Back to the branch? Banks must focus on digital experience

The popularity and growing usage of mobile and internet banking in the Middle East is without question. So much so, that a new breed of digital-only players has emerged and rapidly grown their market share. The pandemic certainly accelerated this trend, but interestingly, its lasting effects have been most pronounced for the banking sector. The latest research from Cisco, The App Attention Index 2023: Beware the Application Generation, reveals that use of banking and insurance applications has risen over the last two years, in contrast to most other sectors where there has been a marginal drop-off since the height of the pandemic.

This is of course great news for banks. After all, operating digital channels can be seen as more costeffective than traditional branches. But before rejoicing, they must acknowledge the concerning caveat — the study also highlights the growing expectations people now have around digital experience and their complete lack of tolerance for applications that don’t perform as they should. Consumers are becoming increasingly fed up with bad digital experiences, to the extent that significant numbers are now reverting to engaging with brands through traditional channels.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, these shifts in consumer attitudes and behaviours are most pronounced within the cohort of users aged 18-34, the application generation. These young consumers have grown up with tech, and they relied on applications to get through the pandemic — for their education, to begin and progress their careers, and to stay connected to friends. And now they’re deploying them with great skill to live and thrive in a hybrid world. Indeed, they are heavier users of digital banking and insurance services, more than other consumers — 92 per cent use at least one banking application per month and on average, three on a regular basis.

While greater utilisation of digital services may seem like a prime opportunity for the Middle East’s growing number of neo banks, crucially, the application generation is significantly more discerning about the quality of the applications they use, and they’re constantly evaluating the relevance of digital services. They’re actively looking to rid themselves of a sense of ‘application clutter’ that has built up over recent years. They want every digital experience to add value to their lives, and they pride themselves on only using the very best applications.

All too often, these expectations aren’t met. The majority ( 72 per cent) of the Application Generation report they have encountered problems when using banking applications over the past 12 months and, as a result, 27 per cent claim they are now moving away from digital banking services and applications and favouring other channels such as branches and contact centres.

This spells potential doom for neo banks, and established players that have invested heavily in transitioning customers to digital channels. To avoid an exodus, banks need to ensure that they are delivering the seamless and secure digital experiences that the application generation is now demanding. Otherwise, they risk alienating huge numbers of the region’s growing demographic of young consumers.

Digital banking has been a boon for banks that have recognised the opportunity and risen to the challenge. But far from resting on their laurels, they must now see that the advent of the application generation heralds a new era of expectations. The progress they have made will start to be undone if application performance fails to keep pace with soaring consumer expectations for exceptional digital experiences.