How Technology is Driving the Evolution of Intelligent Banking
in the Middle East and Africa

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), on behalf of Temenos, surveyed over 400 global banking executives on the changes they see taking place in their industry to 2020 and 2025, their organizational response, and the longer-term impact on their strategic development. The report highlights that new technologies such as AI, open APIs and cloud are driving retail banks towards advanced data and analytics. Banks are using these to develop compelling propositions and experiences for their customers while keeping their money and their data safe.

The survey is part of a global research program on retail banking, which includes in-depth interviews with retail banks, fintechs, and regulators from North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Latin America.

In addition to the global EIU report, we have published a Middle East and Africa (MEA) specific report, looking at banks within the region. Key highlights include:

• 6 in 10 banking executives in Middle East and Africa (MEA) think cash will dip below 5% of retail transactions in the next five years, compared to 48% globally
• MEA retail banks believe delaying digitalization poses genuine threats to their business models
• Changing customer demands are cited as the highest-impact trend in the near term (35% by 2020), with new technologies predicted to be the most impactful development in the medium term (43% by 2025)
• Building a mobile-first greenfield bank is ranked as  the top innovation strategy by 37% of MEA banking executives

Find out what The Commercial Bank of Africa, Egyptian National Post Organization (ENPO), and Banque Du Caire amongst others are thinking about digital banking, and where they are directing their innovation strategies and digital investments.