Strategy Solutions

Technology Strategy Leadership for Financial Services Transformation

Challenge

Harmonic collaborated with a global Tier 2 consultancy in a Technology Strategy for Financial Services leadership assignment. The firm needed an executive-level strategist capable of shaping digital transformation agendas for banks and financial institutions—bridging the divide between business strategy, customer experience, and emerging technologies.

The challenge was multidimensional:

• Financial Services clients were grappling with legacy infrastructure, disjointed digital programs, and fragmented operating models.

• There was no unified technology transformation framework connecting architecture, operating model, and data strategy to business outcomes.

• Leadership required both credibility with C-level stakeholders and technical fluency to guide large-scale digital change.

• The consultancy aimed to scale rapidly in APAC while preserving delivery excellence and client intimacy.

Solution

Harmonic developed a holistic Financial Services Technology Strategy Framework, designed to help the consultancy lead complex digital transformations with clarity, structure, and measurable impact.

1. Digital & Technology Strategy Blueprint

• Defined a structured approach to align business and technology strategy, covering vision, capability mapping, and prioritization.

• Integrated customer experience, engineering, and data strategy into one transformation roadmap.

• Created sector-specific playbooks for Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, Payments, and Wealth Management.

2. Modern Architecture & Operating Model

• Designed target-state architecture principles: modular, API-first, data-centric, and cloud-native.

• Outlined new governance models to bridge Strategy–Delivery–Engineering silos.

• Introduced an adaptive operating model supporting agile delivery, product ownership, and faster decision cycles.

3. Product Evaluation & Selection

• Developed structured frameworks for evaluating core banking, data, and cloud solutions, balancing functional fit, TCO, and regulatory compliance.

• Introduced quantitative scoring models and business case templates for investment justification.

4. Capability Building and Leadership Alignment

• Embedded leadership alignment sessions across business, technology, and data teams to ensure shared transformation ownership.

• Mentored consulting teams on client storytelling, architecture visualisation, and digital roadmap articulation.

• Established talent pathways linking consultants, engineers, and architects through multidisciplinary delivery pods.

5. Implementation Planning and Value Realisation

• Translated strategy into execution-ready roadmaps, with defined KPIs, success metrics, and quarterly outcomes.

• Implemented a Strategy-to-Execution dashboard for progress tracking and benefits realization.

Key Deliverables

• Technology Strategy Framework aligned to Financial Services transformation goals.

• Target Operating Model (TOM) for digital, data, and architecture enablement.

• Technology Evaluation & Selection Toolkit (core, cloud, data platforms).

• Transformation Roadmap & Business Case Framework.

• Leadership Enablement Program for multidisciplinary consulting teams.

Client Benefits

• Unified business and technology strategy for major Financial Services clients.

• Increased transformation velocity through modular architecture and agile operating model adoption.

• Improved go-to-market credibility via structured methodologies and reusable IP.

• Strengthened internal consulting capability and talent retention across the APAC region.

• Enabled measurable outcomes through data-driven planning and benefit tracking.