Sunday, 30 June 2024
Submission Details
1. Who is eligible?
Financial institutions, non-traditional financial services companies and their technology partners need to jointly apply for Financial Technology Innovation award. All financial institutions and non-bank financial institutions (including insurance companies, brokerages, credit companies, finance companies and alternate financial services players), along with their partner technology and fintech companies, which have completed technology implementations in 2023 are eligible for submission. Please note, separate submissions from financial institutions and technology companies will not be entertained.
An increasing number of fintech companies, marketplace platforms and other alternative providers are entering previously bank-related products and services. These companies will be assessed alongside financial institutions as far as they are able to make submissions based on the questionnaire in this document.
2. Is there a limit on the number of joint applicants in a single submission?
For a project, there is no limit on joint applicants; it must include at least one financial institution and can involve multiple technology partners.
3. In joint projects, who takes the lead as the main submitter, and how are awards distributed?
The application can be submitted by either the FI, the Tech company, or both together. The contact details of both are required. TAB Global will reach out to the FI and discuss the entry. The award is given jointly to the FI and Technology vendor if it is a joint application.
4. How many entries are allowed in multiple categories?
Any number of entries are allowed across multiple categories; there is no limit. You can submit multiple applications with different partners for the same category. You can also apply with one implementation and one partner under multiple categories. We will choose to evaluate it under the category or categories we deem it best fits.
5. Can a tech company submit for different projects with different partners under the same category?
Yes.
6. Is there a particular file format or guideline for submissions?
There are no templates available for electronic submission and you can send us replies in any format e.g. word, PDF etc.
7. Will institutions that do not make a submission be considered?
We encourage all financial institutions and their technology partners to make submissions. However, regardless of your submission, TAB Global makes its own assessment based on previous interviews, industry observations and our own research. Institutions that do not make submissions risk not having a comprehensive description of their initiatives fully considered, but if we find worthy institutions, we will start our own enquiries.
8. Is the information submitted made available to the public?
All information submitted is treated in strict confidence and used for evaluation purposes only. TAB Global publishes generic reports and standardised benchmarks that discuss trends and emerging best practices from the programme. Our published profiles can be found in the Financial Technology Working Group which is available through membership. We do not discuss any specific submission under any circumstances whatsoever.
9. When to submit?
To be considered for an award, a completed submission must reach us no later than 29 February 2024. For all financial data, please provide pro forma figures up to period for which figures are available. Please keep in mind that only the technology projects that were completed or made fully functional in 2023 are eligible for consideration. TAB Global prefers electronic submissions to help protect our environment.
10. Where to send the submission to?
Kindly submit your application(s) in softcopy to techawards@tab.global . You may also submit your entries online through the awards site.
11. Commitment to integrity statement
TAB Global is committed to the highest level of integrity in conducting all of its awards’ programmes. At no time, would we conduct ourselves in a manner that could give the industry any reasons to doubt the impartiality of the decision-making process. We make a clear distinction between the commercial aspects of running an awards programme, which go towards underwriting the costs of the researchers and the time involved, and the neutrality with which our researchers make their decisions. We would like the industry to take these awards, presented by TAB Global, as representing the most prestigious recognition of their work as well as professional careers.
We have examined many different forms of funding the awards programmes and have found that the model that we currently have is the most effective. A well-run awards programme must have important working elements that define it.
TAB Global awards programmes are run with the intention to identify emerging best practices and benchmarks that can set high standards for the industry to meet, exceed and shape the future.
The community element is extremely important as the awards programme is meant to inspire future progress in the industry. As such, the conference and awards dinners are a critical component of the programmes. We insist that all winners attend these programmes to ensure that the community element is intact. For this reason, winners can forfeit their recognition if they do not attend the designated awards ceremonies.
We adhere to the following guidelines.
- The entire enquiry process in the awards programmes is thorough and non-discriminatory. With this approach, we have discovered best practices in institutions that we may have never had any forms of interactions in the past. We then initiate an enquiry process to identify new winners who may not be aware of the programmes. The process is run on a neutral basis, and we make no distinction between institutions with which we have a commercial relationship and those that we do not. We conduct our research to identify the best possible candidates for the respective awards programmes.
- In the course of our research, we do not accept any forms of gratuity, including transport, food, or conveniences and allowances of any kind from any institutions that we make an enquiry on. We undertake our own travel and communication expenses with all the different players.
- The sales team in TAB Global has no influence in the selection process whatsoever. Although we have instances when institutions make representation to the sales team ahead of the award process, there are strict protocols in place with the research and editorial teams where none of this information is communicated and least of all, influence the decisions.
- The sales team only becomes aware of the winners after the list is approved by the Council of Advisors and published to the winning institutions. The list is final, and no amendments are made based on any commercial arrangements that arise thereafter.
- Winning institutions are encouraged by the sales team to participate in commercial activities, most of which goes to underwrite the costs involved in conducting the research. The research process often takes between four and six months of research time and work. During this time, they are not paid by any of the institutions that are being covered. We also do not accept sponsorships that can unduly influence the type of winners being selected.
- The commercial arrangements are designed to add value to the winning institutions’ own marketing efforts because of winning the awards. They are also intended to create and sustain the community element that is required to bring the entire industry together, which in turn adds to the prestige and recognition of these awards.
- Any allegations of impropriety or lack of impartiality are taken seriously and brought to the attention of the Council of Advisors for their decision.
Financial Integrity
TAB Global does not take into consideration any financial commitment in making its assessment. It is strictly not possible to influence the award in any way. However, winners are requested to invest in research reports, case studies, videos and write-ups generated from the results for our editorial coverage and for winner’s marketing use.
