Huawei Technologies and Absa Kenya have come together to build a new platform to drive its corporate digital transformation program.
The partnership involves establishing a software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN), hailed as the next-generation technology and service designed to connect the bank’s branches, and promote smart branch upgrades by constructing a powerful network based on cost-effectiveness, agility, flexibility, scalability, security, and compliance. It will support the bank’s 83 branches and 212 ATMs as well as its internet and mobile banking services.
The move is anchored on Absa Kenya’s digital transformation process that includes building a cloud-based network between its headquarters and branches to meet its service expansion and digital innovation requirements.
Digital Transformation within the financial sector
Moses Okudi, the Absa Kenya CIO said in a statement that as its business expands, it needs a suitable network infrastructure. The new intelligent cloud-based branch network will serve as a critical foundation.
“We strive to offer our customers a REAL-TIME, seamless digital experience to enable them to bank and transact in a seamless manner at the convenience of wherever they are,” said Okudi.
To kick off the digital transformation program, Huawei and Absa Bank Kenya’s technical teams conducted in-depth discussions and surveys and assessed the bank’s technological requirements and digital strategy
in building the customized solution.
The resulting powerful branch network is expected to promote the intelligent upgrade of Absa Bank and evolve them into intelligent customer experience centers with traffic steering capability.
Facing the ever-changing customer needs over the past few years, Absa Bank regards “digital enablement” as one of the company’s key strategies. While accelerating enterprise innovation, Absa works closely with partners to accelerate digital transformation, provide convenient and high-quality innovative services for employees and customers, and further enable the creation of a digital Africa.
The diversified requirements of bank users and physical isolation brought by the COVID-19 epidemic have accelerated the digital transformation of commercial banks. As a result, “mobile first” has become a top topic in the industry.
Mobile money has become an essential way to digital transformation. As consumers embrace mobile banking, digital channels absorb many traditional banking transactions.
