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Angel Investment – Planys Technologies

📢 I’m excited to share that Planys Technologies, a deep tech startup I invested in early on, secured funding last quarter from the esteemed investor Ashish Kacholia.

Mr. Kacholia is renowned for his exceptional 🧠 ability to identify promising ventures with high growth 💹 potential. His recognition of Planys Technologies as a valuable investment is a strong endorsement of the company’s innovative technology and talented team.

While I may not have formal training in angel investing, this successful outcome reinforces my confidence in identifying promising early-stage companies. It’s particularly rewarding to see such a respected investor share my vision for Planys Technologies.

Tanuj Jhunjhunwala and his team have demonstrated amazing leadership in the past few years. I wish him continued success in scaling up further & globally.

deeptech investment startup PlanysTechnologies AshishKacholia  angelinvestment

ANI

It was nice to see “Thank you Note” from Agile Network India. 👌

It was an interesting panel discussion with eminent panelists (Sandhya Vasudevan and Ashutosh Dabral) and moderated by Yashasree Barve.

I have been speaker/panelist 🎤of Agile Network India conferences multiple time and I have thoroughly enjoyed taking part as a speaker/panelist due to two reasons

1 – Unique topics
2 – Well organized

Kudos 👍 to Priyank DK PathakNoopur PathakPrashant M J and team for advocating Agile mindset through such conferences and webinars.

#agilenetworkindia #agilemindset #agileleadership #speakers #panelists #agile #thankyou

ANI Event – Business Agility at CRISIL

It was the first time that CRISIL Limited collaborated with Agile open community Agile Network India to conduct a session on Enterprise Agility related discussion. As a part of that, we discussed on various aspects of “How to achieve and measure Business Agility in today’s VUCA world”.

It was an enlightening discussion 🌟whereby CRISIL’s enterprise agile journey and challenges were discussed, along with the industry’s best practices.

Thanks to Prashant Neharkar, Prashant Gulvadi, Deepti Shibad, Nidhi Badani, Nisha P, Kurush Wadia, for helping to organize the event.

The event was also attended by a good number of CRISILtes in-person and virtually.

It was wonderful to meet the LinkedIn family (hashtaglinkedinfam) and Agile coach – Jasmine Moosa. It was quite overwhelming to learn that because of my name in the event; she preferred to come over to CRISIL to attend the event in person. Thanks, Jasmine Moosa.

Such events really help to network with like-minded professionals. 👍

agile agilecommunity speaker author

Anil Kumble

👉It was quite inspiring to meet the legendary Anil Kumble during one event. I am always inspired by leaders 🧑‍💼and honest celebrities 👑 like him, which keeps me going. His perseverance and focus is one quality that inspires me a lot.

Everyone knows this fantabulous ✨cricketer, also known by his nickname Jumbo, holds the record of bowling 40,850 balls in the entire Test career, which is the highest for an Indian and second-highest overall, and he is also one of six bowlers to take 900+ (956 to be precise) wickets in his entire career. He holds several other records, awards, and honors far beyond one’s imagination.

▶️ He once said that no one should tell from your body language, whether you are at “50 for 5” or “200 for no loss”. And I think the same applies to leaders in whatever field you are.

▶️Similarly, among several rituals for preparation, which included training properly, eating right, and sleeping well, “visualization”, he said, was key.  A day before the match, I would think of each batsman of the opposing team, one at a time, and visualize how I was going to get them out. I would picture the fielder’s positions, my bowling technique, the strategy I would use,”

The same applies to leaders to visualize the upcoming situation and define the strategy to make it 💫successful.

Who inspires you most??

#training #event #leaders #strategy #language #visualization #team #motivation #author #speaker #inspirationalleader #career #quality

Are Digital Gadgets disrupting your sleep???

Recently, survey had finding that 9 out of ten young adults using gadgets may not get enough sleep as a result of light from using their smartphones and tablets before calling it a night. As you might be aware, phone & tablet screens emit short wavelength blue light, which interferes with the production of melatonin, a hormone needed to control sleep patterns.  Due to this, lots of people are unable to get sound sleep at night.
Read More…

Are mobile Banking Apps Safe?

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When Internet banking was launched by some private banks few years back i.e. around 2005, customers were apprehensive of using it. In year 2013, several private banks launched their mobile banking apps. At this point also, customers were merely wondering what mobile banking was and whether these kinds of applications were safe to use.

However, over the years, these applications have made our lives easy and banking customers have become quite comfortable with new technologies. They are using internet banking for balance inquiries as well as other things like funds transfer, credit card payment, utility bills payment and even equity trading. The Complex encryption software makes sure to protect your valuable information. However, every system has its flaw.  Your account is at the risk of being attacked by hackers, phishing, malware and illegal activities. Read More…

AWS Cloud Practitioner

🌩️Breaking & Boring news 📰 alert: I’ve officially aced the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam! 🌥️

Yes, I have leveled up my cloud game with flying bytes! Officially AWS Cloud Practitioner certified !!! 🏆

Now, I can confidently say ‘Cloud Computing’ in meetings without sounding completely lost.

Time to celebrate with Kinetic firehose 🧯 and a serverless cake 🎂with fluffy VPC layers, a multi-AZ layered IAM cherries, and even a dash of DynamoDB for explosive taste.! 🎉🍰

My brain is sending ️⚡SNS for cloud challenge..☁️

Thanks to Narendra Dharm.. for being an instrumental guide and trainer in the journey.

…Cloud journey also begins.

AWSCertified AWSCertifiedCloudPractitioner CloudComputing aws cloud certification cloudpractitioner AWSCloud speaker author

Banking Industry Trends of 2022

The banking industry has always been at the forefront of innovation, and the past few years have been no exception. In 2022, we have seen a number of significant innovations that are transforming the way banks operate and serve their customers.

One of the biggest trends in the banking industry has been the increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Banks are using these technologies to improve fraud detection, assess and manage risk, and provide personalized recommendations to customers. They are also being used to automate certain tasks and processes within the bank, such as data entry and analysis, to improve efficiency and reduce errors.

Another major trend has been the development of mobile banking super-apps and online account management tools. These tools allow customers to access their accounts and perform banking transactions anytime, anywhere, using their smartphone or computer. Many banks have also introduced biometric authentication methods, such as fingerprint scanning and facial recognition, to enhance the security of these digital services.

Besides traditional banking services, we have also seen an increase in the development of new financial products and services that meet the changing needs of customers. This includes the rise of Robo-advisors, which use algorithms to provide personalized investment recommendations, and the development of new payment methods, such as mobile payment platforms and cryptocurrency.

Yes, blockchain technology will gain a larger foothold in the banking industry as well. Banks will start using it for cross-border payments.

Sustainable finance has also emerged as a major focus for many banks in 2022. In response to increasing demand from customers and investors, banks are developing financial products and services that support environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. This includes green bonds, which fund projects that have a positive impact on the environment and impact investing, which aims to generate both financial returns and positive social or environmental impacts.

Another trend in the banking industry has been the use of data analytics and customer insights to improve the customer experience. By analyzing data on customer behaviour and preferences, banks are able to offer more personalized and targeted services, such as personalized recommendations for financial products and services. The AI-based conversation chatbots have been the focus of customer delight. It uses the cognitive ability to understand and respond to customers instantly based on a vast knowledge of the financial industry. Mind you; it’s not just chatbots, it is artificial intelligent chatbots that will make waves in the coming days through hyper-personalization and automation.

Generative AI is one which is not talked about much today because of limited adoption, but soon it will become a trend in the banking industry, with the coming year starting its early adoption in the banking industry.

Besides these trends, we have also seen several other innovations in the banking industry in 2022. For example, many banks have implemented virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies to enhance customer training and education. Some banks have also introduced chatbots and virtual assistants that can help customers with common inquiries, freeing up human customer service representatives to handle more complex issues.

The race towards “metaverse bank” has started, and banks want to provide virtual branch experience to new younger audiences who are more experienced in NFTs. With few banks already having launched metaverse banks in this year, next year is going to see widespread adoption of the metaverse ecosystem.

Overall, the banking industry has seen several significant innovations in 2022, with a focus on the use of technology, the development of new financial products and services, and the promotion of sustainable finance. These trends are helping banks to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the customer experience, and they are likely to continue driving innovation in the industry in the years ahead.

With CBDC launched, we need to see how many banks remain relevant in the coming years.

Not to forget that all financial institutions will become a technology company in the coming years !!!!

BFSI and Fintech Trends – H2 – 2024

The BFSI & Fintech Survey Report 2024, conducted by CIO News in collaboration with Grant Thornton Bharat, provides valuable insights into the current trends, challenges, and best practices within the banking, financial services, and insurance sectors in India.

 

Here are the key highlights from the report:

Digital Transformation in the Banking Sector

 

 

 

  • Banks are prioritizing customer-centric digital transformation initiatives to meet evolving customer expectations, comply with regulations, stay competitive, and enhance operational efficiency.

 

 

 

  • Key focus areas include legacy system modernization, cloud adoption, cybersecurity enhancement, customer experience improvement, and data analytics.

 

 

 

  • 50% of surveyed banks are investing in AI/ML, 31% in data analytics, and others in technologies like chatbots, AR/VR, IoT, and quantum computing.

 

 

 

  • Banks are collaborating with fintech startups and third-party providers to drive targeted innovation and growth aligned with business needs.

 

Customer Experience (CX) in the Banking Sector

  • 82% of surveyed banks rate CX as extremely important to their strategy, with 18% rating it as important.
  • Banks regularly seek customer feedback to deliver an optimal CX, with CSAT (53%), NPS (29%), and CES (13%) being the primary metrics used to gauge changes in customer satisfaction.
  • Strategies to enhance CX include proactive customer engagement, leveraging predictive analytics to anticipate customer needs, and providing personalized offerings, conversational AI, and a blend of digital and human touch.

 

 

Cybersecurity Practices in the Banking Sector

  • Banks focus on employee training and awareness programs to strengthen their cybersecurity, with varied training frequencies: quarterly (44%), annually (13%), semi-annually (19%), and during induction (24%).
  • 42% of banks conduct comprehensive cybersecurity risk assessments quarterly, 34% annually, and 24% semi-annually.
  • Key cybersecurity investments include endpoint detection and response (24%) and SIEM systems (21%), with 48% of surveyed banks using end-to-end encryption for sensitive communication.
  • Strategies for managing cybersecurity risks include data encryption, continuous monitoring, incident response planning, and collaboration with external experts.

 

 

Trends in the Insurance Sector

  • The insurance sector is focusing on enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency as high-priority areas.
  • Adoption of advanced technologies like AI and IoT is being leveraged for data analytics, customer service, and real-time insights.
  • Success is measured through increased customer satisfaction and operational efficiency improvements.

 

Challenges in Digital Transformation

  • Resistance to change, integration with legacy systems, talent shortages, budget constraints, and data security concerns are the primary challenges faced by banks and insurers in implementing digital transformation.

 

 

The Way Forward

  • Banks and insurers are prioritizing AI implementation, enhancing digital banking experiences, establishing innovation labs, and elevating customer satisfaction to enhance competitiveness, streamline operations, and effectively meet the changing needs of customers.
  • Collaboration with fintechs and third-party providers, leveraging external expertise to drive targeted innovation and growth aligned with business needs, is a key strategy being employed by the sector.

 

 

The BFSI & Fintech Survey Report 2024 offers valuable insights for stakeholders seeking to navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape and stay competitive in the banking, financial services, and insurance sectors. By understanding the current trends, challenges, and best practices, organizations can align their strategies and investments to deliver superior customer experiences, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure cybersecurity resilience.