Banking on automation: How auto-MATE™ is Redefining Service in the Finance Sector

Written by
Andy Pandharikar
July 25, 2023

As the banking and finance sector accelerates its digital transformation, the adoption of cutting-edge technologies becomes pivotal. One groundbreaking product developed by Commerce.AI, named auto-MATE™, is leading this transformation through its innovative application in customer service and task automation.

What is auto-MATE™?

auto-MATE™ is a generative AI tool that provides a secure, compliant AI solution for various industries, including banking and finance. It ingests unstructured data such as contact center calls, Zoom/Teams meeting recordings to extract structured insights and automates workflows based on those. It offers a library of tasks curated specifically for individual use cases, helping to streamline operations and improve outcomes. auto-MATE™ uses the secure and compliant version of Azure OpenAI model customized by Commerce.AI for industry specific data.

Impact of auto-MATE™ on Banking and Finance

The applications of auto-MATE™ in the banking and finance sector are vast and transformative. Below we explore some of the significant use-cases:

1. Automated Call Routing

Efficient call routing can significantly enhance customer satisfaction. auto-MATE™ can analyze the customer's voice data to understand their query's context, subsequently routing the call to the most suitable department. It not only saves the customer's time but also improves the efficiency of customer support representatives by matching them with the queries best suited to their expertise.

2. Fraud Detection

auto-MATE™ can be trained to identify potential fraudulent activities. By analyzing previous calls reporting fraud, it can discern patterns or specific phrases associated with such incidents. Consequently, it can alert human operators and security systems if it detects similar patterns, bolstering the financial institution's security measures.

3. Customer Behavior Analysis

auto-MATE™ can help in profiling and understanding customer behaviors. It can identify customers' common concerns, their preferences, and their interaction patterns. This data can be invaluable for creating targeted marketing campaigns, tailoring product offerings, or even predicting market trends.

4. Predictive Assistance

As auto-MATE™ learns from past customer interactions, it can also predict and preempt common customer queries. When a customer calls, it can provide instant automated responses for routine inquiries even before the call reaches a human representative. This can greatly reduce waiting times and improve the overall customer experience.

5. Streamlined KYC Process

Know Your Customer (KYC) is an essential process in banking that can be time-consuming. auto-MATE™ can automate parts of this process by collecting and verifying customer data during the initial calls, thereby reducing the process's overall length and complexity.

6. Automating Loan Applications

auto-MATE™ can streamline the loan application process by asking applicants a series of predetermined questions during a call and subsequently filling out the application form automatically. It can also identify any missing information and request it from the customer, thus significantly reducing the time required to complete the application.

7. Account Services Automation

For routine account services like balance inquiries, transaction history requests, or even fund transfers, auto-MATE™ can provide immediate automated responses. This capability can significantly reduce the call volume to customer service centers, freeing up representatives for more complex customer inquiries.

8. Automated Debt Collection Reminders

auto-MATE™ can automatically identify customers who have overdue payments and make reminder calls. By personalizing the call based on customer's history and preferences, it can ensure a more effective and less intrusive approach to debt collection.

9. Investment Advice

Trained on the right datasets, auto-MATE™ could provide investment advice based on market trends and an individual’s financial history. It can analyze past calls and financial behaviors of the customer, giving personalized, data-driven advice, and helping in managing investments.

10. Complaint Resolution

The AI-driven tool can identify and categorize complaints, initiate standard resolution procedures, and notify appropriate departments. This makes the process more efficient and increases the likelihood of resolving customer issues in a timely manner.

11. Customer Feedback

auto-MATE™ can automate the process of gathering customer feedback. After a support call, it can ask customers to rate their experience and collect their suggestions, thereby providing valuable insights to improve customer service.

12. Regulatory Compliance

auto-MATE™ can assist with regulatory compliance by ensuring that all customer interactions adhere to the set standards. For instance, it can automatically mute or bleep sensitive information shared during a call, protecting customer data and maintaining compliance with regulations such as GDPR or CCPA.

By extending its reach to these areas, auto-MATE™ can truly revolutionize the banking and finance sector. It offers a multifaceted approach to task automation, helping institutions optimize their processes, enhance their customer service, and embrace the future of digital transformation.

13. Account Opening:

auto-MATE™ can assist in account opening procedures. By guiding the customer through necessary questions and verifying the information provided during the call, auto-MATE™ can initiate the account opening process more efficiently.

14. Automated Alerts:

auto-MATE™ can automate alerts for customers, such as notifications for large transactions, low account balance, upcoming bill payments, or changes in account details. These personalized alerts can improve customer engagement and prevent potential issues.

15. Savings Plans:

By analyzing a customer's income and spending patterns, auto-MATE™ could suggest personalized savings plans or remind customers to make regular contributions to their savings or investments.

16. Mortgage Servicing:

auto-MATE™ can assist with mortgage servicing tasks, such as calculating loan eligibility, explaining different loan options, or even scheduling appointments with loan officers.

17. Insurance Claims:

In the case of banks offering insurance services, auto-MATE™ can automate initial stages of insurance claims, including gathering details about the incident, advising customers on their coverage and next steps, and initiating the claim process.

18. Financial Literacy:

auto-MATE™ could provide explanations for banking and finance terms, or even brief customers about various financial products and services, thus promoting financial literacy.

19. Scheduled Service:

auto-MATE™ can handle scheduling of appointments for customers with financial advisors, loan officers, or customer service representatives.

20. Renewals and Cancellations:

auto-MATE™ can handle routine requests for renewing or canceling services, whether it's a credit card, insurance policy, or a subscription service associated with the bank.

With such a broad range of potential applications, auto-MATE™ is poised to bring significant enhancements to the overall productivity and customer experience in the banking and finance sector. It's not just about automating routine tasks, but also about reshaping customer engagement and paving the way for smarter, AI-driven banking.

21. Prequalification:

Auto-MATE™ can be used to prequalify borrowers during a phone call. By asking for specific details like income, credit score, and down payment amount, auto-MATE™ can provide an initial evaluation of the loan amount the customer might be eligible for.

22. Document Collection:

auto-MATE™ can guide the borrowers through the document collection process. It can remind customers of necessary documents, explain why they're needed, and ensure they're submitted on time.

23. Mortgage Rate Information:

By processing real-time data, auto-MATE™ can provide customers with the latest mortgage rates, potentially saving time for both customers and loan officers.

24. Payment Queries:

For existing borrowers, auto-MATE™ can handle queries regarding mortgage payment schedules, amounts due, and even help calculate potential impacts of additional payments.

25. Refinancing Information:

auto-MATE™ can provide information on refinancing options based on the customer's existing loan terms and current market rates. This can help customers make informed decisions about whether to refinance their mortgage.

26. Processing Status Updates:

One common source of frustration for customers is not knowing the status of their mortgage application. auto-MATE™ can alleviate this by providing real-time updates on the application process.

27. Default Management:

For borrowers who are struggling with their repayments, auto-MATE™ can provide initial support, offering information about possible solutions such as loan modification programs or payment relief options.

28. Escrow Account Management:

auto-MATE™ can answer queries related to escrow accounts, including annual adjustments, payment of property taxes, and insurance premiums.

29. Closing Procedures:

The closing process of a mortgage can be complex and may generate several customer queries. auto-MATE™ can help by explaining the steps involved, what to expect, and answering any associated questions.

The mortgage industry, with its numerous processes and customer touchpoints, stands to benefit immensely from auto-MATE™'s automation capabilities. Its applications can drive efficiency, speed up processes, and enhance customer satisfaction, making it an indispensable tool in the industry's digital transformation journey.


Here is the list of few example tasks currently built. We are constantly adding new tasks in the library.

Security is a paramount concern for all organizations, particularly in the financial sector where handling sensitive and confidential information is a daily responsibility. The use of Generative AI technologies, like auto-MATE™, can often raise questions about data privacy and protection.

It's essential to understand that generative AI models do not store personal data from the interactions they process. These AI systems are incapable of remembering or retrieving personal information unless it's explicitly programmed into their functionality, which would contradict standard data protection protocols.

Moreover, these generative AI models learn from large datasets but do not access or use this data during real-time operations. They generate responses based on patterns and structures they have learned, rather than specific data or information.

AI providers, understanding the critical importance of security especially in fields like finance, typically institute stringent measures to ensure data safety and integrity. For example, the data processed by auto-MATE™ can be anonymized and encrypted to protect sensitive information from exposure.

Lastly, despite the immense potential of generative AI technologies like auto-MATE™ to improve operational efficiency and customer service in the financial sector, the importance of human oversight cannot be overstated. This ensures quality control and the ability to manage potential risks or issues that may arise.

It is always recommended to carry out a comprehensive security audit and collaborate closely with the AI provider. It's crucial to understand the system's data handling practices and confirm they align with your organization's security protocols and industry regulations. By taking these precautions, the financial sector can utilize the potential of AI technologies like auto-MATE™ while effectively mitigating security concerns.

That leads to the big elephant in the room: Compliance and Safety. So let's talk about it.

Data, privacy, and security

auto-MATE™ Azure OpenAI Diagram

Since auto-MATE™ uses Azure OpenAI as the primary LLM, it is important to examine security compliance achieved by Azure OpenAI. As of May, 2023, Azure OpenAI has achieved following other compliance standards.

Reference: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/resources/microsoft-azure-compliance-offerings/

When it comes to Generative AI specific considerations, following are some important aspects about auto-MATE™ and underlying Azure OpenAI infrastructure.

The models are stateless: no prompts or generations are stored in the model. Additionally, prompts and generations are not used to train, retrain, or improve the base models.


More details about Azure OpenAI Safety and Compliance can be found here.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the revolutionary auto-MATE™ by Commerce.AI presents a powerful tool for the banking and finance sector, effectively transforming customer service operations. From automating routine tasks to mitigating risks in the mortgage industry, it offers numerous applications that can optimize operational efficiency and enhance the overall customer experience. Moreover, with robust security protocols and data handling practices, the use of generative AI like auto-MATE™ addresses crucial industry concerns around data protection and privacy. As we strive for technological advancements, the human element remains indispensable, particularly for quality control and risk management. Implementing auto-MATE™, therefore, isn't about replacing human touch but augmenting it, allowing human operators to focus on complex tasks that require empathy and critical thinking. By integrating this advanced AI system, organizations can stride confidently towards a future of seamless customer interactions, operational excellence, and dynamic growth.

NOTE: Parts of the above blogs are created by the GPT. However, the concepts, framework and further edits/proofreads are done by me. -Andy.

Return to blog