“We are confident and prepared to deal with this new era.”

In today's digital age, it is imperative for banks and credit unions to have robust digital systems and online channels in place to effectively cater to their customers and members and unlock their maximum potential.

The pandemic in 2020 has presented ebankIT, a digital banking solution provider located in Porto, with a distinctive chance to advance its own digital transformation and assist financial institutions in fast-tracking their digital evolution.

The company has more than 60 clients all over the world and offices in the USA, Canada, London and Germany, 

In an interview with Líder Magazine, Renato Oliveira, CEO of ebankIT, expressed confidence and explained how his company has been accelerating this digital transformation.

What is most concerning about this worldwide public health crisis?

First, we need to have confidence in our abilities as individuals and as professionals. Respect the social isolation rules while the growth curve is controlled.

What measures have been implemented to ensure the health of your employees?

At ebankIT, we quickly chose to place the entire company working remotely. We defined remote working methodologies that guarantee the normal functioning of the project plans that we have agreed with current and future new clients. However, our concern started much earlier, since the beginning of this pandemic, when we decided to take pre-emptive steps, with the creation of a contingency and business continuity plans.

What impact on the business?

It is still early to determine. ebankIT works in the area of the digital transformation of banks and credit unions and, increasingly, with the geographical distance, many active customers all over the world ask us to quickly accelerate the digital and eCommerce channels. 

Is it possible to start designing some measures at that level?

At ebankIT, we began to take steps that ensure business continuity. Although remote, we continue to work normally. This condition requires greater coordination but also allows greater productivity by limiting daily commuting and with more focus on in-progress tasks.

Essentially, the entire team collaborates using the remote work tools available, including meetings and presentations. As an example, on March 26 we hosted a webinar with the USA, Canada and Portugal with a new North American financial partner, Enterprise Engineering Inc. (EEI), to present the ebankIT Digital Platform and discuss the future of digital banking.

It is essential to keep close with our partners and clients, utilizing virtual models of interaction and communication that show resilience, strength and security of our operation and our teams. Globally it is essential to keep and reinforce the bonds of trust and partnerships established, ensuring that we will be stronger because we are doing this together.

What complex situations do you face and how do you plan to act?

It is not strange for ebankIT to work remotely, because we have always had 95% of our invoicing allocated to international businesses. This means we are set up to work remotely for much of the time. The fact is that a bank or credit union need to have their digital systems and electronic channels fully performing, now more than ever. This will be the greatest challenge, remotely implementing business continuity plans for our customers.

Have you ever experienced such a challenge?

No, not as a company or even as individuals. We are all experiencing a unique situation with a global impact. But as our mission is to help banks make the transformation and succeed in the digital world. We are confident and prepared.