Welcome to Liquid South Africa FSI and Professional Services
Your Leading ICT (Information, Communications, and Technology) Solutions Provider.
We represent the dynamic landscape of South Africa’s Financial Services Industry (FSI), where the only constant is change. As the industry undergoes a transformative journey, driven by technological advancements, regulatory reforms, the growth of fintech and shifting consumer demands, staying ahead of the curve is important for both businesses and individuals.
At Liquid, we understand the nuances of South Africa’s evolving FSI landscape. With a commitment to innovation, integrity, and inclusivity, we offer a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to empower businesses and individuals alike.
Factors Influencing the FSI Landscape in South Africa
The FSI landscape in South Africa is constantly evolving, driven by factors like technological and regulatory changes and the evolving needs of consumers and businesses. Some of the key trends shaping the FSI landscape include:
The increasing focus on financial inclusion: The South African government and FSI providers are focused on financial inclusion as access to affordable and appropriate financial products and services is essential for socio-economic development and poverty alleviation. There are numerous efforts to boost financial inclusion, including expanding access to banking services in underserved communities, promoting financial literacy, and providing digital adoption solutions to bridge the gap.
Regulatory reforms aimed at promoting competition and consumer protection are also paving the way for greater inclusion and empowerment of vulnerable groups, such as women, youth, and low-income earners.
The rise of digital banking: With the widespread adoption of smartphones and tablets, consumers are choosing to conduct banking activities digitally rather than visiting physical branches.
Several factors, including the ease of access to banking services, the convenience of digital payment methods, and the emergence of user-friendly and reliable banking apps, fuel this trend. Foot traffic at traditional brick-and-mortar banking branches is declining as more customers embrace digital channels for their banking needs.
Banks are responding by investing heavily in digital infrastructure, enhancing the functionality of their mobile apps, and leveraging data analytics to personalise customer experiences.
The growth of Fintech: Fintech companies are playing a growing role in the South African FSI sector. These companies leverage cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and data analytics to develop a wide range of financial products and services.
Mobile wallets have gained popularity and are now considered a convenient and secure way to make payments and manage money digitally, especially among the unbanked and underbanked populations.
Peer-to-peer lending platforms are democratising access to credit by connecting borrowers directly with investors, bypassing traditional financial intermediaries. Also, robo-advisory services automate investment management, providing cost-effective and personalised investment advice to retail investors.
What drives Liquid FSI in the industry?
We thrive on the prospect of innovation and growth, fuelled by the potential to make a meaningful impact in every domain we engage with . Some of the opportunities in the FSI in South Africa include:
Connectivity: Businesses can expect robust and secure network infrastructure to support various operations such as online banking, transaction processing and data management.
Cyber Security & Multi-Cloud Services: Safeguard your digital infrastructure with robust cyber security measures and unlock the potential of multi-cloud environments for unparalleled flexibility and scalability.
New Business Commercial Models: We embrace innovative business models tailored to meet the evolving needs of the market, ensuring agility and sustainability in a rapidly changing landscape.
Fintech: We explore the transformative power of financial technology, revolutionising traditional banking and paving the way for inclusive financial services.
Partnership with Other Tech Companies: We forge strategic partnerships with industry leaders to drive innovation, expand capabilities, and deliver unparalleled value to our customers.
Pan-Africa Play: We have an African footprint, and with our comprehensive approach that includes leveraging technology to empower communities and drive sustainable growth.
Key challenges in the FSI in South Africa
Despite the opportunities, the financial services sector within Africa faces many challenges, from data security to complying with regulatory requirements and managing operational efficiency.
- Cyber Security: In this increasingly connected world, the FSI is as vulnerable to cyber-attacks as other sectors, if not more so. The threat of large-scale data breaches, reputational damage, and significant financial losses looms large.
- Financial Inclusion: Despite technological advancements like the rise of digital banking, a substantial portion of South Africans are still excluded from basic banking services. Bridging this gap and enhancing digital literacy are ongoing challenges for the industry.
- Legacy Systems Security: Legacy security is a challenge due to the entrenched reliance on outdated systems, which struggle to keep pace with evolving cyber security threats and regulatory requirements. This exposes institutions to increased security breaches, non-compliance issues, and operational disruptions.
Our Top Five Products
Broadband Fibre
Liquid’s broadband fibre offers outstanding value-based Internet access that includes uncapped and unshaped connectivity with speeds of up to 1,000Mbps. Broadband fibre provides low-latency, symmetrical bandwidth across our next-generation network backbone. This is an end-to-end solution that minimises the need to deal with multiple providers, ensuring a seamless and efficient Internet experience.
This is a productivity cloud that combines Office apps, intelligent cloud services, and advanced security to help your business achieve more. It integrates Office 365 business apps, cloud services and advanced security and allows teams to work from anywhere.
Liquid Dataport
Liquid Dataport connects Africa to the global economy through an extensive network of 110,000km of fibre routes. This facilitates data transport across the continent and provides access to submarine cables. Our infrastructure allows companies to expand their operations across African borders with a reliable and extensive network. Customers can also access digital services like cloud, cyber security, IoT networks, and cutting-edge data centres.
This comprehensive set of cloud services is designed to help organisations achieve their business objectives. Offerings include intelligent collaboration and predictive analytics, thus helping developers create apps, aid customers in transforming their businesses, and assisting governments in better serving their citizens.
Google Cloud offers unparalleled value and transformative benefits together with Liquid. Offerings include cutting-edge AI technologies, optimisation of operations through the streamlining of workflows, enhanced collaboration as well as robust security measures.
Liquid has established a strong relationship with Cloudflare and has successfully implemented Cloudflare for Enterprise and is in the process of implementing similar deployments in large financial institutions across the continent. A few of the key product features include Web Application Firewall, Layer 7 DDos, Content Delivery, managed DNS, etc. Our partnership not only showcases our commitment to cybersecurity but also highlights the significance of strategic collaborations in the ever-evolving battle against cyber threats.
Join Us in Shaping the Future of FSI
At Liquid Intelligent Technologies, we leverage our strengths to empower FSI organisations to achieve their strategic objectives, drive innovation, and thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape. Contact Liquid today to explore partnership opportunities and unlock the full potential of the South African Financial Services Industry.
Why Choose Liquid FSI ?
Our value proposition revolves around our ability to provide tailored, reliable, and innovative solutions that address the unique challenges faced by financial services institutions, backed by a skilled team, robust infrastructure, and extensive industry experience.
Own Network Infrastructure: Our extensive network infrastructure offers a solid foundation for seamless connectivity and reliable service delivery, empowering FSI organisations to operate efficiently and securely.
Cutting-Edge Cyber Security Capabilities: Our Cyber Security Fusion Centre capabilities provide proactive threat detection and response, safeguarding institutions against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats. Our advanced security measures offer peace of mind to clients, enabling them to focus on their core business objectives without compromising on security.
Diverse Skills Expertise: Our team boasts a diverse range of skills, spanning network architecture, cloud computing, and cyber security. This multidisciplinary approach enables us to offer comprehensive solutions tailored to the unique needs of FSI customers, addressing their biggest or most urgent challenges with precision and expertise.
Extensive African Footprint: With a presence across Africa, we have established ourselves as a trusted partner for FSI organisations seeking to expand their operations on the continent. Our extensive footprint gives us access to international-level resources while providing localised support and personalised service.
Collaborative Partnership: Your success is our priority. We view ourselves as more than just a service provider but rather a strategic partner invested in your growth. Our collaborative approach means that we work together with your team, offering ongoing support, guidance, and expertise every step of the way.
