# Top 7 financial services trends that will dominate 2018
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2017-12-14
Category: FINANCE
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/finance
Meta Title: Financial Services Trends 2018: Key Forecasts by Brickendon
Meta Description: Discover the latest trends impacting the financial sector next year, including digitalisation, Robotic Process Automation, and Blockchain. Stay ahead with
URL: https://financedigest.com/top-7-financial-services-trends-that-will-dominate-2018html

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_Brickendon, the challenger consultancy, forecasts key trends impacting the financial sector next year_

Without a doubt, 2017 has been a rocky year for financial services; with political upheavals, economic uncertainty and planning for numerous regulatory changes coming into effect in 2018.

In 2017, Brexit was the talk of the town, with “uncertainty” a word bouncing around the [finance sector](https://www.financedigest.com/time-to-act-as-cybercriminals-hot-on-the-heels-of-finance-sector.html "Time to act as cybercriminals hot on the heels of finance sector"). As such, the key focus was on the financial services industry crafting their post-Brexit strategy, namely how to [continue having access to both EU and UK markets](https://www.financedigest.com/welding-consumables-market-continue-to-be-largest-product-segment-in-consumer-market.html "Welding Consumables Market Continue to be Largest Product Segment in Consumer Market") and in turn catering to their clients’ needs.

According to Brickendon the award-winning global management and technology consultancy, while political events will continue impacting financial services, including Brexit negotiations, next year digitalisation and data will dominate alongside Robotic Process Automation and Blockchain, making larger waves in the sector and [paving the way](https://www.financedigest.com/soft-lending-and-inflation-data-pave-way-for-smaller-ecb-hike.html "Soft lending and inflation data pave way for smaller ECB hike") for uncapped growth and innovation.

**[Financial Services Trends](https://www.financedigest.com/trends-in-the-financial-service-landscape-and-the-impact-on-fraud.html "Trends in the financial service landscape and the impact on fraud")**

1. **A Data Future.** Access to it, and the ability to mine data, will be central to everything that happens in the [future of financial services](https://www.financedigest.com/the-future-for-financial-services-is-digital-engagement.html "The future for financial services is digital engagement"). Now that the data is loaded, and the toolsets are understood and available, 2018 will see it being used for operations and technology processes.
2. **The Rise of Robots.**  Robotic Process Automation (RPA), which uses software robots or ‘bots’ to mimic human activity, has the potential to [unlock yet more value](https://www.financedigest.com/how-innovations-in-edge-computing-can-unlock-value-for-global-organisations.html "How innovations in edge computing can unlock value for global organisations") by freeing up employees to focus on value-added work – ultimately transforming the way the financial services sector operates. In 2018, we will see how this will impact RegTech, [data analytics and ultimately how organisations service](https://www.financedigest.com/accelerating-financial-services-innovation-with-the-promise-of-data-mesh.html "Accelerating financial services innovation with the promise of data mesh ") their clients. A gamechanger for the industry will be the start of the processes to [replace people with robotics](https://www.financedigest.com/human-robotics-will-robots-replace-bankers.html "Human Robotics: Will Robots replace Bankers?") and machine learning.
3. **The Reality of Blockchain**. The use of the [distributed ledger technology](https://www.financedigest.com/how-distributed-ledger-technologies-are-transforming-esg-reporting-for-financial-intermediaries.html "How Distributed Ledger Technologies are transforming ESG reporting for Financial Intermediaries") will no longer be just hypothetical. The opportunities for financial services who invest in such technology are endless from reducing operational costs to [improving efficiency](https://www.financedigest.com/improved-patient-safety-efficient-dose-administration-and-seamless-interoperability-for-advanced-infusion-delivery-are-several-advantages.html "Improved patient safety, efficient dose administration, and seamless interoperability for advanced infusion delivery are several advantages").
4. **Simplifying Digitalisation.** Business is becoming more about the user experience. Automated [user interfaces can go a long way to helping this and embracing digitalisation is key](https://www.financedigest.com/catharanthine-market-2022-research-on-user-demand-size-applications-key-players.html "Catharanthine Market 2022 Research on User Demand, Size, Applications, Key Players:") in making it happen. The [upcoming year](https://www.financedigest.com/mechanical-and-electronic-fuzes-market-one-the-most-booming-industry-in-upcoming-years-due-to-global-demand-in-industry-by-2027.html "Mechanical And Electronic Fuzes Market| One the Most Booming Industry in Upcoming Years Due to Global Demand in Industry by 2027") will be all about the simplification of processes and digitalisation.
5. **The [Changing Political Climate.](https://www.financedigest.com/u-n-sounds-deafening-warning-on-climate-change.html "U.N. sounds ‘deafening’ warning on climate change")** Brexit will remain a buzzword and continue to make headlines. As more details of the UK’s departure from the EU become clear, we will see banks and institutions adapting accordingly. Many will have to keep a close eye on their strategy if they are to survive and thrive in 2018.
6. [Banking Regulations. 2018 will be a turning point](https://www.financedigest.com/polish-central-bank-holds-rates-points-to-slowdown-ahead.html "Polish central bank holds rates, points to slowdown ahead") for financial regulation. Alongside General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and [Markets in Financial Instruments](https://www.financedigest.com/musical-instruments-market-insights-deep-analysis-of-key-vendor-in-the-industry-2022-2026.html "Musical Instruments Market Insights, Deep Analysis of Key Vendor in the Industry 2022-2026") Directive (MiFID II), the requirements for central clearing and the second Payments Services Directive (PSD2) will force significant changes to the banking environment, with the innovators and disrupters emerging as the winners.
7. **FinTech Collaboration:** One of the largest technology shakeups in banking in recent years has been the use of advanced [data analytics techniques to catch rogue trading activities](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-slips-on-china-covid-curbs-weak-factory-activity-data.html "Oil slips on China COVID curbs, weak factory activity data") within banks. In 2018, [banks will have to decide whether to service clients in house or through a third](https://www.financedigest.com/polands-bank-millennium-third-quarter-results-hit-by-payment-holidays.html "Poland’s Bank Millennium third-quarter results hit by payment holidays") party to stay competitive.


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