Ask Finovate: Who’s Who in Voice-banking Technology?

Ask Finovate: Who’s Who in Voice-banking Technology?

Telephone with piggy bank – call for help

A few days ago, we received a query from a Finovate follower:

“Can you please provide a list of companies that have demoed their voice-banking technology over the last few years?”

Interesting question! We trolled through our archives and here’s what we found.

When it comes to voice banking, ebankIT (FinovateEurope 2015); Interactions (FinovateEurope 2014); and ETRONIKA (FinovateEurope 2014) have all demonstrated innovative voice-banking technologies on the Finovate stage in recent years. It may not be a coincidence that all three companies won Best of Show awards for those demonstrations, as well.

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ebankIT Director Joao Lima Pinto and Omnichannel Specialist Paulo Oliviera demonstrated omnichannel social banking at FinovateEurope 2015 in London.

Another company worth mentioning is Finantix. The three-time Finovate veteran demoed its Smart Banking Assistant which responds to commands and queries posed in natural language, and is a part of the company’s Finantix Sharp multichannel platform.

Larger alums also have made inroads into voice banking. This cohort includes Fiserv, whose Voice Response for DNA solution is providing voice-banking services to a growing number of FIs, including credit unions, and ACI Worldwide, specializing in providing voice banking technology to community FIs via its Voice Banking suite within the ACI Self-service Banking platform.

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Interactions Marketing Manager Dan Fox demoed conversational solutions for banks and FIs at FinovateSpring 2014 in San Jose.

A number of Finovate alums have built and deployed voice-banking technologies, while emphasizing on stage only a small component of that technology, such as real-time authentication. These companies include NICE Systems (most recently at FinovateEurope 2015 and a Best of Show winner at FinovateFall 2014) and Q2ebanking (FinovateSpring 2011).

Also, many alums have focused on voice biometrics as an authentication solution without being a full voice-banking-platform provider. These companies include Canada’s VoiceTrust (FinovateEurope 2013); Great Britain’s ValidSoft (FinovateSpring 2013); Best of Show winners AnchorID (FinovateFall 2014) and BehavioSec (most recently at FinDEVr 2014) from New York and Sweden, respectively.

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ETRONIKA CEO Kęstutis Gardžiulis and Head of Marketing Asta Sabaite demonstrated BANKTRON at FinovateEurope 2014.

Additionally, a handful of alums have developed technologies that complement voice banking. SayPay Technologies made its Finovate debut in London this year with a voice-driven bill-pay solution. IntelliResponse, which was recently acquired by [24]7 for its customer service chat resources, last deployed its virtual agent technology at Bank of Internet USA, adding the oldest internet bank in America to its roster of more than 450 deployments across more than 150 brands and institutions.

There is an even broader field of companies that leverage voice technologies to help consumers make payments and transfer money, manage their finances, and even direct investments. Some of these companies, e.g., Credit Sesame, are using Siri-like functionality to improve the customer experience, while others such as mBank are combining voice and video to bring customers real-time assistance from live agents as opposed to virtual ones.

Is there a Finovate alum we left out? If you’re an alum with interesting innovations in the field of voice banking, send us an email at research@finovate.com, and tell us all about it.

Finovate Alumni News

On Finovate.com

  • Last Call for FinovateSpring 2015 Tickets! Join us in San Jose next week!

Around the web

  • Venture Scanner Insights features Motif Investing and TransferWise.
  • Top Image Systems names Carsten Nelk as chief technology officer.
  • DeviceFidelity picks up patent for its implementation of NFC.
  • CSI globalV Card wins multiple honors at the 2015 Communicator Awards.
  • Alcatel launches smartphone with EyeVerify biometric technology.
  • Striata partners with e-signature provider, CIC, to enable document execution via email.
  • Actiance now supports Skype for Business and Yammer.
  • ebankIT launches Watch Bank, an app that allows you to perform banking transactions on the Apple Watch.

This post will be updated throughout the day as news and developments emerge. You can also follow all the alumni news headlines on the Finovate Twitter account.

 

Finovate Debuts: ebankIT’s Solutions Tap into Wearables and Augmented Reality

Finovate Debuts: ebankIT’s Solutions Tap into Wearables and Augmented Reality

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EbankIT delivers banking solutions that fit the context of customers’ lives, through the channels they prefer.

The startup originates from parent company ITSector, which you may have seen on stage at FinovateEurope 2014. For 10 years, ITSector has been creating financial solutions, and recently spun out ebankIT to showcase product lines.

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ebankIT statistics

    • $2.2 million in revenues
    • 50 employees
    • Headquartered in Oporto, Portugal
    • Founded January 2014
    • London operation is based at Level 39
    • Self-funded

EbankIT integrates with an institution’s main core banking system. The startup takes a user-centric approach to enable banking to take place:

    • In any place
    • At any time
    • On any device
    • Through any channel

At FinovateEurope 2015, ebankIT demonstrated six solutions; here are a few:

1) Augmented reality
Users open an augmented reality session in the mobile app, which is available for iPhone, Android, and Windows 8. When they aim their phone to view a printed pamphlet or advertisement, the material comes to life on their screen.

The augmented promotional content, viewed on the smartphone, contains personalized offers and can be tailored to reflect the customer’s financial standing.

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2) Mobile account opening
EbankIT makes mobile account opening simple for the customer and the back-office agent. The technology enables both parties to digitize all required documents using the camera on the tablet, for a completely mobile account-opening experience.


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3) Smart watches
With Android smart watches gaining traction and Apple not far behind, ebankIT developed a banking app for smart watches that enable users to check their balances, view notifications, and pay bills.

EbankIT expects to launch the smart watch offering with a bank in the next one to two months.

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EbankIT also debuted P2P payments capability, beacons, and voice banking solutions.

Check out its video from FinovateEurope 2015 to see all six solutions demoed live.

Alumni News: March 10, 2015

Alumni News: March 10, 2015

Finovate-F-Logo-thumb-100x100-4490-thumb-100x100-8209-thumb-200x200-8210-thumb-200x200-8972-thumb-200x200-8975-thumb-125x125-9061-thumb-125x125-13257-thumb-150x150-13291-thumb-150x150-13321-thumb-125x125-13415

  • CoverHound Raises $14 Million in Series B
  • Mambu partners with NCC Group, adding assurance solution, SaaS Assured.
  • Check out our interview with CurrencyTransfer.com co-founder, Daniel Abrahams.
  • Fiserv makes The Card Collection available to FIs to help accelerate transition to EMV chip cards.
  • Nashville Post reports on iQuantifi and its participation in the Plug and Play accelerator program this spring.
  • All ten of the top apps in U.S. News & World Report’s review of credit union apps were built by Digital Insight.
  • A look at technology in Kansas City features insights from EyeVerify CEO and founder Toby Rush.
  • Rippleshot and BioCatch earn finalist spots in MRC METAwards.
  • Gartner positions MicroStrategy in the “Leader” quadrant of the 2015 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Business Intelligence and Analytics Platforms report for eight years in a row.
  • Finovate Debuts: ebankIT’s Solutions Tap into Wearables and Augmented Reality

This post will be updated throughout the day as news and developments emerge. You can also follow all the alumni news headlines on the Finovate Twitter account.

Your Daily Distraction: FinovateEurope 2015 Demo Videos Now Available

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If you’re in need of a little distraction, we have good news. The demo videos from FinovateEurope 2015 have been released. All 72 videos from last month’s conference, along with the full history of Finovate demos, are publicly available on the Finovate video archives page

 
To get started, here are the seven Best of Show winners, in alphabetical order:

Avoka

Avoka

 

 

CoinJar

CoinJar

 

 

ebankIT

ebankIT

 

 

eToro

eToro

 

Jumio

Jumio

 

mBank & i3D

mBank & i3D

 

Meniga

Meniga

Feel free to download, embed, and tweet the videos to share your favorites from the conference, whether you were in attendance or not.

FinovateEurope 2015 Best of Show Winners Announced

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If there is anything more exciting than the first Finovate conference of the year, it’s seeing who will be the year’s first Best of Show award-winning companies.

After two days of fintech presentations and demonstrations, our audience of more than 1,100 has shared its opinion on which technologies at FinovateEurope 2015 stood out from the rest of a truly impressive pack.

Here are this year’s winners, in alphabetical order:

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Avoka for its three-minute loan application that promises to deliver the fastest onboarding experience in the world.

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CoinJar for its technology that enables consumers to buy, sell, and use digital and traditional forms of currency any way they choose—from dollars to bitcoins.

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ebankIT for its omnichannel and social banking solution that maximizes interaction between FIs and their clients.

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eToro for its innovations in social trading and investing for Generation Y.

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Jumio for its credentials-management technology, Netverify, that turns mobile devices into ID document-scanning terminals.

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mBank and i3D for their interactive, digital retail-branch concept.

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Meniga for Market Match, its transaction-data analytics and enrichment engine.
As always, thanks to everyone who attended and participated in FinovateEurope 2015. We’ll see you next year!

Notes on methodology:  

1. Only audience members NOT associated with demoing companies were eligible to vote. Finovate employees did not vote.
2. Attendees were encouraged to note their favorites during each day. At the end of the last demo, they chose their three favorites.    
3. The exact written instructions given to attendees: “Please rate (the companies) on the basis of demo quality and potential impact of the innovation demoed.”  
4. The seven companies appearing on the highest percentage of submitted ballots were named Best of Show.  
5. Go here for a list of previous Best of Show winners. 

ebankIT’s Solution Brings Contextual Banking to Multiple Channels

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This post is part of our live coverage of FinovateEurope 2015.
 
ebankIT showed off its multichannel innovation that gives users a seamless experience across all channels:
ebankIT aims to materialize in a solution that is much more than a banking application, maximizing the interaction of financial institutions and clients by extending the concept of omnichannel and social banking. In the world of omnichannel banking, customers are in control of the channels they wish to use.
For example, they can begin an interaction using one channel, such as mobile, while at home, and end it in another, such as SmartTV or Internet banking. Omnichannel banking brings the industry closer to the promise of true contextual banking in which financial services become seamlessly embedded into the lives of individual and business customers.
Presenters: João Pinto, member of the board of directors, and Omni-channel Specialist Paulo Oliveira
 
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Product launch: February 2015
Metrics: Revenues around €2M, 50 employees
Product distribution strategy: Direct to Business (B2B), through financial institutions
HQ: Oporto, Portugal
Founded: January 2014
Website: ebankit.com
Twitter: @e_bank_it

FinovateEurope 2015 Sneak Peek: Part 1

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2014 was an exciting year for fintech, and we estimate 2015 to be even bigger, with the ongoing battle for mobile wallet share, growth of alternative lending, and burgeoning VC funding.

At FinovateEurope, our first conference of 2015, we’re hosting more than 70 companies who will showcase their products centered on the newest trends, and some we’ve never seen before. 

For Finovate’s fifth time in London, we’re returning to the Old Billingsgate Market Hall on February 10 & 11. Register now and be the first to see the newest fintech of 2015.

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In the weeks leading up to FinovateEurope, we’re giving you a taste of what will be on stage in our Sneak Peek series. Below are the first six companies in this installment.


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ebankIT is an omnichannel banking software company that provides innovative solutions with centralized management, allowing banks to communicate faster, easier and more efficiently with their customers.

Features

    • Seamless access to financial products and services
    • Allows banks to extend its customers’ network
    • For any device and wearable technology
Why it’s great
Omnichannel & Social banking provides a consistent experience across channels to provide customers with seamless access to financial products and services.

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Presenters

João Pinto, Board of Directors
Pinto is an administrator with nearly 20 years of solid experience in the financial sector, actively participating in the design and implementation of innovative Omnichannel Solutions.
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Paulo Oliveira, Omnichannel Speacialist
Oliveira is a Project Manager, Omnichannel Specialist and Software Architect in ebankIT. He has been developing solutions in the financial sector for more than 15 years.

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Jumio’s Netverify turns your customer’s computer/smartphone into an ID scanning terminal that captures customer data and verifies customer ID documents, increasing online account opening rates.

Features

    • Reduces abandonment during digital account opening 
    • Creates fast & intuitive experiences for digital account opening 
    • Helps meet KYC & AML compliance requirements

Why it’s great
Jumio’s Netverify has been developed to meet the challenge of verifying identity in a connected-device environment, decreasing online account opening abandonment by up to 40%.

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Presenters

David Pope, European Marketing Director
Pope is a tech marketing specialist, having helped brands like 192business, Experian & Jumio balance the need for customer convenience with KYC compliance requirements.
LinkedIn

John McIntosh, Sales Engineer EMEAJumioPresenter2.jpg
McIntosh is the EMEA Sales Engineer for Jumio and is responsible for all information about the Jumio Product and Technical Information.
LinkedIn


SOFORT AG, based in Germany, offers Europe-wide,

SOFORTLogo.jpginnovative services for the secure purchase of goods and digital products on the internet.

Features
SOFORT Banking Paycode is an efficient method for purchasing on an account, whether online or offline. The online link contains all relevant transfer information.

Why it’s great
SOFORT Banking Paycode – the faster, smarter and easier way to pay bills online

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Presenter
Christian Mangold, Managing Director Sales
At SOFORT, Mangold is in charge of the German market and the sales strategy. He has been on the SOFORT Management Board since late 2012.
LinkedIn


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TradeRiver Finance is a non-bank online funding solution which finances trade, both cross-border and in the U.K.

Features

    • Online tool and finance for trade buyers
    • Pay global suppliers in cash and in local currency
    • Finance and execute local and cross-border transactions online  

Why it’s great
The TradeRiver platform provides a business funding and transaction execution solution which changes completely the nature and operation of cross-border trade finance.

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Presenters

Toby Lanyon, Chief Operating Officer

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Mike Mumford, Business Development Executive

provides real-time, reference financial data via cloud-based APIs to fintech innovators Wealthfront, Betterment, Personal Capital, Motif Investing, Robinhood, Stocktwits, Yodlee & more.

Features

    • New API offers trusted FactSet fundamental data, including company financials & estimates
    • Covers more than 75,000 publicly listed global companies
    • Easy integration into apps & websites

Why it’s great
The leading fintech innovators use Xignite market data APIs

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Presenter

Stephane Dubois, CEO & Founder
Dubois is a fintech revolutionary in the process of disrupting the financial services industry. He founded Xignite to pioneer market data in the cloud.
LinkedIn


YoyoLogo.jpg

Yoyo is a mobile platform that seamlessly blends payments, loyalty, and discovery – done right.

Features

    • Combines payment, loyalty and discovery
    • Yoyo ‘magic’ button on the till – we integrate into the epos software
    • Ability to link card to mobile and to give and receive social gifts

Why it’s great
Pay fast, get rewarded.

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Presenter

Michael Rolph, Co-founder and CCO
Rolph is ex Barclaycard, First Data and PayPal. He was formerly a Director at Anthemis Group and is currently a Mentor at Seedcamp and advisor to Azimo.
LinkedIn


Check back later this week, when we’ll explore six more presenting companies. To learn about all of the presenting companies, check out our presenter page.

Space is limited; get your FinovateEurope ticket now to reserve your seat.

ebankIT to Help Banks Embrace Massively MultiChannel Banking

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You met them as IT Sector Group. Now say hello to the company’s very own multichannel banking solution provider, ebankIT.

ebankIT was created in January 2014 by IT Sector Group, just weeks before its FinovateEurope debut. The mission? Building truly multichannel banking solutions that embrace trends both social (a Facebook banking app) and technological (Internet banking for Google Glass). And it will be interesting to see just how far they’ve come when they return to the Finovate stage in February.
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“Our presentation at FinovateEurope 2015 aims to maximize the interaction of financial institutions and clients by extending the concept of omnichannel and social banking,” said ebankIT Marketing and Communications Director, Lis Ferreira. In a conversation a few days ago, Ferreira highlighted the company’s initiatives over the past several months. Specifically, she pointed to the launch of the first Portuguese banking app for Google Glass, released last month by Banco Big. And in October, the release of PIM – Personal Investment Manager, a mobile trading app for stocks and other financial instruments.
At the same time, the company has picked up a number of clients, including financial institutions in Poland, Mozambique, and Angola.
    • Activo Bank
    • Atlantico (Lisboa)
    • Caixa Geral de Depositos (Portugal)
    • Millennium Bank (Poland)
    • Millennium BIM (Mozambique)
    • Standard Bank (Mozambique)
Specific deployments have varied. But each represents a step forward in engaging banking customers on their preferred channels. ebankIT’s solutions include not just novel solutions for wearables and social banking, but self-service banking kiosks, contact centers, account management, branch front desk services, as well. The company also provides tools for financial professionals such as Commercial GPS (demoed at FinvoateEurope 2014), which makes it easier for sales executive to manage deals at the desk or on the go.
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(Above: IT Sector’s Joao Pinto, Director, and Vitor Barros, IT Architect, demonstrating Commercial GPS)
Ferreira admits that many of the bigger banks can be “afraid to open up to new companies.” But eBankIT has been fortunate in that clients have been proactive in contacting them. Additionally, there are some areas, such as the Iberian Peninsula and Eastern Europe, where interest is very high. Ferreira singled out Poland, where its solution for Millennium Bank was ranked as an “Internet banking leader” by Newsweek magazine, for especially high praise: “Polish bankers are some of the most eager of those looking for innovation. They are constantly changing. Whatever is new they want to have it.” 
Fortunately, we won’t have to wait long to find out what’s new from ebankIT. The company will be demoing its latest technology at FinovateEurope 2015 February 10 & 11.