Global technology provider Arrow Electronics has expanded its extensive portfolio of business solutions for the data centre by entering into a distribution agreement with NVIDIA, which enables Arrow to offer its customers NVIDIA networking solutions.

The agreement means that Arrow will be one of the key distributors in the UK with access to the entire NVIDIA solutions portfolio.

Avelacom, the low latency connectivity, IT infrastructure and data solutions provider for global financial markets, today announced the acquisition of ITDN Ltd, an IT trading infrastructure specialist, headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The acquisition supports Avelacom’s expansion in Brazil, and further into the Mexican and South American markets, as a part of its strategy to develop a comprehensive and market leading low latency portfolio across emerging markets.

Temenos, the banking software company, today announced that Barko Financial Services (BFS), a leading microfinance institution in South Africa, has gone live on Temenos Software-as-a-Service to make it faster and easier for South Africans to access finance remotely during Covid-19. The Temenos solution combines Temenos Infinity digital banking platform and Temenos Transact next-generation core banking. BFS can now originate loans for customers via mobile, without them ever having to visit the branch, in just 4½ minutes.

While payments technology is removing barriers and streamlining processes across the board for B2B merchants, building professional relationships is still well worth the time investment.

Colt Technology Services has today announced an expansion of its VoiceLINE(v) service to Japan, making this offering now available in 14 countries globally.

VCOIN, the first transferable digital currency designed for the metaverse and

Horizon Software (Horizon), the leading provider of electronic trading and algorithmic technology, today announced that Korea Investment & Securities Asia Limited (KISA), one of the leading Korean securities brokerage houses in Hong Kong, has deployed Horizon’s Platform for ETF Market Making connecting to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (SEHK).

I have previously written about what insurance needs to do to bounce back after a traumatic year as personal claims soared, credits and rebates were proffered, demand for L&I flagged, health cover exposure became a conundrum and contact centres everywhere bowed under demand. Even before, this was a sector beset by the throes of technological change, new consumer habits, giant challengers and fresh-faced startups.

As in most other commercial fields, the COVID-19 crisis forced banking sector participants and their ilk into reactive mode. As a result, many fintech strategies were abandoned, shelved, or amended on the fly.

Nevertheless, whether despite the pandemic or because of it, several trends of financial software development survived the social and economic turbulence. 

Financial markets become more and more unpredictable by the day. How do you account for a ship blocking the Suez Canal? What could prepare you for a global pandemic, emerging markets or Redditors taking on Wall Street? Among these new external factors, we are seeing the hugely positive drive towards greater financial inclusion; from modern banks reducing transaction fees and encouraging the flow of cash across borders, through to disruptive startups using big data to redesign lending models and risk assessment.