NextGen Nordics 2025: Real-Time Insights and Updates from Stockholm
In the rapidly evolving landscape of Nordic payments, the NextGen Nordics 2025 event kicked off with insightful discussions on innovation and compliance. This gathering serves as a platform for industry leaders to explore the future of payment systems in the Nordic region.
Welcome Remarks at NextGen Nordics 2025
Debi Bell Hosking, the event’s host, welcomed attendees with an inspiring message. She highlighted the essence of collaboration in the financial sector, stating, “You’re here to see your peers and share ideas.” Her remarks were enriched by insights from Finextra’s latest survey, which revealed that 32% of Nordic organizations prioritize accelerating technology adoption, closely followed by a focus on improving customer experience.
Audience Engagement and Poll Results
During the welcome address, Hosking engaged the audience with a poll concerning the balance between friction in payments and fraud detection. The majority expressed a need for increased friction to enhance fraud identification. Furthermore, a significant number of attendees agreed that regulatory measures are currently hindering innovation within their organizations.
Keynote Interview with Bankgirot’s CEO
Following the welcome remarks, a keynote interview took place between Debi Bell Hosking and Clarina Olsson, the CEO of Bankgirot. They discussed the organization’s objectives for 2025, with Olsson emphasizing the need to develop a new payments system while navigating the complexities of compliance.
Challenges in Innovation and Compliance
Olsson shared her perspective on the current focus on compliance, stating, “At the moment, it’s only about compliance. We need to build the new platform for mass payments.” She noted that while standardization and regulation could pave the way for innovation, the sector is not yet prepared for this shift.
Reflections on the P27 Project
The conversation also delved into the challenges faced by the P27 project, with audience members indicating that regulatory burdens contributed to its failure. One former participant cited internal governance issues and poor vendor selection as critical lessons learned.
Future Directions for Nordic Payments
Olsson expressed skepticism about the readiness of Nordic countries for another similar initiative, suggesting that nations are more focused on their individual projects. She announced, “We’re building a new platform for batch payments in Sweden, and next year banks will migrate from the old platform to the new.”
Concerns for the Future
In closing, Olsson highlighted her concerns regarding cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and the geopolitical landscape. “These are uncertain times. We need to be prepared much more now than five to ten years ago,” she stated, underscoring the importance of vigilance in a rapidly changing environment.
For more insights on the future of payments and related topics, visit PYMNTS.com.
