Driving Change Through Trust – How Financial Institutions Master Digitalization, AI, and Regulation
News, 19/05/2025
A conversation with Thomas Heinz, Chief Growth Officer at Sopra Financial Technology
Recently, experts from the financial and tech industries came together at WealthTech Connect 2025. Fincite, a provider of WealthTech software, hosted the event featuring 20 top speakers. The agenda included key topics such as artificial intelligence, open finance, digital assets, and regulatory trends. Among the speakers was Thomas Heinz, Chief Growth Officer at Sopra Financial Technology, who spoke about new demands in wealth management—and why trust, technology, and collaborative execution are more interconnected than ever.
In this interview, he explains why many financial service providers have bold digital ideas but often struggle with implementation—and what it means to achieve goals not by building everything in-house, but by leveraging managed services.
Mr. Heinz, customer expectations are changing noticeably. How are financial service providers responding?
Thomas Heinz: We’re seeing that customers primarily expect simplicity. They want to manage their financial affairs in a way that’s intuitive, secure, and flexible—whether it's traditional account models or innovative products like digital assets. Financial institutions need to design services that fit seamlessly into people’s everyday lives. This doesn’t work with siloed solutions, but rather with integrated systems that combine technology and user needs. We accompany many of our clients on this journey—with deep respect for their core business and a strong commitment to building sustainable solutions together.
Generative AI is often described as a gamechanger. What role does it really play in innovation?
Thomas Heinz: AI—especially generative AI—has the potential to fundamentally change how we work. But it must be embedded responsibly. In the financial world, it’s not just about enthusiasm for innovation. It’s also about trust, security, and regulatory compliance. That’s why we support our clients in viewing AI not as a stand-alone tool, but as part of a holistic architecture. First, the technological foundation must be solid—this includes data flows, security, governance, and transparency. Then, AI can create real added value—through more efficient processes, better decisions, and services that truly resonate with people.
The will to innovate is clearly present in many organizations, yet implementation often fails. Why?
Thomas Heinz: Because the technical prerequisites are often missing. Companies struggle with outdated core systems, limited data availability, and isolated IT structures. Legal uncertainties—especially when using non-European cloud platforms—only add to the challenges. These hurdles mean that while innovative ideas are pitched, they’re often blocked internally. Progress requires a stable, open, and compliant technological foundation.
In such a complex digital environment, how can sustainable growth be achieved?
Thomas Heinz: Not through a “do-it-all-yourself” mindset. Many organizations hesitate to outsource, even though they face staff shortages and rising cost pressure. But experiences from other countries show: those who strategically delegate to experienced partners free up resources for what truly matters. Long-term resilience arises when institutions strengthen their core business while staying open to partnerships. It’s about building ecosystems that focus on customer value, technical agility, and regulatory security. At Sopra Financial Technology, we see ourselves as part of this ecosystem—not just as a service provider, but as a reliable partner who listens, thinks ahead, and contributes. Because sustainable growth doesn't come from speed alone—it’s built on trust, responsibility, and collaboration.
What does this mean for banks' digital strategies?
Thomas Heinz: Digitalization is not a project with an end date—it’s a continuous development process. A sustainable strategy acknowledges that and provides the structures needed for ongoing adaptation and evolution. It’s not about individual tools, but about the ability to integrate innovation into daily operations in a controlled way.
This is exactly where our Managed Services 2.0 approach comes in. It goes far beyond traditional IT outsourcing by combining technological renewal, regulatory security, and operational integration. Financial institutions can achieve this when they embrace partnerships with technology and process experts who are willing to take responsibility. Regulation must be considered early on. "Compliance by Design" isn’t just a buzzword for us—it’s standard practice. We believe that when security, transparency, and data protection are embedded from the start, new opportunities emerge. With Managed Services 2.0, we offer an operating model that unites technological progress and regulatory assurance right from the beginning—tailored to the high demands of the financial industry.
Would you like to learn more about Managed Services 2.0?