Today, Accenture published a study showing that disruptive technologies such as blockchain and AI are the fastest growing pain points for risk managers of financial firms.
The sixth edition of the “Accenture 2019 Global Risk Management Study” was published by the consultancy firm after surveying almost 700 risk management executives at banks, insurance companies and capital markets firms around the globe.
About 72% of the participants said complex risks were emerging faster than ever before. Moverover, many risks are not interconnected making them tough to manage. Risk managers said they were most concerned that adopting AI, blockchain, and robotic process automation (RPA) will have unintended consequences.
These disruptive technologies are new and developing at a fast pace. About 95% of risk managers said they were not fully capable of assessing risks of blockchain adoption. The figure matched that for Quantum computing. On the other hand, 89% of the respondents said the same about AI.
Despite the concern about assessing the risk, the exposure to disruption by technology is massive. That was the fastest-growing concern in the last two years, up by 58%. However, the possibility of technology disruption still only ranks third overall, up from sixth two years ago. The number one concerns remain systemic risk and macroeconomic risks. Uncertainty about tech disruption now ranks higher than geopolitical/protectionism risks.
The study also assesses numerous industries in terms of vulnerability to disruption. Insurance, banking and capital markets were the top three sectors in that order.
Meanwhile, about 52% of the respondents acknowledged that their current risk assessment function was only somewhat useful.
The study found that those firms that adopt smart technologies are more ready for risks. For example, 73% or risk functions that use machine learning are satisfied with their progress. In contrast, amongst those not using the technology, satisfaction is only 45%.
“Fortunately, risk managers acknowledge the need to adapt and embrace new tools and approaches, including broader sources of data, advanced analytics and AI, even against a backdrop of mounting cost pressures,” said Steve Culp, senior managing director of Financial Services, Finance & Risk at Accenture.
Below are recent blockchain surveys:
Accenture: blockchain for aerospace
Boston Consulting Group: blockchain for transport and logistics
Cap Gemini blockchain survey
Deloitte 2019 blockchain survey
Deloitte 2018 blockchain survey
EY blockchain (finance and tech professionals) survey
EY fintech adoption survey
EY APAC blockchain survey
IDC semi-annual enterprise blockchain forecast
IHS Markit survey
KPMG technology industry innovation survey
PwC blockchain survey
PwC China blockchain survey
World Energy Council / PwC blockchain survey
SAP blockchain survey
TD Bank payments industry survey
BNY Mellon payments survey
Friss insurance survey
Juniper enterprise blockchain survey
BIS Central Bank Digital Currency survey
IBM / OMFIF Central Bank Digital Currency survey 2018
IBM / OMFIF Central Bank Digital Currency survey 2019
ING general population cryptocurrency attitudes
