How Data and AI are reshaping banking

In this interview, Dominique Sanjivy, Data Manager at Axians Data & AI, explains why strong data architecture is now essential for banks, how legacy environments can be modernized, and what role Axians plays in helping financial institutions turn data into operational and customer value. 

 

Banks are often “data-rich but insight-poor.” What are the main barriers and how does Axians’ approach help overcome them? 

The main barrier is still the legacy environment. Most banks were not built for cloud-native, AI-driven operations, so modernization is often complex. On top of that, the sector is highly regulated, especially in Europe, with strong requirements around security, sovereignty and compliance. 

Axians helps banks modernize in a way that is both practical and compliant. That can mean redesigning data architecture, connecting existing systems more effectively, or creating secure environments such as private cloud models. For example, a major bank in France chose to build a private-cloud approach inside its own infrastructure to combine flexibility with full control over data and security. 

 

How does data concretely transform decision-making and operational performance? Can you share an example where Axians made a real impact? 

A good example is consumer lending. In the past, loan applications often required manual review, supporting documents and several interactions with a bank adviser. Today, with the right data and automation in place, much of that process can be digitized. 

A customer can apply online, answer a series of questions, and in some cases receive an answer within minutes. That improves operational efficiency by reducing manual work and speeding up processing times. It also improves decision-making, because the bank can rely on structured data and automated rules rather than fragmented, manual workflows. 

Data also helps banks better understand their customers, so they can target offers more accurately and improve commercial performance. 

 

How can banks leverage data and AI to improve customer experience at scale? And how does Axians support this implementation while ensuring compliance? 

Customer expectations have changed. People now expect the same speed, simplicity and personalization from their bank that they get from digital-native services. Data and AI help banks meet those expectations by enabling smoother onboarding, self-service processes, personalized recommendations and more responsive digital interactions. 

But in banking, customer experience cannot come at the expense of compliance. That is why Axians supports clients not only on the technology side, but also on governance, security and regulatory alignment. Our role is to help banks deploy useful AI and data solutions while ensuring they are adapted to the realities of a highly regulated sector. 

In short, we help combine innovation, trust and compliance in the same transformation journey. 

 

What major trends will transform banking in the coming years, and what role does Axians aim to play? 

One major trend is the continued automation of banking processes, both customer-facing and internal. AI and data will increasingly be used to improve efficiency, accelerate decisions and reduce manual work. 

At the same time, digital-native banks will continue to raise customer expectations. Traditional banks need to keep evolving if they want to remain competitive. 

Axians aims to be a trusted partner in that transformation. We help banks identify the most relevant use cases, define realistic roadmaps and turn data and AI into concrete business value. Through initiatives such as our Data Journey workshops, we work with decision-makers to explore trends, prioritize projects and prepare the next steps in their transformation.