Sopra Steria

Sopra Steria. The new face of finance: between AI, cloud and data governance

The era of Proofs of Concept for the introduction of disruptive technologies such as AI comes to an end, but banks often lack a clear and shared roadmap necessary to face the change, including cultural change, that these innovations entail

The Italian financial sector is facing a transformation that has cost rationalization, internal reorganization and the adoption of emerging technologies among its priorities. «After a phase focused on legacy transformation – essential for simplifying systems and reducing costs – today banks are looking for greater operational agility to invest in innovation, in particular artificial intelligence», explains Andrea Di Filippo, Director of the Financial Services Division of Sopra Steria Italia.

However, the banking information system remains anchored to dated technologies and obsolete architectures, and Core Banking renewal projects often come up against complexity, long times and non-immediate returns.

The challenges of AI: Accelerating transformation while maintaining governance

Banking IT management today requires a delicate balance between innovation and day-to-day operations. The introduction of disruptive technologies such as AI brings about a cultural shift that not all organizations are ready to address.

«We are moving out of the Proof of Concept phase: AI is now entering its industrial phase, with the aim of automating and optimizing processes to improve their productivity and efficiency», says Di Filippo.

Smart controls and predictive analytics: where innovation is focused

One of the main application fields on which investments are focusing concerns the deployment of AI for controls, operational management and data analysis.

«Projects that aim to automate decision-making processes thanks to adaptable predictive models are multiplying – explains Di Filippo. However, there is often a lack of a clear and shared roadmap within banks, which still move opportunistically».

Agile architecture and evolutionary consultancy for banking

To respond to these challenges, Sopra Steria makes its experience in the System Integration field available, supporting banks in the redesign of IT architectures and in the definition of transformative roadmaps.

«We are pragmatic: we focus on agile and concrete delivery models, capable of enhancing new technologies, including GenAI, with a view to measurable ROI», clarifies Di Filippo.

Conversational AI and service design: designing the new user experience

In the context of a progressive automation of interactions, user experience becomes a pillar of digital transformation. «Speed, comfort and safety must guide the design of new conversational models – underlines Di Filippo. The robotic interface of the future also requires new approaches to teamwork, experience design and software development».

Precisely for this reason, Sopra Steria has invested in the development of a holistic and inclusive model that integrates service design from the early stages of the projects.

Data governance and cloud migration: the challenge is balance

Full control of information assets is a key element of digital transformation in finance. Data architectures are progressively moving to the cloud, attracted by the promise of cost reduction.

«But building solid ecosystems in the cloud, after decades of stratification and fragmentation, is a complex challenge – observes Di Filippo. Banks need to develop new, deeper and more structured governance and management capacities».

Blockchain and finance: from digital pledges to the traceability of supply chains

Among the new products launched on the market, Sopra Steria is exploring the application of blockchain in the financial sphere. An example is the digital revolving pledge, already tested in the parmesan supply chain and now extended to sectors such as wine, cereals, oil, livestock and energy.

«This technology can revolutionize the management of guarantees and financing linked to agri-food and environmental supply chains – concludes Di Filippo. Interest from the banking world is growing strongly».