with whom we have had a long-standing relationship, to support the build-out of Lakefront Fiber’s extensive pipeline,” said Recep Kendircioglu, Global Head of Infrastructure, Manulife Investment Management.

Lakefront Fiber will facilitate connectivity for hyperscale, carrier and municipal customers, building upon the long-standing relationships established by MWFN’s multi-decade position as a leading regional fiber developer and operator.

“This partnership represents the extension of our digital infrastructure strategy into critical fiber assets supported by long-term contracts with creditworthy counterparties,” said Eddie Dunn, Managing Director, Infrastructure, Manulife Investment Management.

Nik Ivancevic, Managing Partner of Midwest Fiber Networks, said “Our relationship with the Manulife IM team extends many years, and we are excited to expand MWFN’s scale to better serve our customers through Lakefront Fiber.”

Concurrently, Lakefront Fiber has also announced the closing of its first transaction, the acquisition of select network assets in the state of Illinois from Everstream. This strategic acquisition adds nearly 650 route miles, supporting Lakefront Fiber’s ability to deliver high-capacity fiber connectivity and customer-focused solutions across key markets in the Midwest.

About Manulife Wealth & Asset Management

As part of Manulife Financial Corporation, Manulife Wealth & Asset Management provides global investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to 19 million individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Our mission is to make decisions easier and lives better by empowering people today to invest for a better tomorrow. As a committed partner to our clients and as a responsible steward of investor capital, we offer a heritage of risk management, deep expertise across public and private markets, and comprehensive retirement plan services. We seek to provide better investment and impact outcomes and to help people confidently save and invest for a more secure financial future. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.

About Midwest Fiber Networks

Midwest Fiber Networks designs and delivers secure, high-speed fiber connectivity across the Midwest with a focus on reliability, redundancy, and customer satisfaction. With deep roots in telecommunications infrastructure and decades of experience, MWFN supports mission-critical operations for businesses, educational institutions, healthcare systems, and government entities. Through strategic partnerships and a rapidly growing footprint, MWFN is building the future of fiber—one mile at a time. For more information, visit midwestfibernetworks.com.

Media Contact: Elizabeth Bartlett, Elizabeth_Bartlett@Manulife.com

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/manulife-investment-management-announces-formation-of-lakefront-fiber-to-serve-hyperscale-carrier-and-municipal-customers-302459043.html

SOURCE Manulife Investment Management

Continue Reading

Technology

Workday Unveils Next Generation of Illuminate Agents to Transform HR and Finance Operations

Published

on

By

New AI Agents Help Speed Hiring, Improve Frontline Worker Experiences, Streamline Complex Financial Processes, and Empower Employees to Find Information Fast

PLEASANTON, Calif., May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ: WDAY), the AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, today announced a new wave of Illuminate Agents designed to significantly speed up the hiring processes, improve frontline worker experiences, streamline complex financial processes, and empower employees to find information quickly and easily. The new agents leverage Workday’s foundation of responsible AI and are purpose-built to supercharge employee productivity – creating a future where agentic AI fundamentally transforms how work gets done.

“The key to unlocking real business value with AI is to actively reshape the very core of how businesses operate,” said Gerrit Kazmaier, president, product and technology, Workday. “Workday is helping our 11,000+ customers in that transformation by leveraging our deep HR and finance expertise to deliver agents that provide measurable business value and empower them to thrive in the future of work.”

“Data is a powerful catalyst for growth when it can be transformed into actionable intelligence,” said Shane Luke, vice president, Workday Illuminate. “Our agents leverage the world’s most powerful HR and finance dataset to turn insights into impact – boosting productivity, enhancing compliance, and accelerating decision-making at every level.”

New Illuminate Agents announced today include:

Contingent Sourcing Agent: Accelerates temporary hiring by identifying talent open to contingent roles, streamlining screening, and enhancing applicant quality.

Contract Intelligence Agent: Enhances legal and business decision-making by rapidly reviewing contracts to identify risks, track key dates and fees, and provide ongoing analysis.

Contract Negotiation Agent: Expedites negotiations by drafting applicable contract language, detecting risks, and recommending revisions.

Document Driven Accounting Agent: Sets a new benchmark for accounting productivity by extracting data from documents to automate billing, invoicing, and accounting entries.

Frontline Agent: Saves frontline workers and managers time by enabling text-based absence reporting, quickly identifying qualified replacements, and helping to ensure compliance and accurate shift pay.

Self-Service Agent: Powers employee and manager self-service by providing instant answers to inquiries, assisting with complex tasks, and executing everyday actions on employees’ behalf.

Supplier Contracts Agent: Proactively reviews supplier contracts to identify obligations and opportunities, aligning procurement processes with contract terms.

“Workday’s cutting-edge contract AI and automated workflow technology has already delivered tangible benefits, saving us thousands of hours and millions of dollars across multiple critical corporate initiatives,” said Shelle Elzer, legal operations manager, NetApp. “We’re genuinely excited to see Workday expand on this agent innovation and are confident these advancements will empower our teams with even greater efficiencies that ultimately free them to focus on more meaningful work.”

“Workday continues to effectively target critical business outcomes in productivity, compliance, and insights with agentic AI. This is one more significant step in establishing AI agents as practical and impactful tools for business transformation,” said Mickey North Rizza, group vice-president, IDC Enterprise Software. “Customers need measurable business value and clear time-to-payback and Workday’s innovations with agentic AI will resonate strongly with organizations looking to truly transform the future of work and fully take advantage of the power of AI.”

Workday Illuminate: AI to Transform How People Work
These new agents join Workday’s growing portfolio of agentic AI solutions, including the previously-announced Business Process Optimize Agent, Financial Audit Agent, Payroll Agent, Recruiting Agent, and Talent Mobility Agent. Customers will be able to easily deploy and manage these agents through the Workday Agent System of Record. This central command center will enable IT and business leaders to maximize the impact of their agents and ensure they support their employees to drive measurable outcomes.

Illuminate is the next generation of Workday AI. Built on the world’s largest and cleanest HR and financial dataset – fueled by more than 1 trillion transactions a year – Illuminate understands the business context around the data to transform business operations by elevating humans, accelerating finance, and managing an organization’s entire fleet of AI agents. From skills, to performance, goals, cost and ROI metrics, organizational models, and individual identities, Illuminate has deep contextual understanding of how work gets done.

Availability
Contract Intelligence Agent and Contract Negotiation Agent are now generally available. Self-Service Agent will be generally available by the end of 2025. Contingent Sourcing Agent, Document Driven Accounting Agent, Frontline Agent, and Supplier Contracts Agent will be available to early adopters by the end of 2025, with general availability planned for early 2026.

For More Information

Discover how Workday’s Illuminate Agents will transform entire business processes.Learn more about Workday’s previously-announced AI agents, powered by Illuminate.Explore Workday’s AI Masterclass to learn how to drive value from agentic AI.

About Workday
Workday is the AI platform for managing people, money, and agents. The Workday platform is built with AI at the core to help customers elevate people, supercharge work, and move their business forever forward. Workday is used by more than 11,000 organizations around the world and across industries – from medium-sized businesses to more than 60% of the Fortune 500. For more information about Workday, visit workday.com.

© 2025 Workday, Inc. All rights reserved. Workday and the Workday logo are registered trademarks of Workday, Inc. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements including, among other things, statements regarding Workday’s plans, beliefs, and expectations. These forward-looking statements are based only on currently available information and our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. If the risks materialize, assumptions prove incorrect, or we experience unexpected changes in circumstances, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements, and therefore you should not rely on any forward-looking statements. Risks include, but are not limited to, risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including our most recent report on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K and other reports that we have filed and will file with the SEC from time to time, which could cause actual results to vary from expectations. Workday assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Any unreleased services, features, or functions referenced in this document, our website, or other press releases or public statements that are not currently available are subject to change at Workday’s discretion and may not be delivered as planned or at all. Customers who purchase Workday services should make their purchase decisions based upon services, features, and functions that are currently available.

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/workday-unveils-next-generation-of-illuminate-agents-to-transform-hr-and-finance-operations-302458500.html

SOURCE Workday Inc.

Continue Reading

Trending