[vc_row][vc_column column_width_percent="100" overlay_alpha="50" gutter_size="3" medium_width="0" shift_x="0" shift_y="0" z_index="0" width="1/1"][vc_column_text]The first adopters in the digital banking world are beginning to use native iOS features to enhance the customer experience. With Touch ID now a hygiene feature, we are seeing banks introduce and improve upon their Force Touch capabilities. And in the past few months, a handful of brands have taken things to the next level by offering Siri and Messages payments (albeit with a few kinks in the journey). In this article we explore how banks are going native.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column column_width_percent="100" overlay_alpha="50" gutter_size="3" medium_width="0" shift_x="0" shift_y="0" z_index="0" width="1/1"][vc_column_text]
The introduction of Force Touch
Barclays has launched Force Touch functionality, a technology developed by Apple that allows users to navigate their iPhone by applying varying levels of pressure on its screen. For example, customers can press a bit harder on an app to see reminders, expand emails and in the case of Barclays and a few other banks, access a list of shortcuts to various points in the app or view their account balance.
We saw the first few banks (Commonwealth Bank, BBVA) incorporate Force Touch into their banking apps in 2015, and this essentially provided shortcuts to key journeys within the app. In this first wave there was some personalisation, such as UBS allowing customers to access links to their pre-saved favorite journeys. But on the whole the shortcuts were to generic journeys in the app, such as transfers and top-ups. Barclays is the latest bank to offer shortcuts, shown below.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media="55759" media_width_use_pixel="yes" alignment="center" media_width_pixel="320"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column column_width_percent="100" overlay_alpha="50" gutter_size="3" medium_width="0" shift_x="0" shift_y="0" z_index="0" width="1/1"][vc_column_text]
Next Gen Force Touch
The “next gen” of Force Touch has built upon the initial elements of personalisation. For example, N26 customers can now see their balance and even add this as a widget (more on the widget to follow).[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media="58978" media_width_use_pixel="yes" alignment="center" media_width_pixel="320"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column column_width_percent="100" overlay_alpha="50" gutter_size="3" medium_width="0" shift_x="0" shift_y="0" z_index="0" width="1/1"][vc_column_text]Circle, a P2P payment app, shows frequent payees in the menu that customers can easily send a new payment to (in this instance it is Ross M).[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media="55758" media_width_use_pixel="yes" alignment="center" media_width_pixel="320"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column column_width_percent="100" overlay_alpha="50" gutter_size="3" medium_width="0" shift_x="0" shift_y="0" z_index="0" width="1/1"][vc_column_text]
Beyond Force Touch
There are a few other examples of how banks are utilizing native iOS features. First are widgets. These widgets are shown in the notifications centre and will provide you with account information. Note, the breadth of this account information depends on the bank, and how nicely it is presented also depends on the bank.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media="55757" media_width_use_pixel="yes" alignment="center" media_width_pixel="320"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column column_width_percent="100" overlay_alpha="50" gutter_size="3" medium_width="0" shift_x="0" shift_y="0" z_index="0" width="1/1"][vc_column_text]Another example is using Messages and Siri to facilitate payments. For example, Circle allows customers to send a payment directly within Messages. Customers click on the app, scroll down to find the screen below, enter the amount and, boom, a payment is made without logging into the app. Similarly, a handful of brands, from Monzo, to Discover allow customers to initiate and send a payment entirely through Siri. Despite some pain points (e.g. not recognizing names, and currencies) it is a handy feature for those avid Siri users.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media="55756" media_width_use_pixel="yes" alignment="center" media_width_pixel="320"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column column_width_percent="100" overlay_alpha="50" gutter_size="3" medium_width="0" shift_x="0" shift_y="0" z_index="0" width="1/1"][vc_column_text]
Should you jump on the native ship?
So the big question is, should you consider using more native iOS features? Well look at the leaders in the mobile banking world. The BBVAs, Commonwealth Banks, Barclays, the N26s, the Circles. While iPhone may not be used by your entire customer base, there is the chance that those who do would love features like Force Touch. It also shows you are a fast follower, and dedicated to providing a better mobile banking experience.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
