BMO just released an update to their mobile app which now appears to be a full fledged app and it is quite superb.  I say that based on the look and feel, the functionality, and the app flow.  It has a nice set of introductory screens highlighting the changes, and the subtlety that is included in the functionality. But the coolest part is that it feels like a modern app now with slide outs (below) and generally a very clean interface, fonts and presentation.  Lastly it includes the new ‘book an appointment’ function which I am told is directly hooked … Continue reading BMO upgrades their iphone app with a completely new interface and it is superb

I found the small print in this announcement interesting.  I go back to 1999 “The Cluetrain Manifesto” that long pre-dated social media.  It held out the promise, as yet not even close to being fulfilled, of internal staff and customers interacting with each other, employee to employee, customer to customer, and of course finally employee to customer. ANZ appoints head of digital and social media strategy In addition to her focus on external audiences, Gome will also have responsibility for ANZ’s internal digital media assets including the corporate intranet and the introduction of social collaboration tools, and for the internal … Continue reading Role of head at ANZ digital and social media strategy reminds me of … “Markets are conversations – Markets consist of human beings, not demographic sectors”

The Mobile World Congress is on this week in Barcelona.  The big backstory this year seems to be the fear amongst the telco’s otherwise known as MNO apparently.  (Mobile Network Operators). There are two seismic shifts going one – one nascent and one well along. Payments and the disintermediation of MNO’s: Dave Birch covered every possible acronym in this pitch to MNO’s (Telco’s) that they needn’t worry.  This issue concerns something known as the Secure Element (SE).  This is a piece of hardware in mobile phones that controls the information flow inside your phone between the proximity / vicinity interface … Continue reading Mobile World Congress 2014 | next on the horizon–mobile payments and exponential growth of internet connected devices

Humans are interesting.  We speak casually about trends, end of book shops, paperless, cashless, but we continue to be surprised at our own predictions.  Witness Office Depot share price following their investor guidance indicating 2014 revenue will be less than 2013.  It does make me wonder when we will see this with traditional banks. For 2014, market trends are expected to remain challenging across our product lines and distribution channels. Consequently, Office Depot expects total company sales to be lower than 2013 pro forma combined sales. Office Depot – It is going to be a challenging year peddling pens ft.com Continue reading Funny how our own obvious predictions actually come true – look at Office Max

Over at Business Insider a link to a brilliant analysis graphic using Craigslist as an example of new services that have taken individual services in Craigslist and made a business out of it.  But the interesting one is this graphic from same source at Alexander Pease blog that demonstrates the degree that is already happening to bank services.  This is a topic that this blog talked about a lot several years ago, but now it is getting the attention of the Venture Capital community.  Traditional banks need to look over their shoulder. Continue reading Graphic that represents the current startup activity focussed on disaggregation of bank services | Pease Blog

Heenan Blaikie, 5th largest law firm in Canada (534 +/- employees) are closing down following weeks of rumours, and many significant exits by senior lawyers recently. Heenan Blaikie, law firm home to Trudeau and Chrétien, closing down | CBC “I am deeply saddened to learn that the partners of Heenan Blaikie have decided to dissolve the firm. I am particularly distressed by the fact that hundreds of lawyers and members of the Heenan Blaikie staff, who have together provided the highest quality of legal services to their clients, will have their lives disrupted,” the email said. Support staff at the … Continue reading 5th largest law firm in Canada, Heenan Blaikie close down – a sign of the times