The research explores the transformative shift within the banking sector leveraging AI to address modern banking challenges, including the need for personalized and secure digital experiences amid rapid digital transformation. Through this study, CleverTap set out to identify where the AI opportunity lies for banks and introduced its strategic framework to help banks build excellence in customer engagement, along with highlighting key trends for Banks in customer engagement within the AI space, while understanding the challenges and opportunities faced by banking leaders. Furthermore, the company also assessed AI's role in enhancing customer experiences.

The methodology included a survey of 50 senior executives in India’s banking sector, in-depth interviews for qualitative insights, and analysis of industry benchmarks and best practices. This research covered banks with a combined total asset size of about $3.03 trillion, spanning APAC, the Middle East, North America, LATAM, and the EU.

Insights from the report reveal that 3 out of 4 banking executives may be missing out on critical opportunities to build customer loyalty and drive sustainable growth, as they focus heavily on short-term revenue targets. To effectively balance short-term metrics with long-term financial outcomes, banks need to harness advanced analytics that not only track current performance but also predict future customer behaviors.

To assess the gaps and identify opportunities for the banking sectors in the age of AI, CleverTap has developed a framework that will serve as a foundation to improve customer experiences and drive long-term value. CleverTap’s Core Four Framework – encompassing Trust, Technology, Touchpoints, and Transactions – is designed to help banks transition from product-focused to customer-centric approaches, cultivating deeper relationships and delivering phy-gital experiences. The research covers the nuances for retail banks, neo-banks, and specialized banks, providing insights across the four core pillars.

Key gaps identified basis of the framework include:

• Loyal customers generate 2.5x higher transaction value than others, and referred prospects are 3.5x more likely to onboard. However, 50% of banking executives do not effectively leverage their high-NPS (Net Promoter Score) customers
• 57% of banking executives have yet to implement a unified customer view, suggesting issues with data silos. The primary obstacles to unification are technological challenges and associated costs
• 41% of banking executives are not using real-time segmentation capabilities, limiting their ability to deliver timely and personalized communication
• Banks using more than four channels in their engagement campaigns see a 53% improvement in conversions compared to those using fewer than four channels, yet only about 33% of banks have adopted this approach

Banks can harness the power of the Core Four by implementing a comprehensive AI strategy, as detailed in CleverTap’s report Banking on AI: A Leader's Guide to Customer Engagement Excellence in Banking.

This approach consists of three key stages:

• Operational Optimizers focus on using AI to enhance operational efficiency through the automation of routine tasks and improved workflow processes
• Personalization & Experimentation Architects where AI is applied to improve orchestration while personalizing interactions and conducting experiments at scale to boost conversion
• Strategic Innovators showcase the use of AI for automating strategic decision-making and providing deeper insights for long-term planning

Commenting on the report, Jacob Joseph, VP - Data Science, CleverTap said, “The banking sector has often played catch-up when it comes to tech innovations, but customer familiarity with digital solutions is making it clear that banks need to bridge this divide quickly. The banking sector often remains a 'follower' in tech adoption. This cautious stance means banks typically wait for proof of concept before fully embracing new technologies. Our latest report dives into how AI can bridge the current gaps in customer experience and operational efficiency, helping banks not only meet evolving customer expectations but exceed them. By deploying integrated, AI-powered solutions, banks can deliver the hyper-personalized experiences today’s customers expect, building lasting trust and loyalty. For banks aiming to stay competitive in a digital-first world, AI isn’t optional - it’s essential.”

Looking ahead at the future of the banking sector with AI, CleverTap’s latest insights highlight six transformative AI outlooks that are poised to redefine customer engagement and operations:

• Customer engagement for banking is driven by innovations like synthetic data, which enhances analytics without compromising privacy
• Banks are also prioritizing emotional engagement, using AI to create immersive experiences and personalized gamification that fosters customer loyalty
• Modernizing MarTech through AI-powered ecosystems allows banks to integrate data and services seamlessly, enhancing customer experiences
• A shift towards a customer-centric approach, leveraging AI for dynamic personalization, further strengthens relationships and retention
• Additionally, implementing responsible AI frameworks builds trust by ensuring transparency  and compliance
• Finally, the collaboration with fintech firms through AI-powered open banking creates holistic financial ecosystems, offering a wider range of services and real-time insights to customers, thereby increasing trust and engagement

For more information and insights download the report here.

About CleverTap

CleverTap is the leading all-in-one customer engagement platform that helps brands unlock limitless customer lifetime value. CleverTap is trusted by over 2000 brands like Domino’s, Levis, Jio, Papa John’s, Zomato, Kotak Bank, Air Asia, Carousell, TD Bank, and Tesco to help build personalized experiences for all their customers. The platform is powered by TesseractDB™ – the world’s first purpose-built database for customer engagement, offering speed and cost efficiency at scale.

Backed by top-tier investors such as Accel, Peak XV Partners, Tiger Global, CDPQ, and 360 One, the company is headquartered in San Francisco, with presence across Seattle, London, São Paulo, Bogota, Mexico, Amsterdam, Sofia, Dubai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Singapore, Vietnam, and Jakarta.

For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow us on:
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Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release may represent CleverTap's belief in connection with future events and may be forward-looking statements, or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. CleverTap cautions that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could result in the actual outcome being absolutely different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release.

Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, the impact of a pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements. CleverTap does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction.

For more information:

SONY SHETTY
Director, Communications, CleverTap
+91 9820900036
sony@clevertap.com 

ASHMIT CHAUDHARY
Associate Consultant, Archetype
+91 8850752121
ashmit.chaudhary@archetype.co