Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) has recently announced the launch of its in-house innovation lab, a dedicated creative space that will allow the bank to perform exploratory test runs, in an effort to continually improve new banking products and services before they are deployed in the market.

The unveiling of the Innovation Lab is part of the bank's drive to harmonise financial technology with its business operations, in order to deliver superior integrated financial solutions to satisfy its customers’ expectations.
Launching of BisB Innovation Lab is one of the major achievements done by the IT team in the Bank, which will be in line with the bank’s strategy” Ishraq”, specially about the digitisation.

Hassan Jarrar, the chief executive of BisB, said: "The inauguration of this lab stems from the need to create an innovative work environment that inspires creativity, thinking outside the box and brainstorming new ideas."

"We have equipped the lab with advanced technology in order to empower our IT team with the ability to pilot and test drive new products currently available in the digital market, leveraging digital interfaces within the Bank's systems in order to design new solutions in the FinTech field," he noted.

Jarrar said the lab is automated with biometric authentication for added security measures, and is equipped with various new technologies, including location-based services, self-service machines, new generation ATMs, robotics, digital banking services, instant cheque book and card printing services.

It also comprises a Virtual Voice Assistant, which will enable our retail and corporate customers to chat online, allowing them to manage their financial business faster in a simplified and hassle-free manner, he stated.  

According to him, the possibilities are endless, as its employees can utilise the lab to demonstrate potential services, identify the business value of trending technologies, and experiment with services remotely before they go-to-market.

"Moreover, the lab will play a pivotal role in facilitating the exchange of ideas, serving as a creative space, further promoting a culture of innovation within the Bank. Similarly, the lab will be used for internal meetings as a more interactive space, conducing more thought-provoking collaborations with our partners and vendors to contribute to the banking industry’s digital evolution," he added.-TradeArabia News Service