First National Bank will help showcase South Africa as a leading Information and Communications Technology (ICT) country in Africa at this year’s ITU Telecom World 2018 event; to be hosted at the Durban International Convention Centre from the 10th – 13th September.
A first in Africa, this event aims to highlight ‘innovation for smarter digital development’ and foster Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) growth with audiences from various public and private sectors, emerging and developed markets including heads of state and government.
Sharing the stage with local and international technology players will enable the bank to address socio-economic challenges that affect the ICT arena and broaden the participation of the SMEs sector in the economy.
“The bank has leveraged its digital capabilities and is well positioned to help identify and address challenges that impact the sector. Our ongoing investment within the ICT sector can be seen through our innovative and integrated banking platform. This was developed to help businesses and individuals with easy access to banking technologies that is fast, efficient and conducive to a highly tech environment,” says Peter Alkema, Chief Information Officer at FNB Business.
Opportunities exist to embrace innovative technologies that will aid in the development of policies that address financial inclusion. “Conversations around convenience and access to affordable banking should be core focus; with the bank continuing to build on cross-sell strategies of digital products and services directed to new and existing customers”.
FNB has a proud heritage of disrupting the banking sphere with new technologies driven by exponential growth. “Digitisation drives security and requires inside-out thinking that completely redesigns and disrupts traditional business models; and this holds true for all industries, not just banking,” notes Alkema. “And with increased competition from local players, the bank continues to innovate it banking ecosystem to create disruptive models that allow for inclusive banking growth.”
“Solutions for inclusive growth in South Africa should include a renewed focus on technology and digitisation; not just in banking but all industries and government processes, especially where there is contact with consumers. Our ecosystem of helpfulness will continue to improve and digitise as the platform revolution drives the next wave of disruption in banking,” concludes Alkema.
The ITU Telecom World 2018, is organized by the United Nations specialized agency that pioneers information and communication technologies (ICTs) by driving innovation within ICT internationally.
