To increase velocity for deploying predictive models, FICO and Equifax are introducing the Data Decisions Cloud. The new Data Decisions Cloud is an end-to-end data and analytics suite that addresses key needs across risk, marketing, and compliance to enable financial institutions to meet the needs of consumers faster and more precisely than ever before. 

The Data Decisions Cloud integrates the Equifax Ignite^TM platform differentiated data and analytic management with FICO Cloud applications and the FICO® Decision Management Suite (DMS), a digital decisioning platform. This broad strategic alignment will enable organisations to easily explore differentiated data, uncover deep new insights, build highly-predictive models and rapidly deploy decisions into production systems across the customer lifecycle. Financial institutions will benefit from an increased pace of innovation for data and decisioning, supported by incredible industry expertise and explainable artificial intelligence (AI).

“We are energised about this broad partnership between Equifax and FICO. Two industry leaders are joining forces to help financial institutions better meet the needs of consumers and improve business agility,” said Mark W. Begor, CEO of Equifax. “Our partnership will seamlessly integrate Equifax’s differentiated data assets and Ignite platform with FICO’s market-leading cloud based decisioning software and applications.”

“Our common mission is to empower financial institutions to leverage data-driven decisioning in all their customer interactions,” said William J. Lansing, CEO of FICO. “With this strategic partnership, FICO and Equifax will help organisations operationalise the best data with unparalleled predictive analytics and applied AI, and do so in a streamlined and cost-effective way.”

The strategic partnership is focused on a connected, end-to-end development and decisioning management platform that allows customers to quickly explore, develop, test, and deploy powerful insights into production systems across the organisation. In addition, FICO and Equifax are planning to release three pre-built solutions later this year:

• A connected system for real-time access to raw and trended data that enables the rapid creation and deployment of new predictive elements and promotes data science collaboration across the enterprise.
• A Compliance-as-a-Service solution that enables customers of all sizes to support their anti-money-laundering and know your customer obligations across the customer lifecycle.

• An integrated pre-screen marketing automation solution that develops FCRA-compliant campaigns to acquire and retain customers.

“Currently, there is a deluge of data, and while we have processes to extract meaningful insights to make it actionable, it is a cumbersome and time-consuming process,” said Liza A. Yannon, director of Quantitative Analysis at Key Bank. “I’m excited to see that FICO and Equifax listened to the voice of the customer by coming together, and I look forward to seeing how they help us obtain more ready access to data, enabling better use of it in analytics and business decisions.”

 “We know there is an overwhelming amount of data in the world and we know consumer expectations are on the rise as they demand highly-personalised engagement, in real-time. To compete in this dynamic market, financial institutions need to leverage artificial intelligence, machine learning and predictive analytics to find the key insights that will help them deliver differentiated and profitable customer experiences,” said Brian Riley, director, Mercator Advisory Group. “The Equifax and FICO partnership underscores these trends and should help address the industry’s most challenging problems like streamlining the customer experience, improving data analytic capabilities, and reducing operating costs.”

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. These statements can be identified by expressions of belief, expectation or intention, as well as statements that are not historical fact. All statements that address new products and services, including the Data Decisions Cloud, product development activities, expectations of the strategic partnership, the future operating performance of both companies, and events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, including statements relating to the benefits and synergies of the strategic partnership, the potential market impact of new products and services and plans to release additional products and services are forward-looking statements.  Several factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the ability of the parties to enter into definitive agreements for the strategic partnership, the ability of the parties to realise the anticipated benefits and synergies of the strategic partnership, technical or other difficulties in connection with the introduction of new products and services and the market acceptance of new products and services. A summary of additional risks and uncertainties can be found in Equifax’s and FICO’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements are given only as at the date of this release and the companies disclaim any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.