Leading technology and operations practitioners came together in Singapore in March to discuss trends, opportunities and challenges in relation to finding business solutions through the smart use of technology and software - at a roundtable organised by Hubbis and co-hosted by Assentis Technologies.

Anselm de Souza, managing director for Sopra Banking Software in Asia Pacific, stresses the importance for banks and wealth managers in South-east Asia of investing in systems to drive revenue and ensure a robust platform to meet regulatory requirements.

According to around 3,500 high net worth individuals globally, digital channels play a significant part in the process of selecting an adviser.

Financial technology provider IRESS has released a new app that allows clients, via their advisers, to access personal and financial data from the convenience of tablets.

Nicholas Hacking, director of sales at banking software specialist ERI Bancaire, discusses the regulatory and compliance requirements worrying banks today, along with issues they should be considering within the wider technology trends within wealth management.

Citi has introduced a next-generation banking channel in Asia, allowing customers to perform a wide range of banking activities, such as opening accounts and applying for loans, without visiting a branch.

The world’s wealthiest are more comfortable with digital communications than their less affluent counterparts, and Asian high net worth (HNW) individuals are more tech-savvy than those in the west, according to a new report.

As firms look to continue to develop viable mobile banking solutions, managing the flow of customer data to make the offerings relevant and usable requires a significant investment in technology and other resources to ensure consistency

The real benefits of technology will only be unleashed when banks truly put customers at the centre of what they do, says Steve Bertamini, group executive director and chief executive officer, consumer banking, at Standard Chartered.

Andrew Au, chief executive officer of AG Delta, explains why principles from e-commerce portals are relevant for wealth managers, too, to help them revolutionise the distribution of investment products.

Bill Cassidy, managing director of SEI Investments (Asia), explains some of the tools and data needs of wealth managers, from senior management to frontline advisers, to set them apart from the competition in an ever-tougher industry environment.

Recent research undertaken by the Scorpio Partnership in conjunction with SunGard has found that wealth management firms in Asia are not fully supporting the technology and service requirements of their advisers and high net worth (HNW) clients.

The number of Citi Mobile clients has surpassed 1 million across Asia Pacific, making Citi Mobile the most active and widely-used mobile banking platform in the region, according to a statement from the group.

Improving connectivity between advisers and clients is now a priority for wealth management organisations in Asia. This is being driven by their desire – and need – to boost efficiency, provide a differentiated client experience, and ultimately enhance profitability.

Loic Wymann, senior vice president and regional head of projects, chief operating officer’s office, at DBS Private Bank, talks to Hubbis about the bank’s priorities in developing streamlined, flexible and easy-to-use tools and functionality that support client advisers in meeting clients’ needs.

Paul Nash, director of business development at Solace Systems in South-east Asia, explains to Hubbis the value to wealth managers of high-performance messaging and information flows.

Banks will be forced to develop a broader set of digital offerings in order to prosper, according to a recent report outlining the digital demands that next-generation customers will present.

Hubbis talks to an experienced client adviser about the systems and software he thinks are required to help him service clients more effectively and productively.

Martin Nokes, managing director for AdNovum in Singapore, talks to Hubbis about some of the main IT security threats in Asia, plus looks at trends in terms of mobile banking in different sectors.

Bert-Jan Van Essen, founder of Cloud Consulting Services, talks to Hubbis about the need for banks to provide more targeted and relevant information to their clients – and do in a way which is more accessible and in context – if they want to add real value.

ABN AMRO Private Banking has launched a research application (app) for the iPad in Asia, giving its clients access to its research materials and investment views through a user-friendly platform.

The economic climate, increased regulatory intervention and competitive challenges are forcing banks to embrace digital innovation as the new path to growth, says Michiel van Selm of PwC Singapore.

With clients increasingly expecting complementary services around their traditional banking relationships, such as online access and detailed, custom-tailored client reporting, private banks and wealth management firms in Asia must make sure that their client touch-points are aligned with these expectations.

Banks will be missing a vital new source of revenue growth if they are too slow to respond to digital innovations that are changing business models and redefining the customer experience, a new PwC report has revealed.

Mario A. Bassi of Solution Providers Management Consulting looks at the opportunities and challenges for private banks to use social media and mobile technology solutions as part of their client relationships.