Robots are changing the way we live and work. From those built with human characteristics to automation software, robots are becoming more common in businesses around the world. Organisations are beginning to recognise their potential to increase profit without increasing headcount. Now the march of the robots has made its way to the back office.

The challenge

IBM and Crédit Mutuel Arkéa announced today the completion of their first blockchain project to improve the bank's ability to verify customer identity.

The result of this successful pilot is an operational permissioned blockchain network that provides a view of customer identity to enable compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements. This demonstrates the disruptive capabilities of blockchain technology beyond common transaction-oriented use cases.

Like many others, I am eschewing my physical wallet and using my phone as a ‘hub’ to pay for everything I need in my busy 21^st century life. Let me outline my typical day. Wake up, go to the gym and buy a banana on my way out with Apple Pay; go to the petrol station and fill up the car by paying with my Shell Fill up and Go app; go to Starbucks and grab a caramel latte, using its customer app to pay for it; travel to the office and park in the nearest car park, paying with my RingGo app. However, it doesn’t just stop here.

Chubb today announced that it is strengthening the cyber risk team serving its London wholesale and UK and Ireland retail clients, with the appointment of two dedicated underwriters. With cyber risk insurance demand expected to increase 150% by 2020¹, the appointments reflect the company's focus on further building its technical expertise and leadership position in this emerging risk class, to help meet client needs.

MGT Capital Investments, Inc  disclosed the details of the initial phase of a large scale Bitcoin mining operation designed to position the Company as a leader in Blockchain technologies. 

Nasdaq Stockholm-listed Seamless mobile payment solution SEQR is launching contactless payments in Sweden using NFC technology (Near Field Communication). Contactless makes it possible to pay with SEQR at point of sale (POS) terminals that support NFC which is featured on almost all modern terminals, Consequently it is now possible to pay with SEQR in any store that supports the functionality in Sweden or abroad,  even if a retailer has no private agreement with SEQR.

IBM plans to establish the first IBM Center for Blockchain Innovation in Singapore.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) signed a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to amplify the impact of their strategically aligned joint efforts to promote resources mobilization to fund Africa’s economic growth. This MoU will provide a collaborative framework for harmonizing and coordinating the efforts of AfDB, the premier international development financial institution for Africa, and ASEA, the premier body of African stock exchanges, towards deepening and connecting African financial markets.

With the payment method, Amazon Payments, over 300 million Amazon customers worldwide can make an order online with just a few clicks, without having to complete the registration process on the online store. Customers simply login using their Amazon account during checkout, select a delivery address and payment method stored in their Amazon user account and click the purchase button.