Market Watch

Posted on February 12, 2025 The Future of SME Banking: Embracing Digital Transformation In the rapidly evolving landscape of financial services, the digital transformation of SME (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise) banking is not just a trend but a necessity. As we look towards 2025, several key developments are shaping the future of SME banking, driven by technological advancements, customer-centric models, and the integration of various financial and non-financial services into seamless digital ecosystems. Expanding the Digital Ecosystem The integration of non-banking services into banking platforms is not just a trend but a strategic move to create comprehensive26 financial ecosystems. According to the SME Finance Forum , banks are increasingly offering services like tax consultancy and market analysis, transforming themselves into one-stop-shops for SMEs. This approach not only streamlines operations but also fosters innovation by providing end-to-end solutions that meet the diverse needs of SMEs. By offering a comprehensive suite of services, banks can enhance their value proposition and strengthen their relationships with SME clients, positioning themselves as indispensable partners in their growth journey. The digital ecosystem model allows banks to integrate various services, creating a seamless experience for SMEs. This integration is crucial in today’s fast-paced business environment, where […]

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The town of Macclesfield is in Cheshire East | Credit: Public domain The unitary authority serving towns including Crewe, Macclesfield, Sandbach and Congleton is recruiting for a new senior executive to support a major reform scheme including the redesign of all services Cheshire East Council is seeking to recruit a head of customer experience to lead the authority on a “challenging journey” of digital transformation. The authority, which serves a population of about 400,000 people, wishes to appoint a senior leader to spearhead “the design, development, and implementation of the council’s strategic approach to customer experience”, according to the role profile. This will involve working “across all council services, with partners and with members to drive the council’s cultural and operational transformation”. The postholder will also act as the “senior customer for the council’s digital transformation programme, commissioning products that enhance the digital customer journey, drive customer satisfaction and deliver efficiencies across all council services”. This reform drive will involve the “redesign of all council services… to create seamless customer journeys, promoting the benefits of digital developments, seeking out new opportunities, challenging existing practices, learning from the experience of others and trialling innovative solutions”. Related content South Tyneside offers […]

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HMEL seeks to collaborate on initiatives such as the development of a CoE and a next-generation Refinery command centre AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, and HPCL Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL), a leading Indian integrated refining and petrochemical company, have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement enables both companies to advance digital transformation in India’s refining and petrochemical sector, aligning with the government’s Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives while supporting the nation’s Net-Zero 2070 vision. With India’s refining capacity set to increase from 250 million metric tons per annum (MMTPA) to 450 MMTPA by 2030, digital solutions will be crucial to ensuring facilities operate at global standards of efficiency and sustainability. AVEVA offers its portfolio of industrial software solutions, including its cloud-based industrial platform, digital twins, advanced analytics, and AI-driven technologies, along with comprehensive support services and global implementation expertise. A digital-first organisation, HMEL operates one of India’s most modern integrated refinery-petrochemical complexes – the ‘Guru Gobind Singh Refinery’ – in Bathinda, Punjab. With powerful capabilities in refining operations, deep domain knowledge, and extensive technical expertise in petrochemical manufacturing, the complex comprises an 11.3 MMTPA Crude Oil Refinery and a 1.2 MMTPA Multi-Feed Cracker […]

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Trident Digital Tech Holdings Ltd, a leading catalyst for digital transformation in technology optimization services and Web 3.0 activation based in Singapore, announced Wednesday the signing of an implementation agreement with the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Technology of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This agreement marks the beginning of the deployment of the national digital identity system. This preliminary collaboration agreement signifies the operational launch of a comprehensive digital identification and authentication platform in the DRC. It formalizes the initial collaboration between Trident and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, transitioning from strategic planning to contractual execution, according to the statement. The agreement outlines specific deliverables, including the development and deployment of an integrated digital identity verification and authentication system based on a secure infrastructure for delivering government services. Furthermore, the system will incorporate robust data protection measures aligned with international standards, ensuring the security and confidentiality of citizens’ information. These fundamental elements aim to revolutionize interactions between citizens and the government, marking a major step toward a digitally integrated nation. This technology will also benefit citizens by enhancing the efficiency and security of government services while ensuring user control and consent. Soon Huat Lim, Founder, […]

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WAM The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Development Programme to enhance cooperation on digital transformation, AI governance, and public policy development across the Arab world. The partnership aims to strengthen MBRSG’s role as a leading academic institution specialising in policy research and government leadership development. It highlights the School’s commitment to driving innovation, fostering data-driven policymaking, and contributing to regional cooperation in digital governance and advanced technology. The MoU outlines several key objectives, including improving government performance, enhancing digital governance, and leveraging AI to boost the quality and efficiency of public services. The agreement also aims to embed sustainability principles into digital transformation processes, creating integrated digital platforms that provide fast, seamless government services. Speaking to the ARN News Centre at the World Governments Summit, being held in Dubai, Dr. Yasar Jarrar, a Member of the Board of Trustees at Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government said that more than ever the event has the world becomes more "complicated".

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Whitehaven-based Bakes By Gina, Manchester-based Bubble Panda and Stockport-based Firstplay Dietary Foods were part of the latest Leading Digital Transformation cohort (Shutthiphong Chandaeng/Getty Images) Food and drink firms were among Made Smarter’s latest cohort of digitally empowered business leaders coming out of its Leading Digital Transformation (LDT) programme. The programme focuses on equipping SME manufacturers with the strategies and skills to adopt cutting-edge digital technologies. Participants in the latest cohort included business leaders from three food and drink businesses – Whitehaven-based Bakes By Gina, Manchester-based Bubble Panda and Stockport-based Firstplay Dietary Foods. Gina Goulding, owner of Bakes By Gina, said: “ My business has been on an incredible growth journey, which meant I never had time to reflect on where we are. The leadership programme gave me precious headspace with like-minded individuals and gave me skills to empower my staff to take the reins.” Three-month programme The funded programme is delivered over three months with Manchester Metropolitan University, blending face-to-face workshops, online webinars, case studies to see technology in action and a site visit to PrintCity, Manchester Met’s 3D additive and digital manufacturing centre. Brian Holliday, co-chair of the Made Smarter Commission and MD of Siemens Digital Industries added: […]

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Instead of digitizing processes quickly, many companies in the manufacturing industry are standing still — and thus are in danger of falling further behind. Credit: Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock A large portion of the manufacturing industry is in danger of falling beyond, not because they don’t recognized the need for digital transformation, but because they lack concrete strategies for implementation. As a global survey by IFS of more than 800 manufacturing executives, 82% of manufacturers believe their company will not survive for more than one to three years if it does not become more involved with information technology. In contrast, digital leaders are confident that they can master future challenges, with more than quarter (28%) believing they can get by for up to five years without new investments. Although all respondents recognized the use of digital technology as vital for their company, only 10% describe themselves as digital pioneers. In contrast, 65% of respondents see themselves as lagging behind in terms of digitalization, either dangerously far behind, stuck in the early stages of digital transformation, or having not made a concrete plan for the next steps. Digital roadblocks The urgency seems clear — market turbulence, supply chain disruptions, and the […]

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Extreme Weather AI Scottish scaleup Krucial , which utilizes space technology to provide digital monitoring solutions for organizations with remote and dispersed assets, has announced two senior appointments to its commercial and executive team as it gears up for continued global growth. Graham Lenden joins Krucial’s executive team as chief commercial officer, while Anna Dawson comes in as head of Energy. These two additions to the commercial team will see a new era for Krucial as they drive growth globally across high-value industries such as aquaculture, energy, infrastructure and food security. Krucial empowers enterprises to unlock digital transformation anywhere in the world, particularly across the most remote and challenging environments. Through its advanced platform of satellite-enabled connectivity, IoT devices, and data applications, Krucial provides continuous access to mission-critical data, enabling organizations to make informed decisions, streamline operations, reduce risks, and promote sustainability. An example of its collaborations is with Mowi, providing continuous environmental monitoring services which continued to provide mission-critical data throughout recent record-breaking Storm Eowyn which impacted millions across the UK and Ireland. Krucial co-founder and CEO Allan Cannon said that “2024 was the most important year yet for Krucial commercially, having deployed our digital solutions across the […]

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His expertise in SAP systems, particularly in Warehouse Management and Project Systems, is complemented by a deep understanding of healthcare industry requirements and regulatory frameworks. Share In the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, when global healthcare systems faced immense pressure to scale diagnostic capabilities, Pavan Pavan Kanchi emerged as a key figure in transforming Cepheid’s supply chain infrastructure. As a crucial member of the SAP implementation and support team, Pavan Kanchi played an instrumental role in expanding the company’s operational capabilities to meet the surging worldwide demand for COVID-19 testing equipment, demonstrating exceptional leadership in digital transformation during one of healthcare’s most critical periods. The scope of this mission-critical initiative encompassed the simultaneous SAP system rollout across five new plants and warehouses throughout the United States. This ambitious expansion required not only technical expertise but also strategic foresight to ensure seamless integration while maintaining operational continuity. Working under aggressive timelines dictated by the urgent global health crisis, Pavan Kanchi demonstrated exceptional technical acumen in bridging new-generation applications with SAP systems through sophisticated API integrations, ensuring uninterrupted data flow across the supply chain network. The technical complexity of the implementation was matched only by its strategic importance. Kanchi’s approach […]

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UK digital health Just over a quarter (28%) of UK businesses surveyed had good digital health in 2024, around a third (36%) had average, and (36%) had poor health, according to a European digital health study from Zoho , The study rated businesses surveyed on their practices within digital transformation. Large UK businesses tend to perform better when it comes to digital health, with almost two fifths (40%) rated as having good digital health. 27% of medium UK businesses received a good digital health rating, and just 18% of small UK businesses had good digital health. In contrast, Germany performed better, with a third (33%) of businesses surveyed rated as having good digital health. Spain performed similarly to the UK, with 27% of businesses having good digital health, while 20% of businesses in France and 19% of businesses in The Netherlands having good digital health. The Netherlands also had the most businesses surveyed having poor digital health (45%). Compared with the previous year, the results demonstrate some progress with most digital health indicators in all markets. UK businesses surveyed with good digital health are most likely to see AI as critical and are already seeing the benefits from using […]

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