John,
Thank you for agreeing to my main point: "It doesn't make any sense to reinvent a wheel if banks already have one which works in their space."
This especially if we want to save tax payers' money and speed up e-society projects.
As to neutralities:
1. If we want ot make progress we have to start local - however much we want to be panEu and take thing global. I have for my part come to the conclusion that the transaction exchange within a scheme should be standardized - but the sourcing and distribution mostly have to respect national standards and habits. Thesa naturally have to live up to a high and supervised standard - otherwise we will see the weaksest link syndrome. At a later stage we will then by help of transparent pricing achieve more end2end common standards. We naturally should start connecting national practises to EU and global schemes and for that we need Rule books with MORs and for that we need governance.
2. I agree that hi-level e-Id may be an overkill but have seen the cost for different tools go down to really low levels meaning that strong tools can be used all over the place - especially as these carry the highest user experience and trust.
3. Yes the platform should be tool-neutral and ideally provide also alias services - ie on basis of strong e-id reliably state that this person is existing as one only and is over a certain age - not more. I am not sure that we should create anonymous payments - may help drugdealers etc..
When going global with e-ID service interoperability I agree that the card schemes are good examples. In this case - like for e-invoicing - we should work for a network solution that also allow non-bank service providers to join and compete.
Thank you very much for good comments.
Bo
03 May 2009 16:39 Read comment
Hi Matthew,
Thank you for your good input.
I do think that it is time for a proper rethink of the big picture - for many reasons: co-regulation instead of blind regulation - for financial stability, sustainable development - for our kids, deeper democracy - instead of sensationalism. The Net is the tool for making all this evident to the so much wider and now also even globally interactive audience. I admit that I am greatly inspired by Yochai Benkler's "The Wealth of Networks".
I certainly agree with:
"It’s time to take a hard look at the way the banking industry thinks about itself and its relationship with customers. Only by doing this can we create services and experiences that are engaging and valued for what they really are."
and
"Earning business by understanding what people value, having empathy and improving lives through financial services is key to unlocking the paradigm shift of ‘flattened hierarchies of control’ we’re experiencing as a society right now. "
What do people value in banks? My list: trust - not only in the traditional soliditity sense but also by not blindly pushed profitcenter driven "products", simplicity-simplicity-simplicity, reachability - and increasingly holistic solutions: your bank promoting reuse of tools and presence in everday contexts in netservices at large. A combination of truly putting the customer first and understanding that there is less space for complexity than before.
Customers do not ask for innovations - it is the service providers who have to think ahead - see that only technology and rethinking enable innovations. I think this is what the Googles, Nokias and Apples have done.
I have to agree also to this:
"I’d therefore argue that it’s not a matter of too many options – it’s a matter of too many superficial, facile – wrong - options, brought about as a result of the unequal balance between the banking mindset (“we are in control – you will therefore value the things we give you”) and what people see as creating value in their lives."
It is unfortunate - but now is the time to take corrective action.
15 Apr 2009 10:12 Read comment
Thank you Nick. I do see Internet as a "free" infrastructure - much as I see e-banking codes for e-id in society at large, the payment system for transporting e-invoices and e-orders etc. Internet has for sure spawn Google advertising and transferred e-banking into internet-banking. The multifunctional chipcard has been a promise for some time and in the meantime the mobile devices have come closer to provide the same functions and more by having a big screen and being connected to the Internet - good to have options and open competition.
Thank you Susan. I do think that brand value can be supported and having its personality enhanced when the service it represents build on users trust and habit by adding logical additional features - like using e-banking id for third party needs. I agree that "some set of customers" often can be the wrong way - first do things many sets of customers will appreciate and need often.
A holistic approach is needed - to address often mundane every day needs. The brand should also benefit from teaming up with other brands who can add their part of the holistic solution needed. One service provider can only do so much alone.
07 Apr 2009 21:07 Read comment
Disruption - yes. But also disruption needs a base to build on. It is after all human behavior that has to change.
03 May 2009 21:00 Read comment
Consumer e-invoicing has been very successful in the Nordics and continue to grow very fast.
27 Jan 2009 21:14 Read comment
Electronic invoicing
Whatever...
Transaction Banking
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