News
2018
2017
01.11.2017
Synpulse and TYSKE BRYGGEN Announce Merger
The merger will serve to bundle the strengths of both companies and further strengthen Synpulse’s position on the German-speaking market.
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10.10.2017
Squirro appoints Synpulse as its first global gold partner
Squirro, the AI driven context intelligence and insights solution provider, has announced that Synpulse has become a global gold partner.
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20.04.2017
Synpulse opens new office in Geneva
In addition to its headquarters in Zurich, Synpulse has opened a second subsidiary in Geneva and is now also present in Switzerland’s second largest financial center.
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08.02.2017
Thomas Schaffner appointed as new Partner at Synpulse
Since January 23rd Thomas Schaffner (born 1979) has become a member of Synpulse’s senior management team.
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2016
12.09.2016
Synpulse Hong Kong celebrates
In the midst of the Mid-Autumn Festival week, we at Synpulse also celebrated our first anniversary in Hong Kong
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10.08.2016
Would you accept a payment in Bitcoins?
Conference hosted by the Geneva Finance Research Institute and Synpulse
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09.08.2016
Dragon Boat Race
With no shortage of team spirit and energy, Team Synpulse USA tackled its first Dragon Boat race on Meadow Lake in the beautiful Corona Park in Queens, NY.
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12.07.2016
Swissnex «Future of Money» event series
Synpulse has moderated the panel discussion on Big Data Analytics in the Financial Services Industry as part of the «Future of Money» event series at swissnex in Boston, MA.
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14.03.2016
The UK market
Synpulse expands its global footprint with the opening of the new office.
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21.01.2016
Meeting of Swiss Association of Asset Managers SAAM
Synpulse sharpens and widens its profile as a strategic partner for digitalization among wealth managers.
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01.01.2016
Best Solutions & Integration Adviser
During the annual Asian Private Banker Technology Awards 2015, Synpulse Singapore emerged as the winner of its nominated category.
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2015
26.10.2015
Enterprise Architecture
Synpulse USA hosts second bi-annual Insurance Enterprise Architecture summit, focusing on various IT/operational trends impacting Enterprise Architecture.
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15.09.2015
Fintech Trade Mission
Swiss fintech innovators had come to New York to meet with American fintech companies, international business experts and venture capitalists in the Synpulse New York office for the Swiss Global Enterprise’s Fintech trade mission break-out session.
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13.05.2015
Synpulse USA expands practice
Synpulse has expanded its practice to serve US banking institutions on a national and international level.
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11.05.2015
Changeover at Synpulse
Synpulse, one of the leading management consulting companies for financial services providers, today announced the appointment of a new CEO, effective on July 1st, 2015.
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27.01.2015
Executive Management expanded
Raphael Bianchi, Yves Rösti and Silvan Stüssi will further strengthen the company’s worldwide consulting competencies.
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2014
2013
The Magazine
2018
2017
«The Magazine» is published six times per year with three issues in German and three English issues. It addresses the most significant current topics in the financial services sector and includes cutting-edge reports from our daily business in banking and insurance. Below you will find the complete collection of all our magazines.
We wish you a stimulating and enjoyable read!
The Magazine International 3|2017
Fraud in Private Banking| How to Efficiently Implement Chatbots| Is Your Data on Your Balance Sheet?
These and many more interesting topics are covered in this edition of the Magazine. In our «From Outside In» interview, we talk to Patrick Meier, an expert in the field of digital technology and co-founder of «We Robotics».
These and many more interesting topics are covered in this edition of the Magazine. In our «From Outside In» interview, we talk to Patrick Meier, an expert in the field of digital technology and co-founder of «We Robotics».
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The Magazine International 2|2017
Our latest edition describes how you can «Accelerate your Bank's Transformation with Business Process Management» and offers you «New Perspectives on Customer Experience» among other interesting reads.
In our «From Outside In» Interview historian and international bestselling author Yuval Noah Harari explains his idea of a new level of evolution called the «Homo Deus».
In our «From Outside In» Interview historian and international bestselling author Yuval Noah Harari explains his idea of a new level of evolution called the «Homo Deus».
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The Magazine International 1|2017
In 2017, digital transformation will carry on having an increasing impact on our everyday lives as well as on the banking and insurance fields. In the face of radical market changes and increased customer demands we will all be pushed to develop, innovate and hopefully transform.
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2016
2014
2013
2012
2011
Article
2018
09.07.2018
Blockchain for Trade Finance
Trade finance with its manual, cumbersome and often expensive processes, provides a major field for adopting emerging distributed ledger technologies (DLT). Not surprisingly this has led to various market initiatives and consortia over the last years. Yet, an early adoption of any of these concepts presents substantial operational and financial risks for any party involved. Therefore, banks must decide on a suitable adoption strategy for DLT, first.
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13.06.2018
Millennial Workshop Cycle
Despite the much-ballyhooed improvements in customer experience, the primary aim of digitalization projects at many banks is efficiency gains. This hasn’t escaped the notice of clients, who are increasingly demanding real customer-centricity.
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30.05.2018
Impact of Genomics on Insurers - Part 9
Progress in genomics is creating opportunities and threats for medical underwriting in both health and life insurance. In our market study, we asked insurance experts how they assess the impact.
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30.05.2018
Design Principles for Digital Health Insurers
Health insurers worldwide find themselves challenged: society is aging, prevalence of diseases such as obesity, diabetes and other chronic conditions are increasing, the costs of health systems are exploding and social trends pose new and major challenges.. At the same time, developments in digital transformation, connectivity and artificial intelligence are advancing rapidly. This creates attractive opportunities for health insurers - and the prospect of a new key role.
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23.05.2018
Impact of Genomics on Insurers - Part 8
Progress in genomics creates new opportunities for products and value-added services that life and health could offer to their customers: products explicitly covering diagnostics or treatment on the level of the genome, and services helping customers create maximum value out of their genetic or genomic data.
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16.05.2018
Impact of Genomics on Insurers - Part 7
Genomics has made massive progress, and we can expect to see even more in the future. As discussed in our previous articles, this development has both opportunities and risks, not only for us individually, but also for the insurance industry. Synpulse surveyed insurance experts for their assessment of how genomics will impact their industry.
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14.05.2018
Emerging Risks
Emerging risks is not a new topic. This article introduces a model to evaluate the maturity level of emerging risks and recommend risk management strategies for for (re)insures.
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25.04.2018
Cloud Technology for Insurers - Part 8
When outsourcing IT infrastructure to the public cloud, insurers remain responsible for their compliance with all requirements under insurance supervisory law. One of these requirements is that they must have full rights to audit the cloud provider.
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18.04.2018
Cloud Technology for Insurers - Part 7
When outsourcing IT infrastructure to the public cloud, insurers remain responsible for their compliance with all requirements under insurance supervisory law. One of these requirements is that outsourcing must not lead to a disruption of services for existing policyholders.
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16.04.2018
Impact of Genomics on Insurers − Part 6
The application of genetic testing and genetic editing to human embryos has far-reaching potential to impact society, and – in the long-term – also insurers.
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09.04.2018
Cloud Technology for Insurers - Part 6
In the previous article in our series, we discussed the data protection challenges that insurers need to consider when planning to migrate into the public cloud. In the present article, we start discussing the requirements imposed by EU insurance regulation.
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28.03.2018
Impact of Genomics on Insurers - Part 5
Day by day, our understanding of how genetic variations influence health is growing. First therapies based on interventions at the level of individual genes are on the market and further ones will follow. How will this trend influence the insurance industry?
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26.03.2018
Implementing a pilot robot is simple…
The RPA journey is full of challenges – some become apparent only when it’s too late. From IT to operating model, many factors determine the success of RPA in the medium to long term.
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20.03.2018
Cloud Technology for Insurers - Part 5
In the previous article of this series, we introduced the applicability of EU data protection law to the use of public cloud by insurance companies. In this article, we will discuss concrete challenges imposed by data protection law.
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06.03.2018
Impact of Genomics on Insurers - Part 4
With the increasing ability to collect, store and interpret the unique genetic make-up of each individual, including their responsiveness to particular treatments, we can expect a shift from one-fits-all care towards personalized treatment regimes. Both care providers and insurers will be affected.
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28.02.2018
Impact of Genomics on Insurers - Part 3
In previous articles we introduced some basic principles and explained the different methods of genetic testing. In this article we will focus on direct-to-consumer testing (DTC) – a quick and affordable approach to genetic testing which has led to much controversy in the last couple of years.
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19.02.2018
Why you should be Lean before your robots go GIGO
The idea of Lean is to maximize customer value while at the same time, minimizing waste. This leads to more customer value with less resources required.
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12.02.2018
Keeping our quality promise to clients
Clients have come to expect Synpulse to deliver quality – it’s at the very heart of our brand promise. As we continue to grow and expand, we have to work even harder to keep delivering on this promise. How are we rising to the challenge?
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07.02.2018
Why banks fail to compete
It seems, banks have a particularly hard time to get their digital transformation programs up and running. No surprise their competitive strategies are seldom inspiring. Let’s have a closer look at the possible reasons.
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29.01.2018
Impact of Genomics on Insurers – Part 2
Curious to learn about your prehistorical ancestor from a drop of saliva? Or find out which combination of genetic variations leads to hereditary heart defects? Both scenarios are now possible thanks to genetic testing. Behind the umbrella term «genetic testing» are a surprising number of different techniques and procedures, which in turn produce very different data. In the second article of our series highlighting the growing field of genomics, we delineate various types of genetic tests.
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22.01.2018
AI and Robotics for Wealth
With the advent of data management and processing capabilities, the business applications of technology move from mere speed and efficiency towards areas where machines replicate - with increasing success – certain human actions and behaviours.
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17.01.2018
Why you should or shouldn’t attend your robots
Not all robots are born equal! Selecting the right type, attended versus unattended, can greatly improve the success likelihood of the automation initiative.
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15.01.2018
The Myths about Digital Change
Despite the vast use of the term «digital» its meaning is still unclear to many decisions makers in the corporate world. But it still has the power to scare them as it stands for the disruptive power of technology. Or is it just a myth?
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2017
21.12.2017
Cloud Technology for Insurers - Part 4
In the previous articles of this series we learned about the basic concept of cloud computing, how the available cloud types differ from each other, and what the advantages are of using a cloud over traditional in-house datacenter solutions. In this and following articles we discuss the challenges of using cloud from the perspective of data protection.
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13.12.2017
PSD2 - Let the Games Begin
Next month, the Payment Service Directive 2 (PSD2) by the European Commission enters into force. In addition, the European Commission and the European Banking Association (EBA) published the new Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS), which – after it has been approved by the European Parliament and the European Commission - has to be implemented by September 2019. How do the PSD2 and RTS impact a bank's product portfolio and where will they change the current rules of the game in the payments and cash management market?
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06.12.2017
Impact of Genomics on Insurers - Part 1
Advances in genomics over the few last years have been astonishing, in terms of both genome analysis and gene manipulation and therapy. These developments look set to impact more or less the entire health and life insurance value chain in the years to come. This series of articles will discuss the implications from various perspectives.
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04.12.2017
Is Robotic Process Automation a friend or foe of BPM?
Reduce IT integration costs and time-to-market of your Business Process Management (BPM) initiative by means of Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
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22.11.2017
Why AI-driven Insights are the new crown jewels of the Insurance Industry
Artificial Intelligence allows to structure unstructured data and unlock the potential of 99% hidden data. Especially, in customer interactions such as underwriting and claims a lot of unstructured information (e.g. submissions, claims audits) is hidden in documents such as pdfs or claims audits.
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15.11.2017
Stop Wasting Money on Digitalization
Most probably, you already know that managing digitalization effectively has become essential for a bank's competitiveness. But are you also fully aware of your strategic priorities? How can you be sure not to bet on the wrong horse – or app?
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02.11.2017
Boost your business
Managing innovation effectively has become an essential requirement for staying competitive in todays’ world. Increase your capability to generate customer value by implementing the idea and innovation management manifesto (SIIMM) developed by Synpulse.
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30.10.2017
Synpulse Hackathon
First, Synpulse teams from around the world worked overtime by participating in our second global Hackathon. Second, Synpulse was one of the official sponsors at this year’s PolyHack 2017.
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09.10.2017
Cloud Technology for Insurers - Part 3
In the previous part of our article series we have provided an overview of the different deployment models and service models of the cloud. In this part, we will look at the many advantages cloud can offer over classical in-house datacenters.
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02.10.2017
Cloud Technology for Insurers - Part 2
In the first part of our article series we have introduced you to the origins and basic concept of cloud technology and why it is currently one of most discussed tech trends. In this part, we will explain the different types of cloud and their implications.
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25.09.2017
Cloud Technology for Insurers-Part 1
Cloud technology is on the rise and displaces classical in-house datacenters in various industries. Yet insurance companies are still rather hesitant with regards to this trend. This article series will discuss the different challenges related to the use of the cloud and how insurers can successfully tackle them to tap into the large potential of this technology.
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30.08.2017
Get Ready for Chatbots - Part 6
So far, we have shown how chatbots enable businesses to revolutionize the way they interact with their customers. However, technology never stops advancing. In this last article of our series, we will catch a glimpse of what could become «The Next Big Thing» in B2C interaction. Chatbots provide a common basis for all these innovations.
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16.08.2017
Get Ready for Chatbots! - Part 5
In our previous articles we have learned that AI-based chatbots need training to become better at natural language processing. Hence, a well thought-through strategy is necessary to efficiently collect and label the required training data. Additionally, since chatbots are used for direct customer interaction, they need to be introduced properly. In the following, we will describe an approach that makes this possible.
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09.08.2017
Get Ready for Chatbots! - Part 4
In the previous parts of our article series we have shown the many benefits of modern AI-based chatbots. However, we often observe that insurers experimenting with chatbots only use a small fraction of the capabilities that modern chatbots can offer. In the following we will show what design guidelines insurers should consider such that they can tap the full potential of chatbots.
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02.08.2017
Get Ready for Chatbots - Part 3
In our previous article we have discussed how insurers can use chatbot to fundamentally reshape and improve their customer interaction. In the following we will give you a short overview of the tech that makes this possible.
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26.07.2017
Get Ready for Chatbots - Part 2
In the first part of our article series we have discussed the reasons why chatbots are one of most discussed tech trends today. In the following we will dive deeper into this topic and explain how chatbots can be used by insurers to fundamentally reshape and improve their customer interaction.
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19.07.2017
Get Ready for Chatbots - Part 1
Chat is becoming more and more relevant as an interaction channel between customers and companies. Recent advances in artificial intelligence are enabling the development of powerful chatbots that can understand natural language. With little experience in this topic so far, the insurance industry is just becoming aware of the emerging opportunities.
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Studies & White Papers
2018
2017
Synpulse regularly exchanges views with science and economy. This cooperation often results in interesting (case)studies, analyses, and market research reports, which are at your disposal for reading in the online archive below.
Open Banking – a threat or an opportunity for banks?
Open banking will lead to completely new forms of customer relationships and will enable the inclusion of third-party digital products. Obvious winners are customers and FinTechs - how can banks benefit from this?
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BANKINABOX® - How banks implement new operating models more efficiently
With an intelligent target operating model, a bank can quickly adapt its operational processes to a new business strategy. The bank reference model «BANKINABOX®» was developed by Synpulse specifically for the purpose of offering a comprehensive and efficient solution.
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Payment Services Directive 2 and the Dissolution of the Primary Banking Relationship
Banks are slowly losing the primary banking relationship to their clients. More and more non-banks and payment service provider are taking over market shares through innovation, competitive prices and high quality service.
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2016
Synpulse regularly exchanges views with science and economy. This cooperation often results in interesting (case)studies, analyses, and market research reports, which are at your disposal for reading in the online archive below.
White Paper:Next Generation Private Banking Riding the Consolidation Wave in Asia
The private banking industry in Asia is undergoing times of increased M&A activity. This scenario follows international market dynamics, where a wave of consolidations is taking place in leading wealth management financial centers like Switzerland and a competition upsurge is occurring in growing markets like Latin America and Asia. For private banks operating in Asia, issues like China’s economic meltdown and, at a market level, cost pressures affecting banks’ operational models are challenges echoing on private banks’ annual growth rates in the last few years. In turn, industry players are pursuing either a merger or an acquisition as a way to achieve inorganic growth, resulting in a wave of consolidation in the regional market.
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White Paper: Flux and Transformation
Given the criticality of advisory and the industry’s heavily marketed efforts in digital transformation and innovation, Synpulse set out to assess the current situation and progress in Hong Kong and Singapore. Overall the results were underwhelming. No experience stood out as exceptional. In fact, quality swung towards the lower end of the scale. Advisory seemed to be slumped in mediocrity.
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2015
White Paper: Next Generation Private Banking - 3rd Generation Operating Models
The regulatory landscape coupled with evolving customer needs and behaviors poses significant challenges to private banks to remain profitable in Asia. The industry is following the trend in Europe towards consolidation and operational efficiency with the ambition to lower their operating costs. Adopting an industrialized business model cand help to reduce operating costs and operational risks.
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White Paper: Singapore Asset Management Industry
In light of the growth story and bright prospects for Singapore’s nascent asset management industry, this paper sets out to describe the multiple facets which have contributed to the thriving hub, as well as provide a view on the emerging external asset management segment.
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White Paper: Insurance Aggregator
The insurance aggregator is an inevitable development in Singapore. Though triggered by local regulatory requirements for life insurance, the aggregator has an established presence in other partsof the world where financial advisory is at a mature stage.
Senior management leaders from the local insurance industry interviewed by Synpulse raise important issues regarding the aggregator’s viability and...
Senior management leaders from the local insurance industry interviewed by Synpulse raise important issues regarding the aggregator’s viability and...
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Newsletter
2017
Market Radar - Find the Right Robotic Process Automation Solution
The use of virtual workers involving robotic process automation unleashes virtually inexhaustible potential for the optimization of financial institutions. There are several success factors in the use of robotics. With our market-tested evaluation method, we help your company to find the most suitable solution for your specific needs.
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Digital Future of Insurance
iptiQ enables its partners to apply a digital business model in the life protection market. The pan-European insurer has capabilities that make it possible to go to market within months. The offering covers optimized products for term life, whole of life, and disability.
This case study shows the design and capabilities which are required to deliver such a business model, and provides a view on how digitalization can enable a network economy for insurance.
This case study shows the design and capabilities which are required to deliver such a business model, and provides a view on how digitalization can enable a network economy for insurance.
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2016
Is Financial Advisory in Insurance a dying career?
Following the release of the white paper discussing the financial advisory process for insurance in Hong Kong and Singapore, Synpulse encountered several discussions surrounding the recruitment and retention of financial advisor representatives (FA reps).
The key question put forth was — how can the industry and/or insurer attract promising FA reps and retain them? This question is critical to answer...
The key question put forth was — how can the industry and/or insurer attract promising FA reps and retain them? This question is critical to answer...
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External Asset Managers in Singapore and Hong Kong – addressing custodian banks’ challenges on EAM service offering
The External Asset Manager (EAM) business model is said to be the future of wealth management in Singapore and Hong Kong. However, are custodian banks making enough improvements to provide optimal support for EAMs? Read on to learn how Synpulse proposes a holistic approach for both small and bigger custodian banks to invest into their operating models to leverage their EAM business.
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Regulatory change management for investment suitability and beyond: A business differentiator
Most global and local private banks in Asia are continuing to invest heavily in their operations in order to keep pace with the agility needed to service the growing market of Asian multi-millionaires. As digitally savvy and wealthy customers look out for more sophisticated engagement via online channels, banks also strive to find smarter ways to on-board these new channels and scale them across markets while being compliant.
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Four Lessons from Customers on Advisory
While a lot of attention has been dedicated to the professionalism of advisors and digital journeys, the advisory journey is a poorly explored area in terms of customer engagement and market differentiation. Synpulse conducted an online survey with working professionals to test their reaction towards the advisory process. The outcome is summarized in four lessons where tangible ways to open up the value aperture in the advisory process are highlighted.
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A Fair Buy
In collaboration with GoBear, Asia’s only free metasearch engine for financial and insurance products, we explore how fairness plays an important part of customer purchase journey and its effects.
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The Psychology behind Attitudes & Behavior: Implications on the Customer Journey
Implications on the Customer Journey
In this newsletter, we explore how a customer journey could be aligned with the inner workings of the mind and behavior. A casual survey was conducted to see how one would respond to an unforeseen event in their lives. Read to find out more.
In this newsletter, we explore how a customer journey could be aligned with the inner workings of the mind and behavior. A casual survey was conducted to see how one would respond to an unforeseen event in their lives. Read to find out more.
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Front Digital, Back Manual - the digital banking pitfall?
Asian banks have relied on traditional branch-banking, face-to-face business model for many decades. However, the availability of new technologies and recent emergence of competition from fintech companies have prompted banks to take a new look on the client relationship model. Riding on the digital transformation wave that is sweeping across the industry, many banks in Asia have started their own digital journeys.
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How Has The Direct Digital Channel Fared?
The digital direct channel has by far been underdeveloped despite its huge potential in Singapore. In life insurance industry however, only a small percentage of all new business premiums were sold through direct channels. This is in spite of the market having a ready and sizeable demand for online distribution, as outlined in our previous article.
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A Ready Market For Digital Distribution
In the history of disruptive innovation, 2015 could be the turning point for the insurance industry. A Chinese online insurer was ranked first in a global FinTech list. An online insurance start-upfrom UK won an award for FinTech Innovation of the Year. Innovationlabs have been opened one after another in Singapore by insurers with deep pockets and pragmatic vision.
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2015
Taking Control of Health Insurance Claims
Health insurance companies in Asia enjoy enviable demographic and economic developments.
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Getting the client’s attention in Asia is becoming increasingly difficult
Client Reporting – A strategic differentiator in a competitive private banking environment.
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2014
Investment Suitability
Investment Suitability: Transforming Your Advisory Framework.
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Digitalisation in Wealth Management
Tackling digitisation with the eWealth banking model. Defining and implementing...
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Next Generation Private Banking
Agile and industrialized
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Branch and Agency Support Management.
Dilemmas, operating model and opportunities.
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Pricing Study
Pricing Study on European and Singapore markets
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Reflections on Insurance-Linked Securities.
What every prudent Investor should consider.
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