Siri – A game-changing step for mobile banking services
In June, Länsförsäkringar AB launched Sweden’s first Siri-based banking service, which allows customers to transfer money between accounts through voice control.
Siri transforms banking
Back in January, Computer World published an article on how Siri could transform banking. What the editors didn’t know was that at Daresay we were already in discussions with Länsförsäkringar AB about the possibility of launching a banking service in Swedish for their customers.
“Apple offers a number of ‘Intents’ for Siri, one of them being payments,” says Sten Ernerot, Daresay iOS Tech Lead at Länsförsäkringar AB. “In typical Apple fashion, each intent is supported with a strict API within the controlled iOS environment. This enabled us to design and build a secure service, and test it and incorporate it into Länsförsäkringar AB’s mobile app in a matter of weeks.”
Länsförsäkringar AB first in Sweden
In June, Länsförsäkringar AB launched Sweden’s first Siri-based banking service, which allows customers to transfer money between accounts through voice control.
A typical use for this would be when a customer is in a shop or restaurant and there’s not enough money on their checking account to pay. Now they simply tell Siri to transfer money to it from their savings account. To ensure security, the service only works on a password- protected phone, which has to be unlocked to make a transfer. The amount also has to be confirmed before the transfer takes place.
Siri popular abroad
At the moment voice control is much more popular abroad. One main reason for this is that here in Sweden we are still allowed to use our phones in the car, if it doesn’t interfere with our driving. Whereas in countries where it’s completely illegal, drivers use voice control to read messages, make calls, search online, you name it.
“With this launch we’re giving our customers a new tool to improve their banking experience, and at the same time helping to drive uptake of what I believe will become a very common technology in the not so distance future.”
Sten Enerot Daresay iOS Tech Lead
Early adopters of innovative technology
The Siri service isn’t the first time Länsförsäkringar AB have been first out with a new innovative digital service. At Daresay we also developed an Apple Watch app for them and released it on the day Apple Watch premiered in Sweden.
“In recent years Länsförsäkringar AB has been voted digital bank of the year and been awarding mobile app of the year,” says Helen de la Gardie, Daresay Project Manager at Länsförsäkringar AB. “We’re doing what we can to make sure that Länsförsäkringar stay ahead of competitors by co-creating innovative, customer-centric solutions. It’s a small but game-changing step in the way customers interact with banking services.”