This week’s FinTech Wire is full of impressive funding rounds, international acquisitions, exciting expansion plans, and an AI-powered investment app being the cherry on top. Sounds exciting? It totally does! So go ahead and learn about the latest achievements of Yapily, Soldo, Clim8, Bridgeweave, Zilch, and Solarisbank!
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You can put a price on successful application, implementation, or even company-wide change. You can’t evaluate stagnation. The digital transformation strategy keeps the company afloat, lets it compete in a demanding market, and gives it a competitive edge. What is digital transformation and how can you run it in your firm?
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According to the 2021 Global FinTech Rankings New York City is the third most thriving FinTech hub in the world. Innovative ideas find plenty of talent and business opportunities here to transform into successful products. Proximity to venture capital and tech-focused communities surely doesn’t hurt, either. Still, you might wonder: which startup accelerators in NYC are best to help you jumpstart your FinTech business? Read on to find out!
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We live in interesting “financial times” with FinTech transforming every sphere of how money is made and managed. Recent selection of FinTech Wire News only adds to this excitement, showing that modern technology contributes to the financial inclusion of different groups from all around the world, ranging from Nigerian businessmen, American working families to Lithuanian representatives of generation Z. Discover which FinTechs have rocked the boat this week!
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FinTech has always been founded on the notion that traditional ways of doing business don’t work. There has to be an innovation that drives the sector. There has to be a value proposition that spikes customer’s interest. From now on, the money has to be secure, easy to manage, and available from anywhere and at any time. The FinTech blockchain market makes it possible.
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One of the main missions of software developers’ work is to deeply understand the product they are working on and the real problem that the product is supposed to solve. In the new episode of Ask Me AnyFin, we talk to Koray Koska, who tells us the story of how he turned from a software developer to a startup co-founder and how the idea of VitraCash – a smart debit card – was born. What is the truth behind the “magic” smart tools like VitraCash? And what are the biggest challenges of entering the FinTech market? Check out our interview for all the answers!
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This week was especially rich in good news from the UK and EU FinTech industry, however some disturbing things happened too, mostly in the crypto market, with another major bank banning transfers to the largest crypto exchange. Read the news for all the details you need!
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Despite challenges associated with each solution and business model, all FinTech companies face the same basic problem – trust. People confide with these organizations to multiply, keep safe or simply loan money. Their money. That’s why an image is so valuable. There’s a way to build trust and ensure a high level of technical proficiency; all at the same time. It’s called blockchain.
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After finding the general landscape of FinTech in the Middle East so fascinating that I even had to present it to you in a blog post, I just had to select some of the most interesting examples of how technology changes lives in this region. You’ll be pleasantly surprised that very thorough curation in the accelerators there results in apps that are genuinely helpful and solve real-life problems! Read more to find out how.
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What’s new in the UK’s FinTech world? They say bad news travels fast, but we make sure the good news reaches you even faster. This week we have our eye on exciting launches and successful funding rounds among local businesses. Read more to find out about the great achievements of tomato pay, coinpass.com, Codat, StepEx, and Dozens!
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This week we’re looking at some exciting changes in the British FinTech landscape as more and more hubs sprout outside of London. But there’s more! Click to learn about Tide’s new functionality, Swoop Funding’s impactful partnership, and some significant investments!
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At some point anyone who ventures into financial services has to try and navigate the tricky maze of compliance and other regulations. In this episode of Ask Me AnyFin we chat with Alan Blanchard to find out how RegTech can help businesses easily comply with constantly changing regulations. How to keep up with these changes? What interesting solutions are available in the market? You’ll find the answers in our interview!
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Finding a suitable employee can be a pain in the neck, especially in IT, where skilled developers rarely seek for new job opportunities on their own and screening less experienced ones is a must. But can it all be simplified? Apparently, yes. There are dozens of useful recruitment tools that can help you, as an HR department representative. Let’s find what they are and how they can make your work more effective!
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FinTechs going green is a popular subject among investors, startups, software development specialists, and users alike. Sustainable FinTech companies are not a buzzphrase anymore. It’s a strong trend that grows and fuels another revolution in the finance world. A green one; literally and figuratively speaking.
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This week was full of new, surprising news, most notably about the crypto adaptation and growing compliance costs in the UK. But as usual, we also have some great news about successful funding rounds all over the FinTech sector. Read more for all the exciting details!
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The green finance trend is growing strong, but the question is how to support the initiatives that are truly making a difference and distinguish them from greenwashing mumbo-jumbo? It seems that the UK government has a good idea. Read the details here!
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Sustainable development goals have been on everyone’s lips for quite some time now. Green finance strategy fits into that trend by serving people quality products that are eco-friendly at the same time. But what is green finance and how does it benefit the market, the customer, and the planet?
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In the new episode of Ask Me AnyFin we met with Simon Farmilo to discuss the customer-centric approach in finance, COVID’s impact on SMEs in the UK, and the growing popularity of green FinTechs. How does the trend for sustainability shape emerging startups? Will it affect attitudes towards cryptocurrencies? Check out the interview for a fresh serving of FinTech insights!
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This week’s big news proves that exciting times are coming in the field of Banking as a Service. Learn what this partnership means to the sector and what other updates we’ve prepared in this issue of FinTech Wire!
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FinTech or financial technology is one of the most vibrant sectors of a modern economy. The number of innovations implemented in the field exceeds the expectations of many analysts and users alike. FinTech is so successful because it combines healthy business interests on the side of applications’ owners and the daily needs of customers. A spectacular proof is the rise of insurance technology but the whole FinTech is full of novelties. Let’s discover them all.
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The importance of transparency in the software development process extends beyond creating a product. It’s the quality of business relationships that really matters. The market-ready product, being the final stage of a business relation, is only a result. The reason behind its successful delivery by the vendor and the acceptance by the client is an honest partnership. How to make sure that transparency in software development really works?
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UK FinTechs are represented strong in this issue of FinTech Wire. Both startups and mature enterprises can surprise. Read more to see how a new bank can dedicate itself to one goal – providing accessible housing to the Brits!
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This week’s FinTech news are dominated by one topic: buy now, pay later FinTechs. The world is crazy about them, they keep raising millions, merging, expanding and doing all sorts of growth related stuff. Find out what exactly is happening in this sector right now!
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A construction site on an alien planet is like a hive – everyone knows what to do, everyone has a specific role to play. There are risks and unknowns. Erection of a building under these circumstances requires careful planning, selection of materials, coordination, and teamwork. Similar rules apply in software development – engineers, product owners, designers, and quality assurance specialists are focused on their specific tasks. But the most important role is played not by developers; it’s reserved for the client. Here’s how the client’s responsibilities in product development translate into working application.
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The FinTech community joined forces to discuss one of the hottest topic recently, sustainability in finance. Read on to learn more about this event and other news featuring eBay, YouLend, KogoPAY and VitraCash.
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Crowdfunding is as old as the human kind itself, isn’t it? We may safely assume that even the very first tribes made use of the crowdfunding concept to survive, while gathering resources and sharing them. But we live in the XXI century, so the first thing that comes to our minds when we think about the crowdfunding market is the Internet and platforms such as Indiegogo. But there is so much more, so let’s dive in this sector of FinTech and take a deeper look at it now.
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This time, we have news regarding startups that made appearances in the previous editions of FinTech Wire: Pennyworth and Fronted. What are they up to? And what other updates we have for you? Read to find out!
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You surely have points to check before signing a contract with a development company. You want to make sure that the partner you are going to choose, is reliable and software quality is spot-on. This is part two of hour lenghty and very detailed article, so if you have questions to ask a software development company, visit the first material: Questions to ask before hiring software development company.
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Ikigai makes a comeback to FinTech Wire with the recently launched crowdfunding campaign, ALT/AVE helps banks go paperless with a new distributed ledger technology, and b-cube.ai starts the Initial Coin Offering. Here you’ll find the trending news from the industry!
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Software development contracts can be built in multiple ways but one thing that should matter the most is software quality. Meetings and calls before the start of product development will help you make a good decision and choose the right software vendor. What to pay attention to? What to avoid? How to learn more about your partner? We made a list of 20 questions to ask when signing a contract with a software development company.
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Scaling up FinTech startups will have an opportunity to grow in Wales, PwC’s FinTech Scale up programme will support nine ambitious WealthTech startups… It seems like accelerators are getting back to normal. And what else happened in FinTech lately? Find out!
Read moreThe Middle East is a huge and diverse region spanning over three continents and populated by more than half a billion people. This diversity is also visible in the FinTech market there, with some regions more technologically advanced and some just at the beginning of their road to the future of financial services. Let’s find out more about the FinTech in the Middle East landscape.
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Last week was incredibly successful for several British FinTechs that closed their funding rounds with impressive results. We also take a look at the latest initiative announced by the UK government.
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Consumers of digital services expect quality service, security, and convenience. Machine learning (ML) in finance is the best example of how these needs can be fulfilled. Without compromising business models, and the need to generate revenue. With customer-centricity in mind. The best way to serve people what they need is to know them a little better. How is this goal achieved and what’s the state of machine learning adoption in the industry?
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Are you wondering what news do we have for you in today’s edition of FinTech Wire? Well, the news are pretty good! Eco-friendly solutions pop up like mushrooms, and FinTech geeks will finally have the opportunity to attend a face-to-face conference this July. What else? Continue to learn more!
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Artificial intelligence (AI) in FinTech is often associated with Big Data and analysis of customers’ behavior. In reality, it can be used in a wider range. Anti-money laundering (AML) AI is used to fight financial crime and secure apps’ reputation. After all, financial technology is all about trust. How is it done and what conclusions can you draw for yourself?
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Pensions, decentralised finance, and tax-free savings accounts will be the focal points of today’s issue of FinTech Wire. What’s new in these areas? Check out our weekly news review to find out!
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User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) are ruling the world. Even if you don’t pay attention to them, users of your app definitely do. If neglected, this sphere can even break the application, causing major client churn. They will leave. Companies are investing time and money to make sure their product will launch smoothly and keep users engaged. There are, however, popular myths about the design. What are they and what complications do they bring?
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Some big news today! Big investments, big launches and big decisions. Which companies, in addition to Freetrade and Robinhood, made headlines last week? Click to find out!
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Digital disruption invented and implemented by FinTech companies is a double-edged sword. Companies that went after main-street banks and traditional insurance firms, now face another era. They have to innovate to stay alive. How leading insurance companies make use of artificial intelligence (AI) will make or break their businesses. Customers face new risks and want to make sure the InsurTech sector can calm their fears. This is how you can help them.
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Another week, another unicorn! Additionally, the FinTech community welcomes new challengers. At the same time, Canadians have to say goodbye to one of the most renowned digital banks that decided to leave the market.
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In the dynamically growing world of FinTech, trust and security are everything. Even one mistake in these fields can lead a promising startup to instantly fail and there are no second chances. How to minimize the business risks if it is impossible to be 100% certain of the available cybersecurity measures? Read more to find out how cybersecurity insurance providers can let you sleep tight.
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We’ve entered 2021 full of hope for new successes and this hope was empirically justified. After all, we had data indicating that things were going better than ever at Code & Pepper. But what were the facts? Read more to check them out!
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New unicorns everywhere! Or, to be precise, in the UK and Africa. What they have in common is that they’re both the trailblazers in their respective regions and areas of expertise.
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FinTech apps heavily rely on connecting with customers. They thrive by offering custom services to users bored and tired by classic banking. The more you know about your customers, the more you can give to them. The same works for prices – price optimization through machine learning is the ultimate tool for growing revenues. How is it done and what can you learn from existing examples?
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Financial technology, or FinTech for short, is a hit. It’s a global revolution that transformed the lives of many people. It enabled them to hold onto a job, manage their finances, discover better options for their home budgets. The Kalifa FinTech review for 2021 shows how much this business has evolved in the UK – one of the most vibrant markets in the world. We work with the best – two of our clients contributed to the report.
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While some stars of financial technology thrive more than ever, other challengers struggle to keep up with their fast pace. Will they find a way out of the problems?
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Unless it’s about counting money on our bank account, then for many of us, numbers are hard to remember and boring. We need a context and a good reason to process them. Not to mention making something useful out of it. The same goes for FinTech users. What if you could help them through storytelling?
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Wouldn’t it be great if you could just buy whatever you like and pay for it within a deferred payment system? It should be easy, convenient, and cheap. Other people thought exactly the same; that’s why “shop now, pay later” solutions came to be. How does it work, who are the top players and how can you benefit from this trend?
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Node.js is one of the most popular programming languages used on the web nowadays. It’s single core design has lots of positives, but sometimes can be a little challenging – especially when it comes to passing the context between asynchronous invocations. It seems not to be such a problem anymore, though. Developers can use AsyncLocalStorage in Node.js to overcome long lasting problems. Let’s dive in to check how to do that.
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It seems like a good moment for FinTech investments, and there are no signs of a potential slow down. What else happened last week? Read to find out!
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We all know LEGO bricks and pieces; many of us grew up having them and then passing the torch to our kids. With LEGO, we can dream and build anything: a car, a house, a castle, even a space station. From the smallest and most humble design to the most ambitious project—everything can be constructed with the right amount of supplies and patience. It’s possible because these pieces can be used many times over in different combinations. And this is the exact nature of the design system in user experience (UX).
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2020 was a year almost everything changed for most of the industries, but there is one that was affected especially severely, yet it manages to adapt. Trade fairs and conferences, including FinTech events, went 100% online and you can still take part in most of them. Moreover, thanks to dedicated platforms, it’s now easier and more accessible than ever.
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We are very pleased to see women entering the world of IT and conquering it with knowledge, passion, and customer-centricity. Natalia Cholewa, our Lead Product Owner and Head of Engineering, is now an expert for Let’s Solve IT. The initiative helps women enter the industry and overcome challenges during short online consulting sessions.
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2020 was a breakthrough year for Code & Pepper. Not only have we realized exciting FinTech projects, but also managed to grow our team by 93%. These successes were recognized by the world-famous Forbes magazine. We are proud to announce that Code & Pepper has been awarded with the Forbes Diamond 2021 award!
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What are the latest trends in payment solutions, open banking, digital banking, and beyond? Check out the fresh issue of FinTech Wire to read the most important news from last week!
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The COVID-19 epidemic turned the world upside down. Many of us think extensively about safety and security. That’s where financial insurance companies come in. They offer a feeling of having a safe bay in times of uncertainty. Some of them will face challenges because of the uneven funding or promoting already established InsurTechs. Some of them will need to rethink business models. Here’s the list of the most promising InsurTech companies to watch in 2021.
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So far, so good: the first half of February has brought us some pretty exciting news and developments. Last week was no different: some of the world’s most renowned businesses have surprised us with breakthrough decisions, and official bodies in some countries followed in their footsteps. Wanna find out what we are talking about?
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If you save or invest your money in more than one place, you may be annoyed with how bothersome it is to check and analyze what is going on with your assets, especially in real time. But logging into alt least three different platforms, checking the values, entering data into the spreadsheet is just pointless, when you can use asset management software. Read more to find out what it is and how it can make your life easier!
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You are in the dark and complicated labyrinth. You can barely see the sun, the path has twists and turns and there’s no exit to be found. Backtracking seems to be the only option now. Retreating and finding a new path seems to be logical, and cost-effective. To save you from the headache, we have prepared this short but detailed FinTech UX and UI guide.
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In this issue of FinTech Wire we hear from one of our good friends, Smart Pension, that reached an important milestone, and review news from the UK, China, and India.
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The most interesting FinTech accelerators in Scotland just needed to be covered in this series. After all, this country is becoming a major startup hub in the UK and many FinTech businesses choose Edinburgh or Glasgow over London. Want to know why?
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If you don’t live under a rock, you have to admit that last week was wild. Wall Street has never seen similar plot twists… And so hasn’t Reddit. Let’s rewind and see what exactly happened!
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Why Ask Me AnyFin? At Code & Pepper, we believe in testing assumptions and leaving no stone unturned when getting to the bottom of complex issues. But what are the right questions to ask? Now, that’s when things get really interesting… There is no one magic formula for a FinTech company. That’s why I’ve decided to sit down with founders, innovators and disruptors from different sub-sectors and with diverse backgrounds to look for the bigger picture: together.
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No time to catch up with the daily news? The amount of information in the media gives you FOMO? Don’t worry, we’re here to provide you with the latest FinTech news in a condensed, easy-to-digest form! That’s what FinTech Wire is about.
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An old classic financial institution with multiple physical branches competes with the agile and low-cost mobile-only bank. Possible hundreds of years of tradition versus a few years or even a few months on the market. And yet, the mobile bank is on the rise, attracting users left and right; like a moth to a flame. They know their issues will be addressed quickly and every operation will take minutes, sometimes even seconds. If so, why many FinTech startups pivot early on and change the product? What common mistakes do they make?
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Designing an app to be user friendly is a must, right? User-friendliness is not a simple term, though and its complexity is actually gigantic, when you take a better look at what it involves. One of the key aspects one needs to understand and consider from the very beginning of work on an app is user experience friction and its three main areas: emotional friction, interaction friction and cognitive friction. Read more to find out what they are and how to avoid them.
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It may have been a very cold month, but the FinTech world is boiling! AS usually we bring you only the hottest news from all over the world and, as usually, China is trying to impact the global economy. Read on to find out how!
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Imagine you could change the world with a single act. A brief moment, a statement that changes the landscape for generations to come. And it’s not an act of desperation but rather convenience. It’s not a political statement but a consumer one. This is how Generation Z takes us to the world of cashless and instant-response society with a simple act of tapping the “Pay now” button. What do these people need and pay for, what are Generation Z’s spending habits?
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Can you make money by serving people of humble means? Can you sustain a business addressed to people outside of the global financial system? Limited market opportunities and few coins in the pocket don’t have to be a dead end. As Bill Gates once said: there’s a difference between banks and banking. If you need proof that FinTech companies can provide quality services to customers despite their financial status, look at neobanks in Africa.
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How is 2021 going so far? Maybe it’s hard to tell after a few weeks, but one thing is true: the FinTech world won’t stop surprising us with innovations, rumours, and even scandals. So what news made headlines of the top industry media last week? Read on!
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After taking a closer look at FinTech accelerators in Tel Aviv, Berlin and London, we’re going on a quick trip to the banking capital of the world—Zurich. Apparently, this Swiss city is a popular spot for FinTech startups and institutions that help them break ground. We selected some of the most interesting ones and here’s what we found out.
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Imagine you have a beautiful tree with a potential to bear fruit every season. It doesn’t come for free—you have to tend to it. Water the seedling, shelter from extreme weather conditions, protect from pests. Manage resources, so they can last for months. The same goes for successful project management. Many companies, especially startups, have great ideas and deep domain knowledge but lack project management skills to build products with long-lasting impact. Here’s a shortlist of key success factors and handy solutions provided by companies like ours.
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New month, new year, new chapter, and new issue of FinTech Wire! We enter 2021 with high hopes and a handful of exciting updates from the world of FinTech. What happened during the last days of 2020 and the first moments of 2021? Let’s find out!
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Two reports, two gold mines full of data, insights, and conclusions. The Paypers’ report and the McKinsey’s report offer a thorough analysis of ways people have used their mobile devices in 2020. For complete analytics, we send you over to these sources. For everything else—major changes, global trends, behavioural shifts—we ask you to stay with us. Here are both reports in a nutshell, with key data about preferred online payment methods in eCommerce and our in-house commentary.
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2020 was definitely an eventful year with many unexpected turns. During this turbulent time, we had the unquestionable pleasure of sharing with our readers every memorable event from the world of digital finance in our weekly FinTech Wire. Now the year is slowly coming to an end, but it doesn’t mean that there is any less to talk about. So what has this week brought for FinTech geeks?
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Why Ask Me AnyFin? At Code & Pepper, we believe in testing assumptions and leaving no stone unturned when getting to the bottom of complex issues. But what are the right questions to ask? Now, that’s when things get really interesting… There is no one magic formula for a FinTech company. That’s why I’ve decided to sit down with founders, innovators and disruptors from different sub-sectors and with diverse backgrounds to look for the bigger picture: together.
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The IT world never slows down. Every year brings new trends to focus on or catch up with. The most recent shift in software is testing with the use of AI, which eliminates the human factor from quality assurance. This puts additional pressure on executives and product teams to offer world-class solutions. The same pressure drives software development partners to enhance their ability to deliver. Here’s a list of the latest trends in software testing and best practices to follow.
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Every single week we deliver hand-picked headlines from the world of FinTech to keep our readers updated with the latest industry news. In this issue, we’ll hear from new players in the payments market, as well as incumbents and top brands blazing the trail with groundbreaking solutions. Sound exciting? It is! So read on…
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This week FinTech Wire continues one of the stories we mentioned previously, but we also have a lot of brand new information that we’ve carefully selected just for you. Get your reading glasses and enjoy the news about Stripe, Facebook’s Libra, Ford’s vans and a case of split personality in one of the most powerful governments in the world!
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Run an online business long enough and it’s impossible not to come across Progressive Web Apps. Once you have, you might be naturally drawn to the many benefits a PWA offers, but how do you know it’s the best choice for your application? One way is to start with Service Workers: the unsung heroes of PWAs’ success and merciless Lie-Fi busters. Understanding their impact on performance, accessibility and engagement might be the key to unlocking new business value, without losing sight of potential challenges. This quick walkthrough focuses on the essential components, definitions and strategies to help you keep calm and make Service Workers work—both on and offline.
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The year 2021 will be all about personalization, integrations and connections. Customers want to experience, not just use digital products and they want a broader spectrum of services. That’s why FinTech companies are joining forces with firms offering added value. Finally, people expect connection with other people. Companies who will create communities around their products will win people’s minds and wallets. Recently, we wrote about FinTech trends for 2021, now let’s talk about top FinTech companies to watch in 2021.
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You don’t have to be a millionaire to invest in stocks, currencies or even precious metals. Trading has been a widely available option for decades, but thanks to web based platforms it’s now easier than ever. Such platforms are also great examples of FinTech in practice: how they are made, how they work and what are their best features depends both on the market needs and what their creators can actually offer. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular online trading platforms to find out why they have succeeded.
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We’re back once again with the next fresh set of news from the FinTech world. This time, besides discussing businesses, we have a lot of information about new legal regulations. Read more to find out if they can impact your company!
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The year 2020 has brought many breakthroughs. The massive shift towards remote work has proven things can be done, even if people don’t work face-to-face. The prolonged lockdown has probably changed customer spending habits forever and has impacted many industries, not only e-commerce. Meanwhile, the FinTech stage has grown exponentially, bringing comfort and convenience to everyone, even the unbanked. What will the industry look like next year? Here is our list of the most interesting FinTech trends in 2021.
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The freshest news from the world of FinTech are back and this issue of FinTech Wire is as full of insight as ever. This time, we’re covering topics from all around the world, including Africa, Asia and Europe—but it all may affect your business!
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We’ve already analysed the most impressive FinTech accelerators in Tel Aviv and in London, but we’re not planning to stop. This series of articles will be a frequent visitor on the Code & Pepper blog and we’re going to keep them all up to date. This time, let’s take a trip to the capital city of Germany—Berlin—where cultures mix, currywurst is everywhere and so are FinTechs. Come along and take a closer look at FinTech accelerators in Berlin!
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Many sports fans have a saying, often expressed on a wall of their neighborhood building: “you will never walk alone”. It shows the mass support of the entire ecosystem designed to help the team. The same goes for InsurTech—the future of the industry lies in platforms and ecosystems. Everything in favour of interconnected services, giving the user the ultimate experience.
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There is too much news flying around to keep tabs on every single one of them. Not all of them are interesting enough, not all of them important for your business. As always, we deliver only the most interesting ones right at your doorstep. Let’s dive in!
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In business, good enough is often not enough. Many people are turning away from incumbent financial institutions because traditional banking can’t provide the level of services they are actively seeking. Meanwhile, FinTech startups introduce innovative service offerings almost every month. Investors keep their eyes open, they don’t want to miss a potential unicorn. Here’s a list of important FinTech investment trends to watch—maybe they’ll bring another industry star.
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InsurTech stands for insurance technology, but this term can still be considered pretty abstract. After all, how can cutting edge technology work in the insurance industry? As with all innovative ideas, there are many ways to reach the goal. Read on to learn all you need to know about InsurTech industry: its history, how it’s used to make life easier and accelerate business, and what its future is going to look like!
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How do you filter the market data to pick out the most valuable insights? Does the amount of news and updates make your head spin? The FinTech Wire comes to the rescue with a carefully selected combination of brand stories which are shaking the world of finance and banking. This week, we’ll be hearing from Visa, Pennyworth, Monument, SoFi, JP Morgan, and NerdWallet. Let’s roll!
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App development is like professional football. Companies are like teams and their employees are like players, coaches, and managers. After all, what happens backstage and between the games is equally important to the actual performance on the football pitch. Every member of the group is crucial for success, though their roles are different. Read on to learn all you need to know about the roles in software development teams!
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Code & Pepper is calling all FinTech buffs hungry for the latest industry insights! FinTech Wire comes back with a juicy selection of fresh news, hand-picked from top headlines and press releases. This week, we’ll be hearing from major movers and shakers in sustainable investing, biometric authentication, instant purchasing, cryptocurrency, and blockchain…
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Do you ever feel like your favorite institution or app can do better? Implement responsive UX, improve helpline, simplify onboarding or just include you more in the conversation? Many customers feel that way about digital products. They don’t want to be cogs in the machine, grinding the same load every time they contact the institution or use its services. Customers want to be heard: here’s how to do that in FinTech.
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Only one thing is certain in modern business: stay in the loop or drop out. With that in mind, we’re introducing the FinTech Wire—a weekly news feed curated by Code & Pepper. It covers top headlines in finance, technology, banking, and everything in between to keep you informed, inspired or maybe even intrigued… Tune into the #FinTechWire on our LinkedIn and Twitter or explore the extended version below.
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Progressive Web Apps have gone from buzzword to mainstream in record time. Freeing the user experience from the boundaries defined by devices and network conditions marks another step in the digital evolution. So does bridging the gap between web and native applications to offer unprecedented usability and reliability. While PWAs are making headway in boosting performance and engagement, Code & Pepper investigates their key features and business growth potential.
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Digital transformation is like taxes or iPhones: present everywhere. Despite many CEOs, CTOs and CIOs being interested, not all of them have a clear picture. In reality, it’s not only about technology. It’s a tool that enables teams to work efficiently, creating even more valuable products. But first – security.
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Testing web applications in an effective way can be super-simple nowadays, thanks to many available tools. When it comes to examining basic issues, Google Lighthouse is one of the best and most popular instruments to do it, so every web developer and website owner should be familiar with it. Especially if it’s available for free, built in WebPageTest, PageSpeed Insights, Chromium based browsers (such as Chrome and Edge) and as an extension for Firefox. So why don’t you try it out on your own? This guide is the quickest way to start!
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The cloud adoption trend isn’t slowing down. That’s no wonder: cloud computing has completely changed the way we think about IT infrastructure. However, for organizations that deal with never-ending deployments, the complexity of provisioning and managing all the infrastructure elements can become a headache and a source of serious issues. In this case, infrastructure codification, known as Infrastructure as Code, comes to the rescue.
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In the app economy, green is the new black. Investors, companies and teams expect apps to perform and deliver sales results overnight – or at least quickly enough to verify assumptions of a minimum viable product (MVP). Especially today, when COVID-19 washes off many companies and the future is uncertain. Sometimes, when the pressure is on, pressing the “off” button might be healthy. Not only under the current market conditions but in software development overall. That button is quality assurance and it can be an anchor for the business, guaranteeing customer loyalty and lower maintenance costs.
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From data aggregators at the core of open banking to payment processors for digital marketplaces – many FinTech products deliver value through application programming interfaces (aka APIs). In those cases, it’s hard to speak of User Experience as such. What becomes important then is Developer Experience (DX), which reflects how easy it is to work and integrate with an API. This in turn, can have a huge impact on the final quality and scalability of the API product. So if your goal is to build a highly-performant, future-proof and integration-ready solution, don’t forget about Developer Experience. Use the pro tips below to accelerate and empower your API development process.
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In the UK, FinTech apps should be handled in a way similar to banking institutions, both from the legal and technological point of view. It obviously imposes a lot of responsibility and work to ensure the system is 100% secure, so users can trust it with their money. But what does it mean in practice? Let’s take a deeper look at the FinTech security standards you’ll need to deal with in order to abide by the rules, while still being able to offer the most to your customers.
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Every digital business needs a reliable toolset that will support its operations. And for many of them, online payment processing platforms are essential: according to a 2018 survey, 62% of UK’s small and medium enterprises use digital solutions to make or accept payments. However, choosing among a plethora of payment processing companies is not a breeze. This one decision can have serious implications in multiple areas, starting with customer experience, transaction security, and even your business cash flow.
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Payment technology remains one of the most dynamically developing sectors of FinTech. Its disruptive potential and versatility make it the perfect breeding ground for innovation, actively redefining digital experience in finance. However, challenging the status quo comes with a package of challenges in their own right. When coins changing hands are replaced by bitcoin trading platforms and wads of cash are turned into digital wallets – how well is your business prepared for the ultimate digital-first future?
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As digital finance is gaining traction, the KYC (Know Your Customer) process is becoming vital for sustainable business models. With regulatory compliance at the roots and modern software solutions in all branches of operation, FinTech’s evergreen status relies on striking the right balance between code of conduct and customer experience. While tapping into the ABC of KYC, we begin our due diligence by identifying industry leaders in digital identity verification for financial services.
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With over 80 percent of financial services companies in the UK investing in open banking products and services, it is safe to say that open banking has revolutionized the financial landscape. FinTech firms can now benefit from open APIs that enable them to customize apps and services based on their business requirements. These top third-party open banking apps provide companies in the FinTech space with real-time data insights to facilitate payments and enhance customer experience.
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According to its origin myth, FinTech was born out of the global financial crisis and the huge behavioural shift it had brought. Fast forward another 10+ years, and we are on a brink of another economic twist. This time with a slightly different cocktail of inhibitions and attitudes. Although creative and agile by definition—are all FinTechs equally equipped to withstand the blast of a market shakeout? Another week into the general lockdown, the industry’s resilience and adaptability meets trial by fire.
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In one of previous posts, Code & Pepper took you on a full-blown product design journey: from discovery to development. However, that roadmap wouldn’t be complete without at least hinting at some user experience notions. The compilation below focuses on certain aspects of UX, which come to the forefront in FinTech applications as make-or-break moments.
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In the context of digital experience, instant response is the new norm: shaping users’ expectations and forming business imperatives. FinTech software is no exception to that new rule of thumb. Therefore, our engineering team at Code & Pepper is always on the lookout for tools and solutions that could give our clients the upper hand on the market. Taking Cloudflare for a spin fueled our appetite for more-than-optimal web performance: read on to see why.
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“Stay home” is probably going to be the most exploited phrase of 2020. The consequences of global lockdown will loom large for years, turning the job market upside down. However, one thing hasn’t changed – you can’t go wrong with stepping up your professional game by gaining confirmed knowledge and skills. Read on to discover Scrum Master certifications tailored to different professional areas of the IT industry.
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Talent acquisition is one of the most complex organizational processes, with immense impact on businesses in the long run. When paired with the crude fact that great leaders are nothing without great teams, the importance of an effective and sustainable recruitment strategy becomes self-evident. Team augmentation clients are therefore setting the course for the future and Code & Pepper is honoured to contribute its unique know-how to their success on the FinTech scene.
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FinTech has been on the rise since the turn of the 21st Century and analysts estimate the sector’s revenue generation will reach $4.8 trillion in 2020. A healthy mix of traditional banks and upcoming startups give the industry a strong outlook for future growth. Successful cross-platform FinTech apps reach users across as many platforms as possible, including iOS, Android, and Windows OS. Frameworks like .NET Core, React Native, and Flutter are helping to make this happen. Let’s dive into how you can emulate some of the best financial apps that run on all platforms.
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Tel Aviv is home to dozens of accelerator programs designed to equip founders and startup companies with business training and industry know-how. With them, you’ll not only start the right way but also the big way. Not every program is the same, though. Which FinTech accelerators are worth your while and would be a good match for your business? Take a look at the lucky 13 of the best accelerators you can find in and around the hot & breezy city of Tel Aviv.
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Businesses have their founding fathers and products have their life cycles. Not surprisingly, product design has its own set of handy analogies. In this scenario, you are the fiery explorer, design is a breakneck journey and Code & Pepper is your jovial guide. We’ll take you through the wild terrain of product development: where conversions flow like rapid currents and rugged benchmarks lurk in the shadows.
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London is a sprawling economic hub that boasts a mind-boggling 750 FinTech companies. The “Big Smoke” represents 84 percent of the UK’s VC, CVC, and PE investment volume, making it a desirable place for startups to find their financial feet. Looking for investors? Connections? Opportunities? Here are 8 FinTech accelerators in London you need to know about in 2020.
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Do you ever have an impression that the concept of transparency in software development could be more… transparent? In every company, it can mean something entirely different and, just like any other industry practice, it has fluid boundaries. At Code & Pepper, we start our transparency policy by explaining what it stands for and what aspects of cooperation it involves. Here we go with project transparency explained for every step of the way.
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Let’s imagine you’ve made it this far: your FinTech idea is rock-solid, the market research is an all-night read and you’re on first names terms with the most wanted VCs. Having gone far and beyond in shaping your vision and giving your business a head start, it’s high time you covered all bases by exploring the why’s, what’s and how’s of product development. The five FAQs below should give you more insight into the intricacies of product development with the peppery flavour of our custom approach. With a pinch of Agile and a drop of Lean, it might be that acquired taste you’re looking for to give your product an edge.
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Part I of this article focused on awareness and gave a few examples of how technology choice can have serious consequences for the future of your product: to the point of making or breaking your business. Part II investigates how and why the ripple effect of this one decision can reach as far as your recruitment schedule, delivery plans and innovation potential. Mind you, this applies not only to technologies in FinTech!
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I’ve always been passionate about technology and that’s why I was shocked by the meeting I had recently. I was in my home office talking on Skype with a CTO from a FinTech startup (let’s call him Richard). Richard explained that he wanted us to build some payment processing service but, to my surprise, what he said was…
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The need for striking thriving partnerships might be yesterday’s news in the world of financial technology. Yet, as the available cooperation models are continuously evolving to offer more tailored options, the final decision might pose a challenge. Potential savings in time and costs have to be carefully weighed against risks connected with the required credit of trust: a value of paramount importance, notably in FinTech applications. If reliability is an essential aspect of all collaborative efforts, is there a key to handling it the right way?
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When thinking of perfect software nearshoring or offshoring locations, it’s impossible to omit Poland on the map of the IT industry. Being the second largest software development services provider in Central-Eastern Europe (right behind Russia), it’s a promising destination when shopping for skilled and budget-friendly tech teams for any digital product. If you’re considering hiring programmers outside of your local job market, this article will show you why so many companies have had successful collaborations with Polish IT firms and what cities lead on the Polish software development landscape.
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With more than 400 completed projects at Code & Pepper, we’ve worked out an optimal development approach, which allows us to successfully deliver FinTech solutions, no matter what your product does and where your business is located. This approach is based on some fundamental values shared in our teams: transparency, agile approach, deep technical knowledge, excitement and motivation with every new project and challenge. If you would like to know what to expect from Code & Pepper, this is where you’ll find the answers to many questions.
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“You better work” is where most businesses start… but what if you’ve done all the work you can, the product still has a huge potential to reach, and there’s only 24 hours in a day? All the signs in the sky and on earth point to hiring more people, and team augmentation is a service model that works like a charm. How? Learn about the essence of team augmentation and its benefits from the business, technical, and human resources point of view.
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Application performance issues affect all businesses, big and small – and the examples are daunting. If such a giant as BBC found they lost an additional 10% of users for every additional second their site took to load, how can you prevent losing customers due to poor performance? Get started with UX! In this article, I’ll help you understand the mechanics of performance in FinTech and suggest a few patterns that can maintain users’ attention and engagement.
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Transparency and feedback in UX are all about making sure that the users of your application know what will be the effect of their actions – the ones they are going to take and the ones they have just performed. It helps to build trust in your product, especially in the case of new users. In less than five minutes, I’d like to introduce you to a few UX design patterns / ideas that will make your application more transparent and trustworthy for new and regular users.
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