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Storage and databases, Automation, Machine-Learning, Big-Data, Identity and Security Monitoring, Management Tools, Computing and Networking. IT for Finance professionals, commonly known as “FinTech”, has evolved at a blistering pace over the last few decades.  Combined with the flexibility of Cloud computing, FinTech, in a short space of time, has changed how we process, transact and store data in a new digital-first financial services industry.

There is a TON (meaning hundreds) of automated services that can be utilised within the three basic service models of the Cloud being:  

• PaaS (Platform as a Service)  
• SaaS (Software as a Service)  
• IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

Pen, paper and major filing are quickly becoming a thing of the past as the evolution from analogue (non-digital activities) to digital activities handed mankind the great advantage of exponentially increased scope, something we bank on for your safety. 

In this article, RAHN takes a brief look at the history of FinTech and IT for financial professionals through the three recent eras of its development. 

FinTech 1.0 – 1866 to 1967 – an early dawn IT for Finance Professionals  

Remember the Morse Code, the telegraph and the big ole Rubber Stamp? Yes, we also struggle to recall them but this is how the very first electronic funds were transferred and transacted. Very primitive to how we work and transact today, but Fedwire (1918) and the first transatlantic cable (1866) paved the initial way for IT for finance professionals into what it has become today. 

FinTech 2.0 – 1967 to 2008 

Major advancements made during this era include the introduction of the ATM and the SWIFT system of cross border payments (which has come back into the spotlight with increasing sanctions on the Russian economy.  The NASDAQ, the world’s first electronic stock market launched in 1971. The eighties gave rise to new computer mainframes and IT for finance professionals to communicate online and the 90’s further developing the way in which we started interacting with our banks digitally. 

FinTech 3.0 & 3.5 – 2008 until present 

2009 – Enter Blockchain technology and Bitcoin, the young granddaddy of the Crypto market. Decentralization and ease of use became the keywords in terms of IT for finance professionals in a period when apps and banking on cellphones really started to take off. While mobile technology greatly improved the customer experience, its adverse human effect was to close many bank branches around the world. 

There now exists a customer need for Open Banking, and 24/7 access to facilities and records. Cloud Computing has become the driving force behind this digital transformation, turning the traditional WAN (Wide Area Network) into a Software-Defined one (SD-WAN). Mobilizing the workforce, and changing the future forever. 

Rahn – Optimised IT for Finance Professionals 

The way in which people interact with money, and each other, has changed dramatically. But even though the landscape is now easier to navigate, understanding which FinTech service or expert to utilize and thus effectively harness the vast power of the Cloud becomes the problem. It is one that we, at Rahn Consolidated Pty Ltd pride ourselves in solving for businesses and individuals across the financial services landscape. 

We offer a specialist Recruitment Solution, ensuring that all your IT processes and systems are set up correctly and that you are hiring key staff with the key IT skills required to maintain and grow your business. 

Visit our Website today to explore how we empower the financial industry with essential products, services and staff for success.

It is a universal human truth that our businesses and reputations are as important to us as our children or animals are. And rightfully so. So where does one start? As always, with the information. More specifically, data quality. 

The facts and statistics collected for reference or analysis are what is referred to as data. Ongoing information that influences virtually all decisions made in your company’s lifecycle. 

In this article, we are going to explain to you why our products and services are so unconditional and powerful at the same time. Because it is driven by the most premium refined or distilled fuel/honey/whiskey/water you have ever seen. Driven by quality – being ultimate transparency. Pun intended. 

What is Data Quality? 

The measure of the condition of data in terms of accuracy, completeness and relevance. The quality thereof is regarded as; how well the data inform your daily operations when onboarding processes such as projects, staff and service providers within your company. 

What is Data-Integrity? 

Consistency in the maintenance and management of data. The things we do within our systems in order to allow data to provide us with illuminating answers whilst keeping the system learning at all times. Digitally. And very literally in today’s times. Critical in the design, implementation and usage of any system that stores, processes or retrieves said data.

Rahn – Bespoke Data Design in 4.0 Innovation Today

Banking, Insurance and other Financial Industries rely on bespoke data quality and design, to continue to make effective business decisions. our forte.  To ensure that our clients are extracting this key information at all times, we dial in the journey along with your software engineers to provide and build a system interacting both with cloud-based and traditional data repositories with full transparency. Reporting to you on everything you need to know. 

The Promise of a Data Quality Partnership 

Everything we do, from consulting to financial crime detection relies on the ability to analyse, interpret and extract insights from large volumes of data. Rahn consults and implements products on a process that starts with identifying core business needs very meticulously before assembling cloud-based and on-premise data into bespoke databases that are fed into the Cloud for processing and ultimately – comparison. Filtrating and distilling your information into data-of-quality to create a very efficient, source Control point. One that is constantly tested and fine-tuned to ever-evolving best practices and legislation in your industry. Effectively ordering all numerical and categorical data within the hierarchy it applies. 

RAHN Monitor – The Cloud Watchdog 

Data quality not only allows you to capitalise on opportunities – it also allows you to identify risks and threats, which can have catastrophic effects if not detected and dealt with. This is precisely why we have developed the Rahn Monitor, sanctions screening software platform.  Aimed specifically at financial service providers, it safeguards your business from anything suspicious that might be involved with schemes, frauds and syndicates found in Green, Financial and Human Crimes.

Turning Data Quality into Insights for Action

RAHN Consolidated Pty Ltd. is a proudly South African company that supplies recruitment and consulting services, and products that know how to convert raw information into quality data. Driving profitable action with reliable insight, whilst keeping you safe. 

From data scientists and business analytics experts to bespoke compliance software, RAHN offers organisations the expertise and tools to improve data quality and make better, more sustainable business decisions. 

Source the right people or products for your data-related projects.

Contact us today

Fear and panic: Someone has gained control over another person against their will and is now holding them hostage. Incidents of kidnappings for ransom continue to rise, and no sector of society is immune to this sudden threat.

The modus operandi of kidnappings for ransom is to gain an obscene amount of money, demanding immediate personal gain within a short timeframe. Plus, a release that is sadly NEVER guaranteed. That is people ransomed for Money. 

Differentiating Kidnappings from Human Trafficking

Kidnappings, while similar in their heinous nature, differ from human trafficking, which is a 150 Billion dollor industry in itself, as discussed in our recent financial crime article. The differential is that trafficking condemns victims into an ongoing commercial gain for the perpetrators. Forced into exploitation – money still being the common denominator. It’s just the term of the abduction (and the criminal’s ongoing remuneration) that differs. 

Kidnappings for Ransom are Financial Crimes Too 

Even ongoing criminal remunerations mean a record of transactions. So logically the worst happens in these highly charged emotional environments when large amounts of cash (physical or otherwise) need to be transferred or hidden. Sending the extremely volatile process over the tipping point of whichever side. 

Follow the Money 

Victims ransomed for money and any other form of trafficking generally leaves a trace. As does practically everything else we do in these digital times. And laundering is nowhere as easy as it was to do in earlier times because of this fact. The difference between then and now is paramount. Due to modern innovation, a new solution to help combat all illegal activity steps into the equation that complicates this very unpredictable outcome, for the better. A real hero – the Information Technology we have in today’s Digital times that was never there before. 

“Back then” too, everything was timestamped, databased, verified, checked and matched. But within isolated enterprises and walls, within slow timeframes and with only a few industries (and authorities) that had the privilege of sharing information as freely as we can today. While not relevant to the act of kidnappings for ransom, one can’t help but think about the famous American con artist Frank Abagnale, portrayed by Leonardo di Caprio in the 2002 movie, “Catch me if you Can”. Would the fast-talking conman have sidestepped the stringent regulatory frameworks now established to stop financial crime in its tracks?

CLOUDY With a Chance of Justice

Proverbially, the heavens we look to, lie right above the answer that stares back at us. Cloud Technology is the cog that drives mankind’s very compressed efforts to identify anyone associated with any form of wrongdoing whatsoever. Simply put, a quick background check was never as “quick” or nearly as thorough as it is today.

Compliance with FICA, for example, enables everyone to know exactly with whom they are talking. Instantly. Being able to request and gather all requirements you need to know when onboarding staff, clients or third-party suppliers. Knowing when to call someone back or when to call the police. 

Kidnappings for Ransom – Downfall, Risk and Association

Day by day, step by step and with more tools to keep things both transparent and accountable such as Cloud than ever before – humanity deals with criminals. And because of the technology used to combat them, no entity can afford to be caught in the crosshairs. Unfortunately regardless of if the association was a mistake or not. Because mercilessly, any financial association with those involved in kidnappings for ransom could very well lead to your downfall too. 

This is precisely why the Rahn Financial Crime compliance platform was developed and launched – to protect you, and your brand, from such acts of financial criminality. Our integrated sanctions screening engine is no match for those whom you really don’t want to do business with.

RAHN Financial Crime – Who Are You Working With?

RAHN Consolidated Pty Ltd. is a proudly South African company, committed to equipping financial professionals with real-time resources to analyse and monitor data quality and identify sanctioned entities. We can also source you top data professionals to assist you in navigating your financial IT landscape. 

Contact us today to explore how we can empower your enterprise with a financial attack strategy, or provide specialised services and personnel to your project and delivery teams.