Asia Pacific (APAC) is at the epicenter of a digital banking revolution. With a population that is both digitally savvy and, in many cases, underserved by traditional financial services, the region presents a unique landscape of opportunity and challenge. In Southeast Asia alone, three out of four people have insufficient access to financial services, making the rapid adoption of digital banking not just a trend, but a necessity for financial inclusion and economic growth.
Publicis Sapient, in partnership with leading fintechs and technology providers, is driving this transformation across Southeast Asia and Australasia. By leveraging global expertise and tailoring solutions to local regulatory, customer, and competitive landscapes, we are helping banks and fintechs accelerate their digital journeys and deliver standout experiences to millions of customers.
Modern banking customers in APAC expect seamless, intuitive digital experiences that rival those offered by the world’s leading tech companies. At the same time, incumbent banks face increasing competition from agile digital challengers and fintechs. To stay ahead, banks must harness the power of data, modernize their core systems, and rethink their operating models.
Publicis Sapient’s approach is rooted in a deep understanding of these regional dynamics. Our teams work side-by-side with clients to:
One of the region’s most compelling success stories comes from Thailand, where a major retail bank partnered with Publicis Sapient to achieve a full-scale digital transformation in just 12 weeks. The bank’s ambition was to unify all account types and empower customers to manage their finances seamlessly in one place. This required more than a new app—it demanded a new business model and a robust, future-ready technology foundation.
By assembling a multidisciplinary team and leveraging Thought Machine’s cloud-native core banking platform, we delivered a front-to-back digital banking solution at unprecedented speed. The result: a platform that enables rapid product innovation, meets stringent regulatory requirements, and positions the bank to adapt quickly to evolving customer expectations.
In another standout example, Publicis Sapient worked with Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) to launch XPlatform, a one-stop cloud and DevOps solution. This platform streamlines developer processes and accelerates the rollout of cutting-edge digital banking products and services. By modernizing its technology stack and embracing cloud-native development, SCB is now able to deliver new customer experiences faster and more efficiently than ever before.
A key enabler of rapid digital transformation in the region is the adoption of composable banking platforms like Mambu. Unlike traditional monolithic systems, Mambu’s SaaS cloud banking platform allows banks to assemble independent components, systems, and connectors in any configuration. This flexibility is crucial in APAC, where regulatory requirements, customer behaviors, and competitive pressures vary widely from market to market.
By integrating and deploying Mambu, Publicis Sapient helps clients create a composable architecture that can be tailored to local needs—whether it’s launching a neobank in under nine months or rolling out new financial products five times faster than before. This approach not only accelerates time-to-market but also future-proofs banks against ongoing industry change.
Digital transformation in APAC is not without its hurdles. Banks must navigate complex regulatory environments, legacy technology constraints, and the need to deliver secure, compliant, and scalable solutions. Publicis Sapient’s proven methodology addresses these challenges head-on:
No single technology or provider can address the full spectrum of needs in APAC’s diverse banking landscape. That’s why Publicis Sapient brings together a curated ecosystem of best-in-class partners—including Mambu, Thought Machine, Form3, and Snowflake—to deliver holistic, future-ready solutions. These partnerships empower our clients to:
As digital adoption accelerates, the winners in APAC’s banking sector will be those who can combine speed, agility, and customer-centricity. Publicis Sapient stands at the forefront of this transformation, helping banks and fintechs not only keep pace with change but lead it.
Whether you are an established bank seeking to modernize your core, a fintech looking to scale, or a challenger aiming to launch a new digital proposition, our expertise and partnerships can help you unlock new growth opportunities and deliver the experiences your customers deserve.
Ready to accelerate your digital banking transformation in Asia Pacific? Connect with our experts to discover how Publicis Sapient can help you build the bank of the future—faster, smarter, and tailored to your market.