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Westpac uses Google Glass, disruptive tech to become the 'best digital bank in the world'

Westpac uses Google Glass, disruptive tech to become the 'best digital bank in the world'

"We want to be at the forefront of technology," says chief digital officer Simon Pomeroy, during demonstration of Google Glass and iBeacon at bank headquarters.

Westpac is using disruptive technologies such as Google Glass and iBeacon as part of its strategy to become the “best digital bank in the world”.

Westpac chief digital officer Simon Pomeroy says the bank aims to achieve this through a “three -pillar digital strategy” consisting of a new central Internet banking system, multi-channel customer experience, and real-time online customer engagement.

“We want to be at the forefront of technology,” says Pomeroy as he and his team demonstrate how the bank will deploy these two technologies later this year. (Watch video:here)

Westpac’s mobile app Cash Tank is being trialled on Google Glass. Customers can use the smart glass to check their balance, transfer funds between Westpac accounts, find the nearest ATM using GPS functionality, and get alerts and notifications.

iBeacon will be an opt-in service, and be used to drive customer recognition and personalised service .He says organisations trialling iBeacon include theme parks, large consumer and retail companies and those in the hospitality industry.

“We see ourselves in the same space when it comes to customer experience,” he says. The technology will be used first in its Britomart branch in Auckland and will be rolled out across all branches in the next 12 months.

These technology advances are not aimed at teenagers but core banking customers.

Simon Pomeroy, Westpac

Pomeroy says more than 30,000 customers are now actively using the new central Internet banking platform. This platform will be released to all customers by August to September this year.

He says banking services are delivered five times faster than the current platform and log-in will not be required for everyday tasks like balance inquiries, transferring money between account, alerts and notification.

The team is also developing the use of biometrics – specifically thumbprint and voice recognition – to activate a Westpac account.

“These technology advances are not aimed at teenagers but core banking customers,” says Pomeroy.

Related:

Westpac trials Google Glass & iBeacon
Customers will be able to walk into a shop wearing their Google Glasses, see something they like and instantly check their bank balance which will be displayed in their peripheral vision, says bank chief digital officer Simon Pomeroy.

The new CIO fitout: Wearable tech
How to prepare your organisation for Google Glass and the next ‘bring your own’ range.

Gartner on surviving – and thriving – in the digital world
Linda Price of Gartner writes about the new opportunities and threats businesses must address if they are to survive in the next decade.

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