As banks move toward digital transformation, it’s essential they understand which technologies can be adopted today to bring specific value to their operations. Infopulse analytics experts and technology specialists have conducted detailed research on the tech trends that will play a pivotal role for banks in 2020 and 2021.

These are not speculative or overhyped trends that need years to reach maturity. Rather, they are practical technologies and solutions that banks are already adopting today—such as AI, distributed ledger technology (DLT), cloud computing, open banking and platformization, instant payments, digital identity and biometrics, IoT, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR). These technology-driven trends are not only advancing banking operations but are also proving essential in helping banks address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis.

Four Key Reasons to Read This Report:

This report is valuable for banks in various stages of digital transformation—from those actively implementing these technologies to those exploring investment areas. Our research considers the interests of both large and small-to-medium-sized banks across various segments: commercial, retail, investment, private, online banking, savings, and loan services.


Note: Our team began gathering data for this report prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, some trends and figures may not reflect potential shifts resulting from the pandemic. Additional research below highlights how technology trends are helping banks respond to the crisis.

What will be the most popular tech investments?

Further research into digital investment plans from over 305 banking executives underscores today’s focus on cybersecurity. Over 35% of respondents plan to direct investments toward solutions that enhance security. Other high-priority areas include conversational AI (32.5%) and cloud computing (26.6%), with 60% of respondents indicating that public cloud adoption will be their top priority by 2025. Additionally, 16.7% aim to apply blockchain and/or cryptocurrency for use cases such as KYC and identity management.

Global AI investments, R&D expenses, and primary areas
of AI utilization

AI adoption is accelerating, with over $26 billion invested in 2019 alone. AI’s transformative potential has become a national strategic priority for countries like Japan, China, the U.S., and Canada. This rapid AI growth is fueled by advancements in supporting technologies, including big data, 5G and edge computing, cloud computing, and open-source software.

An interesting fact is that 85% of banks use AI technology to enhance their existing products or services, while only 15% to create new ones.