The Successes and Failures of Fintech

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The Global Fintech Market​

The global fintech market is characterised by a booming digital payments industry valued at $3,403,168 million in 2018, with a total transaction value projected to increase by 13.2% by 2024. Among the largest sectors of the fintech industry are the personal finance sector and the burgeoning Robo-Advisors sector. According to market research (Research and Markets), the total market’s transactional value for 2019 through 2024 is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6%. Fintech’s rise to prominence was facilitated to a large degree by the failure of central banks and established financial systems following the global financial crisis. A growing demand for workable financial solutions, structures and frameworks yielded innovative fintech solutions for improved efficiency, better management, and enhanced cost effectiveness.

Financial Tech Companies​

The leading financial technology companies have set the standards high, with ambitious objectives aimed at solving real-world problems. Sometimes these incubator solutions have prospered, at other times they have failed. The rationale for ongoing R&D into Fintech solutions is to replace redundant, expensive financial frameworks and entrenched systems with leaner and more efficient solutions. Fintech’s advances have not been without the occasional stumbling block. One such area of concern is small business lending. Predatory pricing techniques and invasive business practices have tarred this particular segment of the fintech industry. Greater regulatory compliance and oversight are needed to establish credibility among users.

Challenges Ahead for Sectors of the Fintech Industry ​

So, what’s really going on in the Fintech space? What are the notable failures and what are the possible bright spots on the horizon? It appears that the most significant losses are attributable to banking companies and online lenders. Several big-name enterprises like CAN Capital, OnDeck and even Lending Club have suffered acute losses, as reflected in their stock prices. For example, LendingClub Corp stock has dropped from over $25 per share in 2014 to just $3.60 per share today. This begs the question: Why are online lending companies failing while traditional financial institutions are enjoying incremental growth? An interesting insight is provided by acclaimed investor, J. Christopher Flowers. His analysis of fintech companies is revealing. Fintech companies don’t follow the narrative of financial companies. Fintech is geared towards massive growth and dominance in double-quick time. Financial enterprise is typically slow and steady, with incremental growth over time.

Funding For Technology​

With tech funding, investors plough huge amounts of money into new ventures with a short-term perspective. In financial circles, trust needs to be built, reputations established, and market penetration achieved. All of these things take time to process. With fintech it’s about who gets to market first in a rush for dominance. Fintech enterprises in the online lending industry are all about pushing sales, first and foremost. Proof of this dash towards rapid growth and dominance in the online lending market is evident in the high cost per click with keywords on Google. To cut a long story short, advertising campaigns with many online lenders are geared towards growth at all costs. By working with established fintech enterprises, fintech newbies fall into the trap of stagnation. The reason d’etre of fintech is disruptive technology, while incumbent enterprises are set in their ways. This makes it rather difficult to gain traction.

Fintech Success Stories to Rebalance the Scales​

Fintech has a place in today’s fast-paced world, particularly in areas where clunky processes hamper the efficiency of important business functions. One striking example of fintech at work is in the area of global payroll payments processing. Payroll costs are a major bugbear for companies all over the world. Global payroll operations across multiple territories and jurisdictions typically cost companies substantial sums of money and they are associated with significant security concerns, legal complexities, and compliance-related issues. Fintech companies offering sophisticated solutions in the form of automated payroll processing solutions are having an impact on the profitability and efficiency of company operations. Many companies have touted solutions for global payroll, but only a select few generate the types of results that are needed to validate their adoption. The hallmarks of effective global workforce management platforms are cost-reducing solutions, fully automated payroll systems, and full compliance with GDPR. By eliminating email dependency in the payroll function, it is possible to improve data security and coverage for employees and the company.

A big part of the inefficiency problem with global payroll management is compliance. Each country, territory or jurisdiction has specific rules in place regarding payroll management. With automated payroll solutions, compliance is guaranteed. Thanks to local verified experts in place, it is easy to enjoy complete control and transparency of all payroll-related activity. Automated payroll solutions run on autopilot, without any complexity. By connecting with local suppliers, companies can enjoy best-in-class payroll management through secure, efficient and compliant payroll solutions. Many other promising areas are ripe for fintech development. Innovative technologies are giving rise to systems, products and services making it easier to manage finances for businesses and individuals, secure payments channels, and facilitate greater efficiency across the board. Digital banking is slated to double in size within a few years, and mobile payments are expected to reach $275 billion by 2021 (Statista). Various other fintech fields are being cultivated, including biometric banking identifiers, insuretech, regtech (fintech regulatory compliance systems), blockchain, and concepts such as ‘Social Money’. Each of these fintech markets is enjoying substantial investment, and adoption of these new technologies is quickly gaining traction.

The Future of FinTech​

The future certainly looks bright for fintech and all its applications. New developments are being brought to market at breakneck speed. While some concepts will inevitably fail, but offer solutions to existing challenges.​