1. Ground Floor 鈥� keeping an open mind
I think it prudent to talk about the foundational setting we need to start the journey: An 鈥極pen鈥� mind and a digital transformation strategy in hand. If you鈥檙e asking, 鈥渉ow do we make money on X, Y and Z,鈥� you are already asking the wrong question; the question you need to be asking is 鈥渉ow can I create a new experience that my clients will want and drive my new balance sheet forward?
2. First Flight of Stairs 鈥� adopting a startup mentality
How are you going to leave the lobby? By getting a team who is curious and driven. You need to have a startup mentality when it comes to Open APIs; a willingness to fast fail or fail forward is going to be key; not everything you come up with will work (as my colleague Lu Zurawski says, this is the 鈥榬oll your sleeves up period鈥� it鈥檚 going to be messy!鈥�).
3. Second Landing – it’s all about partnerships
A nice side table and a phone鈥� this level is all about the partnerships and who you can dial if you need help. This New Payments Ecosystem is built around sharing and working together; if you can鈥檛 have an open dialogue with partners, you are likely going to be left on this floor鈥�
4. The Spiral Grand Stairway 鈥� the innovation buildout
This can be as high and as long as you鈥檇 like鈥攊t鈥檚 the . Look at the loan department with merchant offerings, have the ATM team talk with the private wealth org, new third-party apps married together with your card team 鈥� here鈥檚 where the fun really starts to take shape.
5. The Open Air Roof Deck 鈥� the sky is the limit
What would a discussion be without the open air top of the house? Once on the roof, the sky is the limit!
When all is said and done, the Open Payments era will be about combining the knowledge and innovation of experts from previously disparate industries, to bring new ideas to life. We have seen some of the tech giants take their first steps toward payments, often through acquisitions rather than partnerships. I believe true Open Payments will be the result of a partnership between a 鈥榩ayments giant鈥� and an established API platform provider, which brings best-in-class solutions from both sides.
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