Author: Gayathri

Ever picked a tech solution that looked great on paper, only to realize it didn’t fit your real needs? You’re not alone. In today’s high-stakes fintech environment, where core banking transformations, AI-led fraud platforms, and regulatory risk systems shape enterprise performance, buying the wrong software is no longer just inefficient. It’s costly, risky, and deeply frustrating. From Banking CIOs wrestling with fragmented stacks to Heads of Wealth Management struggling to find real-world validation for digital advisory tools, leaders across the fintech value chain are tired of theoretical vendor rankings and glossy demos. What they need is context. Precision. Transparency. That’s…

Introduction: From GRC to IRM to AI-Powered Risk Strategy Today’s business environment is more interconnected, data-intensive, and risk-exposed than ever before. Older Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) models, which were adequate for static, checklist-style compliance, are no longer up to the task of addressing real-time digital environments. Meet Integrated Risk Management (IRM), a more unified and anticipatory model bringing together risk intelligence across people, processes, and technologies. IRM is not only a process or a tool. It is a strategic capability that enables organizations to make informed, risk-conscious decisions. But even IRM platforms are nearing their breaking points as data…

A Year-on-Year Comparison of the SPARK Matrix 2024 vs 2025 The world of IT Risk Management (ITRM) is changing in a seismic way. At the beginning of 2024, the market was characterized by vendors with strong foundation capabilities, i.e., asset discovery, policy governance, and risk registers. Roll forward to 2025, and the goalposts have shifted. Now it’s not only compliance, but also about continuous, contextual, and automated risk visibility. The 2024 SPARK Matrix™ depicted a market that was still evolving, with integration and automation starting to take center stage. The 2025 report shows a market that has evolved considerably, with…

Once viewed as compliance-first engines powering scorecards and reporting, today’s credit risk platforms are stepping into a new role, as intelligent command centers for real-time decisioning, portfolio-level risk mitigation, and proactive regulation alignment. And if there’s one thing the SPARK Matrix evaluations from 2023 and 2024 make clear, it’s this: the pace of transformation has quickened. Vendors aren’t just enhancing features. They’re reimagining the very purpose of credit risk tools, from minimizing exposure to enabling strategy. The Consistent: Holding Leadership With Intelligence Some vendors didn’t just keep up, they led the charge. Moody’s Analytics retained its pole position in both…

Introduction Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) is no longer just a case of box-ticking. It’s a complex operation involving Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter Financing of Terrorism (CFT), Know Your Customer (KYC), sanctions screening, and fraud detection. Just as financial crime is evolving to become more complex, so too must the tools and methods used to combat it. In 2025, the cost of compliance has risen not only financially but also in disruption to business, tech fatigue, and reputational damage. Banks struggle with increasingly intricate networks of regulations, increased financial crime, and pressures to anticipate risks before they spiral out of control.…

Introduction: Embedded, Empowered, and Everywhere Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are the building blocks of the economic structure of nations around the world. In developing economies in particular, these businesses are responsible for creating jobs, fostering innovation, and driving industrialization in cities and rural regions alike. However, they are neglected by mainstream financial systems. But this is rapidly changing, all thanks to embedded finance. Embedded finance is the effortless integration of financial services like lending, payments, or insurance directly into non-financial platforms. It has gone quietly to change how MSMEs get capital and run their operations. Rather than approach…

In a world where customers expect everything on demand and are constantly online, traditional banks are really feeling the pressure. Most consumers expect their banks to know them as well as Netflix or Spotify, offering the right advice, at the right moment, via the right channel. What is enabling this shift? Artificial Intelligence (AI). Far from just being a backend automation tool, AI is now the strategic brain powering hyper-personalized experiences across retail banking. This blog discusses how AI is revolutionizing personalization, dissecting its revolutionary role, applications, advantages, and ethical implications framing the future of financial services. Personalization: The New…

In an era where every trade can trigger a ripple across global markets, Trade Surveillance & Monitoring has become a core pillar of financial integrity. What was once a regulatory formality has now matured into a strategic enabler, one that can define a firm’s agility, foresight, and trustworthiness. And as compliance challenges grow more complex, so too does the urgency to adopt platforms that are not just reactive but predictive. The SPARK Matrix™ comparison between 2023 and 2024 reveals a market in flux, vendors doubling down on AI, expanding asset class coverage, and reimagining user interfaces for faster, smarter, and…

Introduction KYC has long been an important function in the financial industry for a very long time. Although KYC is considered a regulatory requirement to verify customer identity, its scope has evolved significantly. What started as a checkpoint for compliance has now developed into a front-line defense against fraud, money laundering, and identity theft. In 2025, the stakes are higher, and so are the expectations. With growing digital adoption, rising fraud threats, and changing regulatory requirements, KYC is no longer just about onboarding; it’s about lifecycle identity assurance. This blog discusses how identity technologies are reshaping KYC across the fintech…

Financial Crime is Changing. Are We? Money laundering is no longer a background risk; it’s a frontline threat. In 2025, criminals move faster, hide deeper, and use more sophisticated techniques. According to FATF estimates, as much as $2 trillion is laundered globally each year. Regulatory authorities across the world are responding by tightening compliance mandates, from beneficial ownership disclosure laws in the U.S. to real-time KYC regulations in Europe and APAC. Therefore, with these developments, anti-money laundering (AML) is no longer just about staying compliant; it’s about staying ahead.  The QKS SPARK Matrix™: Anti-Money Laundering Solutions 2025 serves as a…