Insights, News, and Updates to Keep You Informed.

Intelligent Document Processing (IDP) for Insurance

Sybrin's Intelligent Document Processing (IDP) solution automates insurance document classification and content extraction from large amounts of structured and unstructured documents, files, emails, and more enabling end-to-end automation across insurance operations.

Customer Onboarding via Secure Messaging Platform

Recent advancements in trends and digital technologies are drastically reshaping customer expectations in the banking sector. Consumers are getting used to the notion of having everything available to them at their fingertips.

Customer Onboarding and Intelligent KYC in Insurance

Even though KYC and AML requirements are traditionally associated with institutions such as banks and credit unions, most people don't realise that there are numerous other industries which also fall under the regulated sector within this field. The best example of such an instance is the insurance sector.

Game Changers | Series

Join us for a Series of Webinars wherein we explore the burning topics in our industry, or as we like to call them, the Game Changers. With our host Colin Iles we sit down with some of the most influential tech minds to decipher what's next.

The Future of Blockchain

In our latest edition of Game Changers, Colin Iles and Monica Singer delve into the Future of Blockchain. Monica is the founder and former CEO of Strate, and is currently the South Africa Lead for ConsenSys. Watch the webinar video to find out more about the exciting topics of cryptocurrencies, government-backed digital currencies, decentralised finance, and decentralised autonomous organisations.

Inclusive Innovation!

We had another exciting session in our Game Changers webinar series. In this edition, our host Colin Iles was joined by Tashmia Ismail-Saville, Vice President of MaRS Discovery District and Founder of the YES Programme to discuss the concept of inclusive innovation.

The Art and Science of Data-Led Decisioning

Roger Grobler, Co-Founder and Partner of the Ethos AI Fund, sat down with Colin Iles in this edition of Game Changers to discuss the future of AI in data-led decisioning. Watch the webinar to find out more about Roger's background and how he ended up as the partner of a fund that invests in businesses that can benefit from algorithmic- and data-driven decision making to disrupt the market with this new business model.

The Future of Payments

In this edition of Game Changers, Colin Iles talks to Jan Pilbauer; CEO of BankservAfrica. Jan discusses how the majority of the transactions in South Africa are still cash-based and how their Rapid Payments Programme (RPP) aims to improve the future of payments.

How to Build a Viral Super App

In this edition, Colin Iles chats to our guest, Gour Lentell - Founder of MoyaApp, about building a viral super app. Giving access to instant messaging, payments, a news service, and more, all #datafree through their innovative use of reverse-billing technology, Gour and his team set out to disrupt the status quo.

The Future of Financial Crime

Game Changers explores the individuals and technologies that are transforming industries. In this session, Colin Iles was in conversation with Absa's Group Head Of Financial Crime, Nic Swingler, to learn more about the true size and scale of financial crime and what our institutions are doing to fight back.

Is Self-Sovereign Identity Going Exponential?

As the world turns towards digitisation to streamline processes and introduce efficiencies, and we navigate a landscape shaped by contactless interactions, the concept of self-sovereign identities has risen to the challenge of providing a means to enable users to own, manage, and control their own data.

Directive 8 Compliance for Accountable Institutions

In this edition, we will focus on what steps the accountable institutions, such as financial service providers, estate agents, and attorneys operating in South Africa need to take in order to meet the requirements of this new directive as well as some gaps we have identified where certain shortfalls and oversights may exist in their efforts to comply.

The Financial Intelligence Centre's Directive 8 in 5 mins

Welcome to our latest industry insights. In this two-part blog series, we will explore Directive 8 of 2023; the latest regulation from the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) under which financial service providers, attorneys, estate agents, and other accountable institutions operating in South Africa must vet all employees for competence and integrity, or risk sanction - including a fine of up to R50 million.

Sybrin Takes Digital Transformation Services to Philippines

Sybrin, a leading provider of digital transformation services, announced last week that it is extending its operations to the Philippines as a locally registered business, with an official launch event that was held on 23 February. This move forms part of Sybrin's commitment to provide digital transformation across the globe and to support the company's financial inclusion initiatives.

Continuous Innovation and Digital Transformation are Essential to Business Success

Technology is a key driver of business success, especially in today's digital world. As South Africa is a rapidly developing country with one of the largest populations and economies on the continent, it's increasingly important for businesses to stay ahead of the curve and remain competitive.

You Code Girl! Sybrin Supports GirlCode in Closing the Gap for Women in Tech

With the exponential increase in demand for talented coders, companies are struggling to find qualified employees - especially women, as this continues to be a field dominated by men. Despite the increase in demand, women currently only hold 19% of tech-related jobs at the top 10 global tech companies.

Sybrin Certified as a TCIB Payments Scheme Integrator

Sybrin is proud to announce that we are a certified integrator for the BankservAfrica TCIB (Transactions Cleared on an Immediate Basis) Payments Scheme. We'll be taking an active role in promoting and enabling the scheme's ecosystem across the SADC region and beyond.

Sybrin Embarks on A Great Reset for the Empowerment of South African Youth Through the YES Programme

The country needs the business sector now more than ever to get back onto solid ground and rebuild the economy. It remains the most powerful driver of transformation and growth in South Africa. The Youth Employment Service (YES) is an important initiative that calls upon the private sector to help the government create critical work experiences for the country's youth.

Automated Customer-Centric Mandate Management

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, we enjoyed the benefits of the digital age where automation and convenience are the new norm. Currently, we have countless options at our fingertips, whereas in the past, many of these involved in-person interactions that required manual processes.

Liveness Detection: PAD Testing in Accordance with ISO Standards

Our previous article discussed the importance of detecting liveness when using biometrics for onboarding and authentication, the different methods to approach this, and what liveness detection in general involves. This article will take a closer look at the processes and standards when testing a solution against spoof attacks.

The Importance of Detecting Liveness When Using Biometrics for Authentication

Most of us are familiar with the countless Hollywood blockbusters that depict scenes where people successfully breach security systems by duping through either presenting fake biometrics like artificial fingerprints or with the facial biometrics of an unconscious or deceased person who possesses the necessary clearance.

1K1V and Crossfin Acquire Leading Multinational Enterprise Software Company, Sybrin, for R410 Million

One Thousand & One Voices (1K1V), a private equity fund, the limited partners of which are comprised exclusively of industry-leading families, in partnership with diversified FinTech investment holding company Crossfin Technology Holdings (Crossfin) and investor Isaac Mophatlane, today announced the acquisition of the Sybrin Group of Companies (Sybrin) for R410 million.

Sybrin's Payments Hub Integrates into Mojaloop And Other Payment Ecosystems

Sybrin's team has been hard at work developing a frontend to enable the integration of the Mojaloop software with other organisations' existing systems. In these four videos we elaborate on the different use cases and how they work.

New Open-Source Fraud Risk Management System in Development by Sybrin and Partners

Chosen for its leading experience in the fraud risk management space and regional expertise in Africa and emerging markets, Sybrin is leading an open-source Fraud Risk Management (FRM) project sponsored by the Mojaloop Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Sybrin appoints Gerhard Malan as their new CFO

Sybrin is proud to announce Gerhard Malan's appointment as Chief Financial Officer of Sybrin as from 1 June 2021. Mr Malan brings extensive knowledge of operational finance, corporate governance, and strategic business modelling to the Sybrin team and will play an important role in our quest for global growth.

SWIFT MT to MX Migration; Are You Ready for the New ISO 20022 Standard?

The imminent migration to the new ISO 20022 standard will have a far-reaching impact on the payments world, as it promotes unification of existing and entrenched standards across many existing financial role players.

ISO 20022; What is All the Fuss About?

If you are in the financial services industry, you may be aware that people have been talking about ISO 20022 for many years now. If you are not exactly sure what this entails, you're in luck, because this blog serves as a quick crash course on ISO 20022 and why there is such a big hype around the topic all of a sudden. We'll provide you with a brief background of what it is, how it came into existence, and why it is important.

Payment Industry Initiatives Part III: Alternative Payment Methods

In our previous two articles of this three-part series, we discussed the modernisation of payments and the benefits of an instant payments solution, for this final instalment, we will be looking at possible alternative payment methods currently available and how Sybrin's Payments Hub is able to support these.

Payment Industry Initiatives Part II: Instant Payments

In our previous article on the modernisation of payments, we had a look at the current industry trends, and the factors financial institutions need to consider when choosing a suitable future-proofed solution. In this instalment, we continue with this train of thought, taking a more in-depth look at instant payments and how Sybrin's offering is able to integrate seamlessly with various solutions.

Payment Industry Initiatives Part I: Payment Modernisation

Financial Institutions (FIs) have been modernising their payments solutions for several years due to regulatory pressure, customer expectations, and innovative fintech solutions. This trend will undoubtedly continue as the dawn of the fourth industrial revolution is imminent..

Sybrin SA appoints Cameo Mbowane as Head of Client Engagement

Sybrin SA's new Head of Client Engagement, Cameo Raymond Makitimela Mbowane is set to accelerate our clients' digitisation journeys. With over 26 years' experience in the implementation of Information Technology systems, as well as Enterprise Architecture, Business Operations, and Strategy, Mbowane brings a wealth of expertise to enhance the value delivered to Sybrin clients.

Sybrin Undergoes Restructuring to Better Serve their Audience Across the Globe

With that in mind, Sybrin, a leading global provider of a low-code platform and a portfolio of niche business applications to enable digital transformation, has recently undertaken a business restructuring to better align with target markets and demographics.

Sybrin and Monivation Join Forces to address Global Regulatory Compliance Challenges

Sybrin, a leading global and multi-industry software provider, have joined forces with Monivation, an innovative regulatory compliance technology company, on the 1^st of February 2021.

AML Compliance in the Philippines Requires a Bespoke KYC Solution

For this article, we will be discussing anti-money laundering (AML) compliance for organisations in the local regulated sector, as well as what makes the Philippines somewhat unique in this regard.

AML, and the East African Region

As we are entering what we believe to be the fourth industrial revolution, rapid advancements in financial information, technology, and communication allow money to move anywhere in the world, with speed and ease.

Karabo Moloko Chats About Digitalisation on KayaBizz

Newly appointed Sybrin SA CEO, Karabo Moloko recently had the opportunity to provide entrepreneurial and business insights, whilst sharing her insatiable desire to achieve amazing things with KayaFM's Gugulethu Mfuphi on KayaBizz.

Greg McCormick Shares How Sybrin Will Support the Mojaloop Foundation's Vision and Mission

Our Chief Strategic Business Development Officer, Greg McCormick, shares how Sybrin will support the Mojaloop Foundation's vision and mission of advancing financial inclusion.

Sybrin Says YES to a Future that Works

The Youth Employment Service (YES) is a social compact between government, business, and labour created to give one million youth one million opportunities to succeed while securing South Africa's economic prosperity.

Karabo Moloko Appointed CEO Of Sybrin SA to Accelerate Deployment of the Group's Strategy Within South Africa

Sybrin is proud to announce Karabo Moloko's appointment as Chief Executive Officer of Sybrin SA as from 21 September 2020. Sybrin, a leading low-code platform and niche digital business applications provider, recently undertook a business restructure to strengthen its delivery and value add to the market.

Sybrin, Quetri IT Solutions Partner to Help Accelerate Digital Transformation in Greece, Southeast Europe

As of the 1^st of September 2020, Sybrin and Quetri have partnered to enable digitisation in organizations in both Greece and South East Europe, with a view to providing world-class software solutions strategically supported with advisory and managed services.

Using AI to Revolutionise Processes

Sybrin is proud to welcome our new AI Coaches. Using our Low-Code Platform, we've developed a means to build complex solutions to process documents and teach the AI solution to extract data in the correct format to assist entry-level employees.

Low-Code: The New Normal

With the growing presence of low-code software development, programming is no longer just for developers. If you've never heard of the low-code approach to app development before, then get ready - because you're about to start hearing it everywhere.

Considering Low-Code? Read This First!

Now that we have discussed what low-code is and why you should consider it to improve and digitally transform your business, now would be a good time to point out ten tips you should consider when exploring low-code development platforms.

Five Reasons to take the Low-Code Route

In the digital economy, the name of the game is speed. Low-code platforms are emerging as key enablers of innovation by simplifying the development and deployment of customised enterprise applications.

What is Low-Code?

With the recent rise of technologies such as AI, mobile, and cloud computing, low-code development platforms (LCDPs) are more relevant than ever. We have therefore dedicated a few articles on the topic to educate and satisfy everyone's curiosity. In this article, we will answer the burning question; what is low-code?

Part IV: Sybrin's Recipe for Success

In our previous article we discussed why project methodologies are important, we looked at some of the popular methodologies available, as well as the ones best suited toward the software industry.

Part III: Waterfall vs Agile

As part of our series of articles dedicated to project delivery, this article will focus on two of the more popular methodologies in the software industry. We will measure the Agile and Waterfall methodologies up against each other and discuss their advantages and disadvantages.

Part II: Popular Project Management Methodologies

In our previous article, we provided a short description on project management methodologies, and why they are important. In this article, we will have a look at the most popular methodologies that are currently in use.

Part I: The Importance of Project Management Methodologies

In modern times, the use of project management methodologies has become increasingly vital to enable successful project delivery. Throughout the following series of articles - starting with this one, we will discuss the importance of project management methodologies, the most popular methodologies, two of the most relevant methodologies in the software industry, and Sybrin's hybrid approach for successful project delivery.

Sybrin, InTouch Partner to Enable a Social Digital Process Experience

Sybrin has joined forces with InTouch, a secure transaction and business process platform, to add a social channel to the omni-channel experience already provided by Sybrin’s platform and business applications.

Innovation Starts at Home (BluBit)

We are proud to introduce our latest innovative in-house product: BlueBit; a deal composition and approval automation system. With Sybrin's ongoing success and constant growth during recent years, one might think that we are so busy delivering innovative solutions to our customers, that we might forget to innovate for ourselves, but this is simply not the case.

Onboarding in a Digital World

For many, the onboarding process is the first interaction they have with you. In a world where customers expect speed, convenience, and seamless integrations it becomes crucial that we enable them at every given opportunity.

PART III: Corporate Banking - Reinvented

From what we've learnt in our previous insights, where we discussed the challenges in the corporate banking segment, as well as the best ways to reformulate and update the service offering, we have ascertained that a next-generation connected corporate banking platform is the key to total digital transformation and ultimate service excellence.

PART II: Corporate Banking Success Factors - Unravelled

As big corporations drive towards digital transformation, constantly pushing the boundaries with cutting-edge technology to both optimise and streamline their business processes, the sheen on the current corporate banking model may have worn off slightly.

PART I: Corporate Banking Challenges - An Outsider's Perspective

The Industrial Revolution 4.0 is driven by data, connectivity, and a customer-centric focus. Digital disruptions are influencing the retail banking sector's strategies, pushing it towards a changing landscape focused on building a new age banking ecosystem of well-connected, fully aware, and 100% secure customers.

Banking Reinvented through Digital Branch Transformation

In the digital age, providing everyday services to customers on digital platforms such as mobile, social media, and the internet is a necessity rather than a luxury. This is demonstrated by the fact that modern customers demand perfection, speed, and personalised attention, along with the freedom and control of having near-limitless access to your product.

Destination: Innovation

Sybrin has gone through some exciting and inspired changes to help our customers digitise and disrupt their industry. We are focused on enabling you to excite your customers by modernising business operating models using our user-centric solutions to exceed your customers' expectations.

Shaping the Future of Africa's Financial Services

Sybrin's Executive Head of Sales, Shiona Blundell, sat down with Michael Mugisha on CNBC Africa's Power Lunch session to discuss our focus on enabling businesses' digital journeys, across multiple industries, with a focus on financial services, insurance, and telecommunications industries.

Courageous Leadership Will Secure the Future

As businesses are increasingly exploring and feeling anxious about the latest technology trends such as business digitisation, artificial intelligence, and blockchain, I am reminded of the famous work done by futurist Joel Barker in the early nineties.

Sybrin Eyes the SARB's "National Payment System's Vision 2025"

The launch of the long-awaited National Payment System's Vision 2025 on 12 March 2018 was met with eager eyes at Sybrin. The vision document, published under the auspices of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), is aimed at building a world-class National Payment System (NPS) in South Africa that serves the economy and the people of South Africa. It notably sets out the strategies and goals for the national payments industry.

Cheque Truncation Advantages & Disadvantages

With rapid innovation in the payments sector, and a host of new start-ups revolutionising payment channels, many people consider cheques an antiquated payment mechanism.

Seamless Philippines

Sybrin attended the 2021 Seamless Philippines event as a Gold Sponsor from the 12th to 13th of October where our Product and Innovations Head, Salvatore Errera, presented "The Growth Catalyst - Digital Identities."

Sybrin User Forum 2020: Banks Need to Transform and Find Their Higher Purpose

After centuries of dominating the financial services sector, banks are facing an existential threat thanks to disruption from technology companies. Financial technology companies and upstart banks are offering low-cost high-interest accounts that can be opened online instantly, and insurance services where claims are processed automatically in seconds.

Sybrin's CEO Reflects on AFSIC 2019

Our CEO, Marius Maré, recently attended the seventh annual Africa Financial Services Investment Conference (AFSIC) in London, UK. AFSIC is currently the leading investor event for Africa across the globe and is highly focused on connecting businesses with investors geared towards financial development across Africa.

Sybrin User Forum 2017

The inaugural Sybrin User Forum kicked-off in the beautiful city of Cape Town on the 15th of February 2017. Hosting delegates from some of the biggest banks on the African continent, Sybrin had a jam-packed agenda awaiting them.

Sybrin's Paul Johnston to Present @ BA Summit

Paul Johnston will be representing Sybrin at the BA Summit 2016 in Sandton, South Africa. Running from the 12^th to the 14^th of September, the BA Summit is the official conference of the South African chapter of the IIBA.

Intelligent KYC and AML

With the rise of financial crime and the costs associated with non-compliance, as well as the growing threat of digital disruption, it has never been more important for financial institutions to embrace technologies that streamline compliance processes.