The Finance sector remains one of the biggest technology spenders and as an industry is heavily reliant upon technology in terms of its organisational structure, products and services development and its service delivery. Technology has truly revolutionised banking and this bears no cross-industry comparison. In grocery retail; 50 years ago, essentials might have been delivered to your door by bike. Now Tesco's might get them to you in a van, the interface might be via the web but the customer service hasn't advanced much. Contrast this with banking, where 50 years ago, banks were still handwriting customer statements, money was only available from the branch, and cash spoke loudest.

A far cry from today's banking - and all due to changes the like of which we'll probably never see again. paper-based processes now managed electronically by banks' proprietary software coupled with industry-wide web-based delivery standards. The benefits? Better integration with cash management, cost savings, greater efficiency, and all translating to better bottom line profitability.

IT continues to enable levels of service customers expect. We are told that Change is the only constant and that has never been more true than in the case of the finance sector.