A game-changing force is shaping the financial services industry (FSI) in Pakistan: the rise of cloud computing, which is rapidly becoming the cornerstone of progress within the FSI. However, while its popularity surges, the financial sector’s readiness to fully embrace this technological wave remains a matter of careful consideration.
Current State and Progress
The allure of cloud computing is evident in Pakistan’s FSI, where institutions are gradually recognizing its potential. According to a 2022 report by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), 40% of banks have integrated cloud computing into their operations. While this signals promising progress, it also indicates that 60% of Pakistan’s banks have yet to tap into this transformative technology. A similar trend emerges in the insurance sector, with 25% of insurance companies now leveraging cloud capabilities. The SBP report aptly forecasts a continued rise in cloud adoption within Pakistan’s FSI, painting a promising portrait of an industry undergoing a methodical transformation. Cloud computing is providing FSIs with a number of benefits, including scalability, agility, and cost savings. As a result, cloud computing is becoming increasingly popular in the FSI industry. However, just because it’s popular doesn’t mean that the financial sector is readily embracing this technology.
The Challenges of FSI Cloud Adoption
Despite the increasing adoption of FSI cloud in Pakistan, there are some glaring challenges that FSIs in Pakistan that hinder them from adopting cloud computing. These challenges include:
Security
Cloud security is a major concern for FSIs. They need to ensure their data is safe from all online threats. What they may not always know is that cloud providers offer several security services to safeguard their data. Cloud service providers like Khazana, for example, provide full-fledged online security, from cyber threat detection to authentication features. However, companies need to implement their specific security measures by communicating the need for those measures clearly. In fact, cloud security is much more efficient, as it can actively detect rapidly evolving threats and has systems in place to combat such threats.
Compliance
FSIs need to comply with several regulations, such as the Payment Systems and Electronic Fund Transfers Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act. They need to make sure that their cloud deployments are compliant with all the applicable regulations, even in the case of regulation amendments. Once again, while communicating with your cloud provider, clarifying compliance with specific regulations while adopting cloud computing will increase the efficiency for adherence to compliance standards since the system will automatically implement and update any change in regulations.
Skills
FSIs may need to develop new skills to manage and operate cloud deployments. They may also need to hire new staff with cloud expertise, which is one of the most time-consuming aspects of cloud adoption. A lack of qualified resources can all the nightmare scenarios about security threat and non-compliance turn into reality. Moreover, even if you have a skilled cloud provider, existing resources may still need additional training. They may also have to pay a high consultation fee to accommodate the change successfully while establishing an efficient system for support queries.
Solutions for a Seamless Transition
While these challenges are formidable, cloud service providers like Khazana are dedicated to simplifying the migration journey. By handling the intricate aspects of the transformation, from deployment to ongoing management, training, and staff augmentation, Khazana eases the burden on FSIs, allowing them to focus on their core competencies.
Success Stories
Despite the hurdles, the cloud revolution is catalyzing these major shifts within Pakistan’s FSI to become more agile, efficient, and innovative. As more FSIs adopt cloud computing, financial innovation continues to accelerate in Pakistan.
The Banking Sector
Banks in Pakistan are using cloud computing to develop mobile banking applications, automate customer service, and improve fraud detection. For example, Habib Bank Limited (HBL) has developed a mobile banking application that allows customers to access their accounts, make payments, and transfer money on the go. The application is powered by cloud computing, which allows HBL to scale the application up or down to meet demand. In 2022, Habeeb Bank Limited (HBL) identified the need to move its customer data center environment to Cloudera Data Platform (CDP) Private Cloud to handle the increasingly large volumes of data. HBL was able to access powerful self-service analytics features to achieve their goals, while not deviating from their core focus on compliance and securing their data. HBL was able to successfully migrate the data, while safeguarding against increasingly complex cyber threats and regulatory requirements. They also utilized a centralized data lake where they could manage data in Pakistan and across borders such as Singapore, Sri Lanka, and other international territories.
Similarly, on 11th August 2020 Standard Chartered Bank and Microsoft announced their partnership to accelerate the bank’s digital transformation through a cloud-first strategy. This made SCB a pioneer for banking-as-a-service, real-time payments, next-generation payments, and open banking,
Insurance Companies & Investment Firms
Insurance companies are using cloud computing to automate claims processing, improve customer service, and develop new products. For example, the National Insurance Company (NIC) has used cloud computing to automate the processing of claims for motor insurance. This has helped NIC to reduce the processing time for claims and improve customer satisfaction Investment firms are also using cloud computing to provide real-time trading platforms, manage risk, and develop new investment products. For example, Pak-Kuwait Investment Company (PKIC) has used cloud computing to develop a real-time trading platform that allows its clients to trade stocks and other securities. The platform is powered by cloud computing, which allows PKIC to provide its clients with access to the latest market data and insights.
Looking Ahead
The financial sector in Pakistan has the unique opportunity to propel itself toward a future fueled by innovation and efficiency. By navigating challenges and leveraging cloud capabilities, the FSI industry can amplify its global standing, all while rewriting the rules of financial engagement.
Khazana aims to provide all the perks and benefits of cloud computing to Pakistan’s FSIs by utilizing our local cloud, expertise, and skilled resources while ensuring that migration, security, compliance, maintenance, and scalability are handled with the highest standards.
To delve deeper into the potential of cloud computing and its transformative impact, explore our article: Unlocking the Future: Exploring the Transformative Power of FSI Cloud Solutions.
To learn more about how Khazana can help you leverage cloud computing, contact us here.
