Cloud has revolutionised the technology sector over the last decade with key proponents acting as major disruptors in a wide range of end markets. Eager to recognise innovative cloud companies for their pioneering work, Clearwater International’s Partner and International Head of TMT Carl Houghton and Director of TMT Emma Rodgers reflect on current trends and what’s driving changes in the cloud market. 

What are the key themes you’ve witnessed this year?

I predict 2018 to be a year like no other for the financial services. With Open Banking due to come into place in January and continued negotiations around regulatory changes in preparation for Brexit, there’s no corner of the industry that will remain undisturbed. However, during periods of change, it is more important than ever for the industry to be on guard to retain consumer trust.

CoInvestor, the fast-growing alternative assets platform, has made three senior hires to its client team to bolster the rapid adoption of its software as a service for financial advisers and fund managers.    

Fraud is on the rise. This is due, in part, to consumers' growing preference for shopping and managing finances online, where the opportunities for committed fraudsters are numerous. One of the most high-growth instances of online fraud is unsolicited recurring payments, otherwise known as ‘subscription traps’. 

What are subscription traps? How big is this problem? What can be done? 

Q. Just how big a problem are subscription traps?

FIME continues its expansion with a new office and test laboratory in Shenzhen, China. To support the specific needs of local terminal vendors, system integrators, service providers and operators, FIME has also tailored its consulting, testing and certification offer. Its experts are already working with customers on the development of advanced digital payments products and services, using emerging technologies including cloud-based solutions, eUICC, and M2M.

Avaya Holdings Corp. announced that it has successfully completed its debt restructuring and emerged from chapter 11.   

China Merchants Bank (CMB) has chosen Wolters Kluwer’s OneSumX for Regulatory Reporting to provide its regulatory reporting software for its operations in Luxembourg, following a competitive tender process.

Standard Chartered Bank (“SCB”), a leading international banking group with a strong presence in Asia, Africa and Middle East, and Ant Financial Services Group (“Ant Financial”), one of the world's leading digital financial services providers, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).  Under the terms of the MOU, Standard Chartered Bank willcombine its banking expertise and insights in emerging markets with Ant Financial’s industry leading TechFin capabilities, to increase access to financial services for clients based in countries along the “Belt & Road Initia

Aquila Capital has further strengthened its real estate team with the appointments of Olaf Bruns as Head Fund Management Real Estate and Michael Husung as Head Client Advisory Real Estate. Olaf will be responsible for real estate fund and asset management and Michael for setting up a specialised real estate client advisory team.

I hadn’t expected the sport of fencing to feature at the recent nexo standards annual conference in Berlin. When François Mezzina of nexo member, Total, however, used the sport to explain to the international audience of schemes, merchants, processors, acquirers and other payment stakeholders why international standards for payments acceptance were so important, it all fell into place.