Author: Gayathri

Cloud FP&A has spent the last two years growing from “cloud economics plus smarter forecasting” into a genuinely operations-aware performance platform. The 2024 SPARK Matrix spotlighted that by elevating account reconciliation, rule-based automation, and in-product RPA from nice-to-haves to selection drivers. 2025 doubles down on those expectations by rewarding vendors that can operate FP&A with embedded AI. It also includes scaling across multi-entity models, and interoperates natively with ERP, CRM, HCM, and BI estates. This blog is more than a leaderboard shuffle. It’s a signal that finance transformation is now measured by closed-loop execution, plan → actuals → variance →…

Introduction: Can Banks Keep Pace With Launderers? Every year, billions of dollars move illegally across borders, disguised under layers of transactions. Regulators are tightening their grip, levying record fines on financial institutions that fail to comply. In this high-stakes environment, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) software is no longer optional, it is essential. The global AML software market is projected to surpass $5.8 billion by 2027, fueled by rising financial crime, AI innovation, and stricter cross-border regulations. From AI-powered risk scoring to cloud-native compliance platforms, solutions are evolving quickly. But with so many vendors, how do institutions know which tools deliver real…

Financial services used to treat personalization as an afterthought, adding a name to an email or showing a “recommended” savings plan based on age group. That’s no longer enough. Customers now expect their bank or fintech app to anticipate needs, deliver relevant offers, and help them make better decisions in real time. As CX Tech Buzz’s “Hyper-Personalization and the End of One-Size-Fits-All CX” notes, people are looking for interactions that feel designed just for them. In fintech, where trust and timing can make or break a relationship, hyper-personalization is becoming the competitive standard. From General Personalization to AI-Led Precision Hyper-personalization…

In 2023, behavioral biometrics was largely seen as an advanced but niche fraud prevention tool, a complement to multi-factor authentication rather than a core identity defense. Fast-forward to 2024, and the SPARK Matrix™ for Behavioral Biometrics & Device Intelligence paints a very different picture. In 2024, the results show the technology maturing into a unified fraud intelligence layer, where behavioral analysis is paired with device intelligence for continuous, multi-signal authentication. The QKS Group’s SPARK Matrix™ evaluates vendors across Technology Excellence and Customer Impact, benchmarking capabilities such as continuous authentication, AI-driven risk scoring, behavioral profiling, and integration with threat intelligence. It’s…

Have you noticed how your phone is slowly replacing your wallet, your bank branch, and even your shopping app? What started as simple mobile payment tools has now evolved into a battleground between digital wallets and Super Apps, two very different approaches competing for control of your financial and lifestyle needs. The lines between them are blurring, but their strategies remain distinct. In this blog, we’ll unpack how each model works, compare their features, and explore where they’re headed. From market growth to security challenges, we’ll look at why this race is heating up and why the outcome might not…

Ripple, the global enterprise blockchain company behind XRP Ledger and a rapidly expanding suite of crypto-enabled payment solutions, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Rail, a Toronto-based fintech specializing in stablecoin-powered payment infrastructure, for US$200 million. The transaction, expected to close in Q4 2025, is subject to customary regulatory approvals. This acquisition marks Ripple’s most significant push yet into the stablecoin payments sector—an arena where compliance, liquidity, and seamless integration have become the make-or-break factors for enterprise adoption. About the Companies Ripple is best known for its cross-border payment network, Ripple Payments, which serves banks, fintechs, and corporates in…

If you could get a loan approved in seconds without paperwork, would you expect anything less next time? For millions of consumers, that expectation has already become reality. The global digital lending market, valued at over $400 billion in 2024, is moving into its next phase, one defined by instant credit, AI-powered underwriting, and lending embedded directly into everyday platforms. This transformation, known as Digital Lending 2.0, is rewriting how credit is delivered, consumed, and managed. It’s not just about speed; it’s about intelligent decision-making, hyper-personalization, and a seamless user journey. But as opportunities grow, so do challenges, from compliance…

Digital identity is no longer just a gateway to customer onboarding; it’s a continuous process of building trust. As regulations tighten and fraud tactics grow more sophisticated, Know Your Customer (KYC) platforms are undergoing a seismic shift from point-in-time verification to perpetual, AI-powered risk intelligence. The SPARK Matrix 2025 for Know Your Customer (KYC), published by QKS Group, highlights the most significant vendor movements, strategic advancements, and innovation gaps in comparison to the 2024 edition. This year-on-year analysis uncovers which platforms have advanced, stagnated, or exited, and why the KYC market is now being reshaped by orchestration, explainable AI (XAI),…

Ever feel like your transaction monitoring system throws up more noise than insight? You’re not alone. In 2025, financial institutions and fintechs are navigating an increasingly complex web of compliance demands, fast-evolving fraud tactics, and real-time payment rails. Traditional systems are struggling to keep up. The ability to detect suspicious behavior, whether it’s mule accounts, layering schemes, or crypto-financed terror networks, can no longer rely on static rules and delayed reports. This blog cuts through the clutter. We break down how transaction monitoring (TM) technologies are evolving and which platforms stand out today. Whether you’re a compliance head at a…

There was a time when open Banking was a regulatory checkbox. But today, it’s a competitive game. Earlier, during the time of PSD2 in the EU, OBIE in the UK, and CDR in Australia, most banks considered open banking as a regulatory burden. The rules said “open your APIs,” so they did with limited utility. Fintechs built apps on top of those APIs. But the value remained mostly transactional. It was compliance-led, not customer-led. But everything changed in 2025. Open Banking is entering a second phase. We call it as Open Banking 2.0. This evolution is not driven by regulators…