Flevy Management Insights Case Study
Strategic Digital Transformation for Financial Services in Emerging Markets


Fortune 500 companies typically bring on global consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, and Accenture, or boutique consulting firms specializing in Product Go-to-Market Strategy to thoroughly analyze their unique business challenges and competitive situations. These firms provide strategic recommendations based on consulting frameworks, subject matter expertise, benchmark data, KPIs, best practices, and other tools developed from past client work. We followed this management consulting approach for this case study.

TLDR A leading financial services firm experienced a 20% drop in customer acquisition and a 15% rise in churn due to rapid digitization and fintech competition, alongside regulatory and economic pressures. Their successful digital transformation boosted customer satisfaction, reduced churn, and drove market share and revenue growth from new products, underscoring the need to align Cultural Transformation with digital strategies.

Reading time: 11 minutes

Consider this scenario: A prominent financial services firm operating in emerging markets is in the midst of redefining its product go-to-market strategy.

The organization faces a 20% decline in customer acquisition rates and a 15% increase in customer churn, attributed to the rapid digitization of financial services and heightened competition from fintech startups. Externally, regulatory changes and economic fluctuations in these markets pose additional challenges. The primary strategic objective of the organization is to leverage digital innovation to enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and regain its competitive edge in the market.



The financial services firm is at a critical juncture, with digital disruption reshaping the landscape and customer expectations evolving faster than ever before. The rapid rise of fintech competitors, leveraging cutting-edge technology to offer seamless customer experiences, has significantly dented the organization's market position. Internally, legacy systems and resistance to change have stifled innovation and agility, hindering the organization's ability to respond to these market dynamics effectively.

Environmental Assessment

The financial services industry in emerging markets is undergoing a transformative phase, driven by digital innovation and shifting customer preferences. The pace of change has accelerated, with technology playing a pivotal role in defining market leaders.

We analyze the competitive landscape and market dynamics by looking into the structural forces that shape the industry:

  • Internal Rivalry: High, fueled by the entry of agile fintech companies and the expansion of traditional banks into digital services.
  • Supplier Power: Moderate, given the increasing availability of technology solutions and platforms that enable digital financial services.
  • Buyer Power: High, as customers have more choices and are more willing to switch providers for better digital experiences.
  • Threat of New Entrants: Very high, due to the lower barriers to entry in the digital space and the attractiveness of emerging markets.
  • Threat of Substitutes: High, with alternative financial services such as mobile money and peer-to-peer lending gaining popularity.

Emerging trends indicate a rapid shift towards digital banking, increased use of artificial intelligence for personalized services, and a greater focus on cybersecurity. These dynamics present both opportunities and risks:

  • Adoption of digital channels offers the opportunity to reach new customer segments and enhance service delivery but requires significant investment in technology and a shift in organizational culture.
  • Regulatory evolution can provide a clearer path for innovation but also introduces compliance risks that need to be navigated carefully.
  • The growing emphasis on data protection and privacy presents a challenge in managing customer data but also offers a chance to build trust through robust security measures.

A PEST analysis reveals that political instability and regulatory changes in emerging markets could impact operations. Economic fluctuations affect customer spending behavior, while social shifts towards digital services increase demand for online financial services. Technological advancements offer opportunities for innovation but also pose challenges in cybersecurity and data management.

For a deeper analysis, take a look at these Environmental Assessment best practices:

Strategic Analysis Model (Excel workbook)
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Porter's Five Forces (26-slide PowerPoint deck)
Market Entry Strategy Toolkit (109-slide PowerPoint deck)
PEST Analysis (11-slide PowerPoint deck)
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Internal Assessment

The organization's internal capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses reflect its longstanding presence in the market, with strong brand recognition and an extensive customer base. However, challenges in embracing digital transformation and innovating rapidly to meet customer expectations have emerged as critical weaknesses.

SWOT Analysis

The strengths of the organization lie in its market knowledge and customer base. Opportunities exist in harnessing digital technologies to create innovative financial products and improve customer experience. Weaknesses include slow adoption of technology and resistance to change, while external threats come from fintech startups and changing regulatory environments.

Resource-Based View Analysis

The organization's resources, such as its brand reputation and customer relationships, are valuable but not fully leveraged due to operational inefficiencies and outdated technology. Enhancing digital capabilities and fostering a culture of innovation could transform these resources into a competitive advantage.

Gap Analysis

There is a significant gap between the current state of digital capabilities and the desired state necessary to compete effectively in the digital age. Addressing gaps in digital infrastructure, customer data analytics, and digital product development is critical for strategic renewal.

Strategic Initiatives

  • Digital Customer Experience Transformation: This initiative aims to overhaul the customer journey through digital channels, enhancing accessibility, convenience, and personalization. The intended impact is to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty. Value creation will stem from improved customer retention rates and acquisition. Resources required include investments in digital platforms, data analytics capabilities, and customer relationship management systems.
  • Agile Operational Model Implementation: To improve responsiveness and efficiency, the organization will adopt an agile operational model. This will enable faster product development cycles and more effective response to market changes, driving operational excellence. The source of value creation lies in reduced time to market and increased innovation. This initiative will require training and cultural change management efforts.
  • Product Go-to-Market Strategy Enhancement: Focusing on digital financial products, this initiative will refine the product development and launch processes to better meet market demands and customer needs. The expected outcome is an increased market share and revenue growth from new digital products. This will necessitate resources in market research, product development, and marketing.

Product Go-to-Market Strategy Implementation KPIs

KPIS are crucial throughout the implementation process. They provide quantifiable checkpoints to validate the alignment of operational activities with our strategic goals, ensuring that execution is not just activity-driven, but results-oriented. Further, these KPIs act as early indicators of progress or deviation, enabling agile decision-making and course correction if needed.


In God we trust. All others must bring data.
     – W. Edwards Deming

  • Customer Satisfaction Score: Monitoring changes in customer satisfaction will indicate the success of the digital customer experience transformation.
  • Time to Market for New Products: A reduction in the time to market will reflect the increased agility and efficiency gained through operational changes.
  • Market Share and Revenue Growth: Tracking market share and revenue growth from new digital products will measure the effectiveness of the go-to-market strategy.

These KPIs provide insights into the organization's progress towards enhancing its competitive position in the digital age. They will help in identifying areas of success and those requiring further attention, ensuring that the strategic initiatives are achieving their intended outcomes.

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Product Go-to-Market Strategy Best Practices

To improve the effectiveness of implementation, we can leverage best practice documents in Product Go-to-Market Strategy. These resources below were developed by management consulting firms and Product Go-to-Market Strategy subject matter experts.

Product Go-to-Market Strategy Deliverables

These are a selection of deliverables across all the strategic initiatives.

  • Digital Transformation Roadmap (PPT)
  • Agile Operational Model Framework (PPT)
  • Product Go-to-Market Strategy Plan (PPT)
  • Customer Experience Enhancement Report (PPT)
  • Market Share Growth Analysis (Excel)

Explore more Product Go-to-Market Strategy deliverables

Digital Customer Experience Transformation

The Value Proposition Canvas (VPC) was chosen to guide the Digital Customer Experience Transformation initiative. Developed by Alexander Osterwalder, the VPC is instrumental in ensuring that products and services are designed around the customer's needs and wants. It was particularly beneficial for this initiative as it allowed the organization to deeply understand its digital customers' needs, pain points, and gain creators, ensuring the digital transformation efforts were precisely aligned with customer expectations.

The organization implemented the Value Proposition Canvas through the following steps:

  • Conducted comprehensive customer interviews and market research to map out customer profiles, focusing on their jobs, pains, and gains in the context of digital financial services.
  • Aligned the digital service offerings with the customer profiles to ensure that every digital touchpoint and feature addressed specific customer needs, effectively reducing pain points and enhancing gain creators.
  • Iteratively tested and refined the digital customer journey maps based on feedback from a select group of customers, ensuring the final digital experience was customer-centric and intuitive.

Additionally, the Customer Journey Mapping (CJM) framework was applied to visualize the end-to-end experience of customers interacting with digital channels. This framework was crucial in identifying key touchpoints where the customer experience could be enhanced to increase satisfaction and engagement.

The application of CJM involved:

  • Mapping out all existing digital touchpoints and evaluating them against customer expectations and experiences to identify gaps and areas for improvement.
  • Designing new touchpoints, or modifying existing ones, to create a seamless and engaging digital customer journey, incorporating elements such as personalized financial advice and real-time support.
  • Implementing feedback loops at critical touchpoints to continuously gather customer insights and adapt the digital experience accordingly.

The implementation of the Value Proposition Canvas and Customer Journey Mapping frameworks significantly improved the digital customer experience. Customer satisfaction scores saw a notable increase, and the organization experienced a reduction in churn rates. These frameworks ensured that the digital transformation efforts were deeply rooted in customer insights, leading to a more engaging and valuable digital service offering.

Agile Operational Model Implementation

The organization adopted the Scrum framework to transition to an agile operational model. Scrum, a subset of Agile methodology, is designed to facilitate teamwork, accountability, and iterative progress towards a well-defined goal. It proved invaluable for this initiative as it allowed the organization to become more responsive to market changes and rapidly innovate on its digital financial products.

The Scrum framework was implemented through the following steps:

  • Organized cross-functional teams around product development goals, ensuring that each team possessed all the skills necessary to deliver product increments.
  • Adopted sprints, typically two-week periods, during which specific work had to be completed and made ready for review.
  • Conducted daily stand-up meetings to discuss progress and identify any obstacles that could impede the team's work, fostering an environment of transparency and collaboration.

Lean Startup principles were also incorporated to enhance the organization's capacity for innovation. Emphasizing the creation of minimal viable products (MVPs), rapid iterations based on customer feedback, and pivoting when necessary, Lean Startup principles complemented the Scrum framework by ensuring that product development was customer-focused and adaptable to changing customer needs.

The Lean Startup approach was applied as follows:

  • Developed MVPs for new digital financial products, allowing the organization to gather valuable customer feedback with minimal initial investment.
  • Used customer feedback to make rapid iterations to the products, ensuring they closely aligned with market demands and customer preferences.
  • Implemented a structured process for pivoting, which involved changing course when a product or feature failed to meet market needs, minimizing wasted resources and time.

The results of implementing the Scrum framework and Lean Startup principles were transformative. The organization's time to market for new products significantly decreased, while employee engagement and productivity increased. This agile operational model empowered the organization to innovate more rapidly and respond to market dynamics more effectively, driving growth and enhancing competitiveness.

Product Go-to-Market Strategy Enhancement

For the Product Go-to-Market Strategy Enhancement initiative, the organization utilized the Jobs to be Done (JTBD) framework. JTBD focuses on understanding the specific jobs or tasks customers are trying to accomplish when they hire a product or service. This perspective was instrumental in developing digital financial products that precisely met customer needs, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the go-to-market strategy.

The JTBD framework was deployed through the following activities:

  • Conducted in-depth interviews with current and potential customers to uncover the "jobs" they were hiring financial services to do, focusing on the underlying needs and contexts.
  • Segmented the market based on distinct jobs, rather than traditional demographic or product categories, leading to more targeted and effective product development and marketing strategies.
  • Aligned product development and marketing messages with the identified jobs, ensuring that communications clearly articulated how the organization's products were the best candidates for the job.

The implementation of the JTBD framework led to the development of highly targeted digital financial products that resonated well with the market, resulting in increased adoption rates and customer loyalty. The refined go-to-market strategy, informed by deep customer job insights, enabled the organization to differentiate itself in a crowded market and achieve significant growth in market share and revenue from new digital products.

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Key Findings and Results

Here is a summary of the key results of this case study:

  • Customer satisfaction scores increased significantly, indicating a successful overhaul of the digital customer experience.
  • Time to market for new products decreased, reflecting improved operational efficiency and responsiveness.
  • Market share and revenue from new digital products saw substantial growth, evidencing the effectiveness of the refined go-to-market strategy.
  • Customer churn rates decreased, showcasing enhanced customer loyalty through improved service delivery.
  • Employee engagement and productivity increased, attributed to the adoption of the agile operational model.

The strategic initiatives undertaken by the financial services firm yielded notable successes, particularly in enhancing the digital customer experience and operational agility. The significant increase in customer satisfaction scores and the reduction in time to market for new products are clear indicators of these successes. The growth in market share and revenue from new digital products, alongside the decrease in customer churn rates, further validates the effectiveness of the refined go-to-market strategy and the digital transformation efforts. However, the journey was not without its challenges. Resistance to change and the slow adoption of technology at the outset underscored the importance of cultural transformation in parallel with digital innovation. Additionally, while customer loyalty improved, the initial decline in customer acquisition rates suggests that more could have been done to attract new customers in the early stages of implementation. An alternative strategy could have involved a more aggressive investment in emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain to further differentiate the firm's offerings and attract tech-savvy customers.

For next steps, it is recommended that the firm continues to invest in digital innovation, with a particular focus on technologies that can further personalize the customer experience. Expanding the use of data analytics to gain deeper insights into customer behavior and preferences will enable the firm to anticipate market trends and customer needs more effectively. Additionally, fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation will be critical to sustaining agility and innovation. Finally, exploring strategic partnerships with fintech startups could offer new avenues for growth and innovation, allowing the firm to leverage cutting-edge technologies and methodologies more rapidly.

Source: Strategic Digital Transformation for Financial Services in Emerging Markets, Flevy Management Insights, 2024

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