News Broadcasting
76% of Global Retail Banks Becoming More Innovative Finds New Study by Infosys & Efma
BAMGLORE: Infosys, a global leader in consulting, technology and outsourcing, today announced the launch of its Innovation in Retail Banking 2013 report. The fifth annual study, commissioned by Infosys and conducted by Efma, investigates how banks can overcome barriers to innovation and improve their innovation capabilities. This year’s study, which surveyed 148 banks in 66 countries, revealed that as the global economy recovers, retail banks across the world are increasingly investing in innovation as a means of generating revenue and controlling costs. In fact, 60% of banks surveyed have an innovation strategy compared to just 37% five years ago, when the report was first issued.
The study also found that to overcome the main barriers to innovation – legacy systems and organizational siloes – banks are looking towards technologies that can simplify their operations and deliver a richer customer experience. In particular, mobile innovation is beginning to gather pace, with 77% of banks deploying or planning to deploy a mobile wallet solution.
Key findings of the study include:
76% of banks believe they are becoming more innovative, with the biggest increase being seen in customer channels
7% of banks surveyed are increasing investment in innovation. This is an encouraging trend as the 2009 study revealed only 13% of banks had increased investment
More than half (58%) of banks surveyed believe the ability to deploy new systems in components would have a positive impact on their ability to innovate.
Mobile location-based offerings were cited as another area of innovation for banks, with 69% deploying or planning on making deployments
· To enhance their product and service offerings, 45% of banks are already using or planning to invest in gamification, and 61% of banks currently allow or plan to allow customers to do some form of product personalization
· Large and medium sized banks rated the top three barriers to innovation as legacy IT systems, culture and organizational siloes
Quotes:
Haragopal M, Global Head of Finacle at Infosys: “It is good to see innovation agenda taking the center stage at banks, with many focusing on increasing business process speed, agility and efficiency. The report also reiterates that retail banks across the world have recognized that simplification and innovation can go hand-in-hand to help grow business and deliver excellent customer service.”
Patrick Desmares, Secretary General at Efma: “This year’s study indicates a global convergence of innovation practices around overcoming the barriers presented by legacy technology and ensuring that customer experience channels are optimized. Many retail banks are now creating innovation strategies and underpinning them with investment which tells us that global economies are beginning to recover. As banks once again target growth process, channel and operational innovation, this will only increase in importance.”
Additional Resources
o The full Innovation in Retail Banking 2013 report can be downloaded from the Infosys website or slideshare
o Infosys Finacle and Efma will present the key findings of the study —‘at a webinar at 11.00 CET (10.00 BST) on 22 October. More details click here
o Let’s Simplify Banking white paper click here
o Last year’s report: Innovation in Retail Banking 2012
News Broadcasting
Network18 Q4 revenue grows 9.7 per cent, EBITDA at Rs 30 crore
PAT improves to Rs 306.6 crore, margins steady amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: Not all news is breaking, some of it is quietly improving. Network18 Media & Investments Limited appears to be doing just that, tightening losses and stabilising margins even as costs continue to weigh on the business. For FY26, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 1,955.1 crore, up from Rs 1,896.2 crore in FY25, signalling modest top-line growth in a challenging media environment. Total income stood at Rs 1,978.2 crore, compared to Rs 1,913 crore a year earlier.
Profit after tax came in at Rs 306.6 crore for the year, a sharp turnaround from Rs 3,225.4 crore in FY25, largely reflecting the absence of large exceptional items that had inflated the previous year’s numbers. On a more comparable basis, the company’s operating performance showed signs of gradual stabilisation.
However, the quarterly picture remained under pressure. For the March quarter, Network18 reported a loss of Rs 53.1 crore, narrower than the Rs 98.1 crore loss in the same period last year, but still indicative of ongoing cost challenges.
Expenses continued to track high. Total expenses for FY26 stood at Rs 2,235.7 crore, up from Rs 2,197.8 crore in FY25. Key cost heads included operational expenses of Rs 765.9 crore, employee benefits of Rs 475.9 crore, and marketing, distribution and promotional spends of Rs 427.1 crore, underlining the continued investment required to sustain reach and engagement.
At an operating level, margins remained under strain. Operating margin stood at 2.33 per cent for FY26, marginally higher than 1.77 per cent in FY25, while net profit margin remained negative at -13.02 per cent, though improved from -14.89 per cent.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 8,957.6 crore as of 31 March 2026, from Rs 8,317.5 crore a year earlier. Equity strengthened to Rs 4,958.7 crore, while borrowings increased to Rs 3,112.8 crore, reflecting a higher reliance on debt to support operations.
Cash flows told a mixed story. While financing activities generated Rs 83.9 crore, operating cash flow remained negative at Rs -24 crore, highlighting ongoing pressure on core cash generation. Cash and cash equivalents, however, improved to Rs 33.9 crore from Rs 1.8 crore.
The numbers point to a company in transition growing revenues, trimming losses, but still grappling with structural cost pressures. In a sector where scale often comes at a price, Network18 seems to be inching towards balance, one quarter at a time.
