Australian banking group launches iMessage shortcut to allow customers to make payments via text messaging
Industry experts: Amazon Alexa will transform the way brands engage with consumersWestpac customers will now have the opportunity to undertake banking transactions while text messaging after the banking giant announced new capabilities for Apple’s iMessage.
In what it’s claiming as a banking first in Australia, Westpac’s new iMessage shortcut will allow customers to make payments, generate a cashless card code and share their bank details digitally while still within a text message.
The new functionality is an extension of the Westpac mobile banking app and comes just a day after the bank also announced its first ‘skill’ for Amazon’s voice interaction platform, Alexa. Initially, the voice-based skill is limited to information-based queries around accounts.
Read more: Industry experts: Amazon Alexa will transform the way brands engage with consumers
To use the iMessage payments capability, users tap the Westpac icon, sign in with their password, confirm a payment and then send a text message to the payee with details. It’s compatible with phones on iOS11 and with the latest version of the Westpac mobile app.
Westpac chief executive of consumer bank, George Franzis, said the aim of the game is seamless transacting.
“Our customers want a swift, secure banking experience that fits with their lifestyle and we are always exploring ways to enhance our services,” he said. “It makes sense to pair banking and texting together - these services are an everyday part of Australians’ lives.
“We are keen to give our customers a broad range of choice when it comes to banking and we know digital developments like Westpac for iMessage will be welcome news.”
Follow CMO on Twitter: @CMOAustralia, take part in the CMO conversation on LinkedIn: CMO ANZ, join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CMOAustralia, or check us out on Google+:google.com/+CmoAu
Leaning into brand building is a key way IAG's NRMA and CGU businesses are getting through the COVID-19 pandemic, chief marketing officer, Brent Smart, says.
Disparate data sources, fragmented technology and a lack of funding has left many brands struggling in the battle for online customer attention amid a global pandemic. Now more than ever, brands need to focus on unlocking the value of their marketing technology.
For a while now, I have been following a fabulous design strategy and research colleague, Tatiana Toutikian, a speculative designer. This is someone specialising in calling out near future phenomena, what the various aspects of our future will be, and how the design we create will support it.
Online identity is a hot topic as more consumers are waking up to how their data is being used. So what does the marketing industry need to do to avoid a complete loss of public trust, in instances such as the COVID-19 tracing app?
Well done, team at Larsen. Fantastic story of how to continually invest in customer experience.
Adam Frank
A designer jewellery brand's take on customer relations
Great piece Katja. It will be fascinating to see how the shift in people's perception of value will affect design, products and services ...
Paul Scott
How to design for a speculative future - Customer Design - CMO Australia
Google collects as much data as it can about you. It would be foolish to believe Google cares about your privacy. I did cut off Google fr...
Phil Davis
ACCC launches fresh legal challenge against Google's consumer data practices for advertising
“This new logo has been noticed and it replaces a logo no one really knew existed so I’d say it’s abided by the ‘rule’ of brand equity - ...
Lawrence
Brand Australia misses the mark
IMHO a logo that needs to be explained really doesn't achieve it's purpose.I admit coming to the debate a little late, but has anyone els...
JV_at_lAttitude_in_Cairns
Brand Australia misses the mark