Cecabank and Microsoft has created the mobile-device-based customer signature capture and digitisation technology (SFD in its Spanish initials) CaixaBank uses on its new advanced financial workstations. These devices are one of the institution's key technologies in its new commercial strategy, CaixaNegocios, and its new branch model, first deployed at its A Diagonal branch office.
The new advanced mobile financial workstations have been devised to facilitate close relationships between Caixabank's customers and managers, as both share the terminal while the customer is being given advice. Once completed, the operation can be formalised on the screen of the device using the biometric digitised signature developed by Cecabank. The SFD has been developed using a Windows 8 environment for the first time, making it available on the leading system with which to combine traditional corporate work tools with cutting-edge mobile applications. Both environments are therefore integrated on a single device.
The technology has been implemented in CaixaNegocios, CaixaBank's new commercial strategy to strengthen links with business customers, the self-employed, professionals, and micro-enterprises. Mobile devices mean CaixaBank's managers can travel to the customer's business premises to provide advice and products and services can be contracted from the terminal.
CaixaBank currently has 2,600 managers using the system. The bank also plans to install advanced mobile financial workstations in its A offices, a new design of office which aims to address new customer needs and patterns of work by brining the bank branch experience to the retail world. The institution has deployed this model at its A Diagonal branch, which opened in November 2013 on Barcelona's Avenida Diagonal.
Secure document signing with capture of biometric data
The purpose of SFD is to replace documents with handwritten signatures with electronic documents in which the signature is stored in biometric electronic format in a way that is entirely secure and has full legal validity. The system's full legal validity and technology security guarantees are independently audited and certified.
The SFD allows several objectives to be met: document digitisation at source, more efficient business processes; transformation of the relationship with the customer in the multichannel environment and, in particular, when on the move; reduced operating risks; cost savings; reduced environmental impact; and fraud prevention.
Cecabank's SFD is a key application in spurring the adoption of a wide range of Windows 8 devices (2in1, detachable, tablet, etc.) offering a new, more dynamic, fluid, and innovative way of working. As one of the leading innovations in the financial sector in recent years, the system has earned various national and international accolades.
It is currently implemented on special-purpose devices or pre-Windows 8 operating systems at over 10,000 branches and on more than 30,000 tablets. Over 500 million transactions are estimated to have been signed using the system. Its scope includes branches' whole range of commercial and administrative activity (contracts, transactions, applications, formalities, etc.)
Banks, credit unions, and other sectors such as temporary employment agencies, retailers, hotels, the motor trade, public authorities, etc. use the system, as well as most CECA member entities.
