Digital Skills: What Sets Digital Leader Banks Apart?

Discover the skills edge digital leaders have

Digital Skills: What Sets Digital Leader Banks Apart?

Discover the skills edge digital leaders have

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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION has become the buzzword across industries, promising to revolutionize the way businesses operate. But amidst this clamor for digital evolution, one industry stands out for its slow uptake and reluctance to embrace change: banking. Despite being a cornerstone of modern economies, the banking sector has lagged behind in preparing its workforce for the digital age.

We found only a handful of what we can consider as workforce digital skills-readiness leaders in the banking sector globally. Most of these were in Europe, North America, or East Asia.

In our recent survey, we delved into the digital readiness of banks worldwide, identifying leaders and laggards in terms of workforce digital skills adoption. The results were telling, with only a handful of banks emerging as true leaders in this arena. These digital frontrunners, predominantly situated in Europe, North America, or East Asia, have not only cultivated digitally-skilled workforces but have also spearheaded successful enterprise-wide digital transformation programs.

When looking at the digital skills that are causing the most significant gaps in MEA banks compared to other regions, our survey results show that the MEA region has substantial skills gaps in agile, SCRUM, and DevOps skills.

One notable observation was the glaring absence of Middle Eastern and African banks from the leaderboard, highlighting a significant digital skills gap in these regions. Our survey pinpointed specific areas of deficiency, with agile, SCRUM, and DevOps skills emerging as critical gaps, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. The lack of regulatory progress on Open Banking further exacerbates the situation, leaving banks ill-equipped to navigate the evolving digital landscape.

Neobanks had workforces that were 1.7 times more digitally skilled than the digital leader among the traditional banks.

The disparity between digital leaders and laggards is stark, with leader banks boasting workforces that are over three times more digitally skilled than their lagging counterparts. But even the most advanced traditional banks struggle to match the digital prowess of disruptors like Starling Bank and Monzo. Born digital, these neobanks have carved a niche for themselves, capitalizing on agile, multidisciplinary teams proficient in a range of digital skills.

Digital leader banks have a 1.4 times more digital skills per digitally-skilled employee than laggards.

The success of digital leaders lies in their ability to harness the multiplier effect of diverse digital skill sets. By fostering teams adept in multiple digital disciplines, these banks accelerate innovation and adapt more swiftly to change. This collaborative approach extends beyond senior management, with digital skills permeating throughout the entire workforce.

Bank digital leaders have closed the gap in digital skills-readiness between their senior management and the general workforce.

In contrast, laggard banks face a gaping chasm between their senior leadership and general workforce in terms of digital skills readiness. Hindered by outdated project management approaches and a lack of foresight, these banks struggle to bridge the digital divide. The disparity is most pronounced in critical functions such as IT, Strategic Planning, and Customer Experience, where leaders maintain larger, more proficient teams.

Across all of the ten categories of digital skills we assessed in our survey, digital leader banks were superior.

But the path to digital transformation is not solely paved with technical expertise. It requires a cultural shift, where agility, innovation, and collaboration are embraced at every level of the organization. Digital leaders understand this imperative, fostering an environment conducive to continuous learning and adaptation.

The gap between bank digital leaders and laggards in workforce digital skills-readiness is smallest in Customer Experience teams and strategy teams.

Ultimately, the digital fate of banks hinges on their ability to cultivate a workforce primed for the challenges of tomorrow. By investing in digital skills development and fostering a culture of innovation, banks can position themselves as leaders in an increasingly digital world.

Digital leader banks tend to have a larger-than-average Customer Experience, Strategic Planning, IT, and Risk & Compliance teams.

To learn more about the strategies employed by digital leader banks, download our white paper: Closing the Digital Skills Gap in the Middle East Banking Industry. Join us on the journey to digital transformation and unlock the full potential of your organization.

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