Fortunes are gained and lost in fractions of a second in the financial services sector. 

A trade made a moment too soon. 

A policy issued a moment too late. 

The stakes are high in this industry and every tool that creates a competitive advantage has to be considered.  Key among today’s most popular tools?  Artificial intelligence.

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology advances, its uses in the financial sector have become much more prevalent. AI is now being widely used not just to automate manual processes and detect fraudulent activity but helping to streamline customer support and provide personalized investment advice.

What’s more, AI is creating predictive models across lines of business to uncover new insights and opportunities to drive the entire financial services industry forward. In this post, we will explore AI in the financial services industry as well as a few key use cases sure to resonate.

A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence

AI comes out of the computer science world and deals with creating intelligent machines that can think and act like humans. It uses algorithms, machine learning, and robotics to understand how real-world objects and data sets interact. AI systems can learn from their experiences or the experiences and data sets of other machines to make decisions based on their observations and achieve specific tasks.

AI technologies include:

• Natural language processing (NLP) for understanding text or speech
• Machine vision for analyzing images or videos
• Robotic process automation (RPA) for automating tasks
• Deep learning for advancing image recognition accuracy
• Reinforcement learning for enhancing decision-making processes

This technology is used in a wide variety of industries. This includes healthcare, finance, transportation, marketing, and more. These industries are using AI to automate tasks, detect fraud, provide personalized advice, build design models, optimize logistical routes and much, much more. 

Five AI Use Cases for the Financial Services Sector

AI technology is quickly becoming the go-to tool for optimizing financial services operations.Here are five of the most common use cases for AI in financial services.

Fraud Detection

AI-powered algorithms can detect fraudulent transactions and activities more quickly than humans. Even the most complicated frauds can be detected in moments by advanced AI. By using machine learning, the system is able to identify abnormal patterns in financial data that might indicate fraud.

AI is also helping with fraud detection in other ways. AI-powered facial recognition technology can be used to spot suspicious activity in real-time. Sophisticated algorithms enable it to identify and track faces and analyze behavior. Additionally, it can detect any abnormalities or discrepancies in facial recognition patterns that are indicative of fraudulent activity.

Portfolio Balancing

AI can be used to find the best investment opportunities. This includes for both individuals and companies. By using predictive analytics, AI can help financial advisors make informed decisions about investments. For example, AI can build an ordered list of which investment opportunities have highest potential for returns while minimizing risk.

AI-powered algorithms also allow companies to automate the process of portfolio balancing. This helps ensure that a portfolio is properly diversified and well-balanced to maximize returns.

Insurance Claims Processing

AI is increasingly being used to automate the process of insurance claims processing. AI-powered systems can quickly and accurately:

• Assess claims
• Identify any necessary documentation
• Verify the accuracy of information provided by claimants.

This helps streamline the process and process claims in a timely manner.

New Product Development

AI can be used to develop new products and services. It helps by analyzing data from various sources such as customer feedback, market research, and more. AI-powered algorithms can identify trends in customer behavior. This could help inform product development decisions.

Another way is identifying customer needs and preferences. Especially those that may not be easily identifiable through traditional marketing methods. AI-powered algorithms can analyze customer data and look for patterns or trends. It can then suggest new products or services that could meet those needs.

AI can also help with predictive analysis. This can help forecast future market trends and develop products tailored to those predictions.

Regulatory Compliance

AI can help financial services firms comply with regulations. Machine learning algorithms can quickly and accurately detect any potential compliance issues and flag them for remediation. This reduces the risk of non-compliance. 

AI can also be used to automate the process of monitoring customer transactions for suspicious activity, helping to prevent money laundering or terrorist financing. Additionally, it can identify any irregularities in transactions. This includes incorrect payments being sent or received and potential violations of tax or other regulations.

Implementing AI into your Financial Services Business

In order to embrace AI, there are several key steps

Decide on Desired Outcomes

When a financial institution is considering the use of AI, it’s important to decide on desired outcomes first. This helps the institution maximize the potential benefits of AI and minimize any risks associated with its implementation. Having clear objectives in mind upfront makes it easier to develop an effective strategy for incorporating AI into operations.

Having a set of desired outcomes will help guide decision-making when selecting the best AI solutions. It will also provide clarity on areas that need improvement. Additionally, it will reveal whether additional resources need to be allocated in order to achieve those goals.

Lastly, having an understanding of this can help form necessary training programs and processes. Employees will need to be trained to work with new technologies and systems.

Once these objectives are established, the task of choosing which specific solutions should be implemented takes place. That means assessing different types of technology platforms. This includes machine learning algorithms or natural language processing tools based on their ability to meet your predetermined objectives. While of course minimizing risk factors like data security concerns or cost implications. Choosing wisely here can make all the difference between success and failure.

Form a Plan for Integration and Maintenance

Once there’s a decision to integrate AI, it’s time to plan the integration and maintenance of this technology. This will ensure that all stakeholders are in agreement on how the AI system should be implemented and maintained, as well as aligned on expectations for its use.

Having a plan in place can help minimize any potential risks associated with using AI technologies. This includes selecting personnel with appropriate technical expertise to manage day-to-day operations related to the use of AI.

Additionally, developing processes around testing, monitoring, and auditing activities related to using an AI system is important. This virtually guarantees that there’s always a timely response to potential risks associated with the technology.

Keep Security in Mind

When incorporating AI into a financial services business, it’s important to keep security in mind. This means taking the necessary steps to protect customer data and other sensitive information. Having secure systems in place is essential for protecting both customers and the organization itself from potential threats or breaches.

It’s also important to create a security strategy that takes into account the different ways AI can be used. This includes outlining measures for verifying customer identities, monitoring transactions for suspicious activity, and identifying and mitigating any potential risks associated with using data collected through automated systems. Additionally, having a plan in place to respond quickly to any issues should they arise is essential for maintaining customer trust.

Finally, financial services organizations should use advanced encryption techniques to keep data secure. This is especially important for protecting customer information from unauthorized access or manipulation.

Examine the Impact on Existing Workflows

AI can bring about significant changes to existing workflows within a financial services business. It’s important to consider how these changes will affect day-to-day operations and whether or not existing personnel possess the necessary skillsets to manage them.

For example, integrating AI into data-driven tasks like loan processing or credit scoring could result in a reduction of staff in certain areas. This means it’s important to have a plan in place for re-training personnel or outsourcing the work to third-party vendors if necessary. Additionally, any changes made to existing processes should be clearly communicated with all stakeholders so everyone is on the same page.

Leveraging AI for Greater Efficiency in Financial Services

Integrating AI into a financial services business can help streamline operations, identify new opportunities for growth, and minimize risks associated with using the technology. However, in order to ensure the successful implementation of an AI system, it’s important to have a detailed plan that outlines specific objectives and expectations. All while accounting for any potential security concerns. By doing this, financial services companies can leverage AI to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and provide better customer service.

By taking the time to consider how best to integrate AI into a financial services business and understanding the potential impact it could have on existing workflows, organizations can ensure they’re able to capitalize on the many advantages that come with utilizing this technology.

At Technossus, we understand the importance of leveraging AI for greater efficiency in financial services and the impact it can have on existing workflows. Our team of experts can help you develop a comprehensive plan to ensure the successful implementation of an AI system that meets the needs of your business. We have experience in designing security strategies to protect customer data and other sensitive information, as well as providing guidance on how to incorporate AI into existing processes. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you.