Huawei partners with Absa Bank Kenya to promote digital banking

Chinese telecoms giant Huawei on Friday said it had partnered with Absa Bank Kenya to promote digital banking services in the country and ensure financial services were aligned with evolving needs of a young clientele base.

Through a partnership with Absa Bank Kenya, Huawei technologies will support the establishment of a cutting-edge platform to power the bank's corporate digital transformation, said the Chinese technology firm in a statement issued in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.

"The partnership involves establishing a software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN), hailed as the next generation technology and service designed to connect the bank's branches, and promote smart branch upgrades by constructing a powerful network based on cost-effectiveness, agility, flexibility, scalability, security, and compliance," read the statement.

It noted that Absa's 83 branches countrywide alongside 212 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), and internet and mobile banking services will benefit from the digital platform.

The Huawei, Absa Bank Kenya partnership is anchored on the bank's digital transformation process that includes creating a cloud-based network between its headquarters and branches to facilitate service expansion.

Moses Okudi, the Absa Bank Kenya Chief Information Officer (CIO), said that a robust digital infrastructure will be critical to quality service delivery in a rapidly evolving financial services landscape.

"We strive to offer our customers a real-time, seamless digital experience to enable them to bank and transact seamlessly at the convenience of wherever they are," said Okudi.

Technical teams from Huawei and Absa Bank Kenya have already conducted in-depth discussions and surveys to ensure the rollout of the bank's digital transformation strategy was devoid of hitches.

By transitioning to digital and intelligent customer care services, the bank will sustain the momentum that peaked at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when cashless transactions became the norm, said Okudi.

He added that digital banking is set to accelerate in Kenya thanks to supportive infrastructure, policies, and regulations as well as a critical mass of tech-savvy youth.