The Impact of New Technology and Mobile Banking in Africa. A Case Study of the Standard Bank South Africa

Abstract or Introduction

This paper explores the impact of new technology and mobile banking in the entire financial sector in Africa. The paper focuses on the case of Standard Bank South Africa to assist in understanding the challenges faced by the major commercial banks in adopting new banking technologies in less developed worlds, such as Africa.

To realize the primary goal of this paper, the researcher discusses how technology can help Standard Bank to move forward in the aftermath of the 2008/9 financial crisis and the new opportunities for the bank to grow its financial service businesses. Furthermore, the research suggests how new technological applications in the financial services sector can help Africans to escape poverty and if diversification is appropriate for a diverse bank, such as Standard Bank.

Technology has immensely transformed business-to-business and within business transactions and interactions. Technological applications are enabling reconfiguration of design, production, marketing, and service delivery in most businesses. For instance, the design reconfigurations have allowed for the implementation of online marketplaces, mobile business activities, such as mobile banking, and better risk assessment. In the emerging financial markets of Africa, disruptive market innovations and reconstituted value chains have become key drivers of the growingfinancial services industry.

Despite the huge benefits of financial innovations, conventional financial services providers, such as banks, finance companies, microfinance institutions, and insurance must be wary of the new risks and challenges posed by these financial technologies. For a major bank like the Standard Bank, financial innovations, such as e-banking and mobile banking present both new opportunities and threats to its core businesses.