The 7 key success factors in B2B pricing 1. Align pricing with your business objective When it comes to pricing strategies, there is no one-size-fits-all. Every company needs a pricing strategy that fits its unique situation. Your pricing strategy should align with your overall business objectives, whether that is maximising profit, entering a new market or retaining customers. Consider how different approaches – value-based, dynamic or AI-based pricing – can…
The role of gatekeeper in combating financial crime is crucial for banks to maintain regulatory compliance, uphold public trust, and safeguard the integrity of the financial system. Failure to fulfil this role can have severe consequences, both financially and reputational, for banks (e.g. fines totalling over 1 billion EUR in the Netherlands over the past 5 years). Valcon is committed to safeguarding financial institutions by offering distinctive value through efficient, scalable, and…
The run up to hitting the deadline for go live can be stressful. Pressure from stakeholders, concerns about the budget or worries the project team will lose face are all key concerns. You might be launching a new product, pressing the green light on a new system or introducing a new service – but guaranteed, the eyes of the business will be on you and you need to get it…
How does being in a state of constant change affect how organisations manage their portfolios of projects and programmes so they align to business goals and meet strategic objectives? Steve Clark, Head of UK Project Delivery, Valcon discusses. Technological advancement, business imperatives, regulatory diktats – the pressure on organisations to transform themselves to remain competitive and stay relevant is now greater than ever. The last five to ten years has seen a fundamental…
Nowadays, reflecting the quantity of data they house, organisations have moved on to lakes from warehouses. Powerful entities, data lakes are seamlessly integrated with the cloud and different services and have proved themselves to be an indispensable asset in storing and processing data. Plus, they are valuable tools for historicising data. Structured and unstructured data The term ‘data lake’ first came about in 2011 and their original purpose was to…
How do you maintain a balance between work and family life? When I joined Valcon, I set clear boundaries for when I would finish my work day to pick up my children, which is around 4pm. Sometimes this means clocking in early or opening my computer for an hour in the evening, but this is something I do not mind doing so I can have this balance. When you have…
Valcon, a prominent European consultancy specialising in technology, data and consulting, has made a significant commitment to expanding its presence and capabilities in the Nordic financial services sector. This expansion is driven by our dedication to the financial industry and our desire to strengthen our position in the Nordic region. Valcon has a commendable track record in the financial services sector, with expertise in areas such as operational improvement, compliance,…
Financial institutions are engaged in a constant battle to fight money laundering, bribery, fraud, terrorist financing and corruption and adhere to sanctions levied against countries and individuals. And financial crime takes a massive toll – it puts global financial systems at risk, it negatively impacts economic growth and causes massive losses to companies and people. It’s been estimated that annually, it costs the global economy as much as $2.1 trillion.…
Dear retailer, let’s talk about pricing. Pricing holds immense power when it comes to driving profits. The better you wield this power, the greater your returns. In the fiercely competitive retail landscape, it is crucial for retailers like you to assess their competition. Understanding where you stand in relation to your main rivals is key to winning over customers. In a previous article, we discussed the importance of competitor intelligence,…
Social value has been ‘a thing’ in the business world since the 70s. But it has gradually increased in prominence, particularly in the last decade as awareness of the importance of operating sustainably has grown. Of course, it’s not just about sustainability. Social value incorporates what organisations do in terms of community (their relationships with the communities in which they operate and employ people), wellbeing (ensuring employees are well looked…
1. What is nearshore software development? Nearshoring is a model of co-working and using different resources from an organization in a nearby country with lower average wages but highly qualified teams. Typical nearshoring locations in Europe are Croatia, Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria, among others. Outsourcing and co-working with organisations in countries further away, such as China, India, or the Philippines, is called offshoring. Nearshoring provides solutions for companies that want…
Generally speaking, when a company needs a new system or solution, they usually have to choose between an off-the-shelf solution (COTS) or building something themselves. And there are pros and cons to both. Out-of-the-box will probably offer most of the functionality you need, but if you need anything tweaked, you are totally dependent on the supplier – and this will cost you. The beauty of custom-built is that you can…
Nearshore software development is the outsourcing of business processes to specific companies located near your country. Nearshoring companies are located in countries with similar time zones, so they can move their operations to a cost-effective location where the time difference between the two companies should not exceed 1 to 3 hours. Thanks to the proximity and fewer cultural and time differences, communication reaches a higher level in nearshoring. This type…
1. What’s software-as-a-service? Software-as-a-Service, also known as SaaS, is a web-based model that allows internet access to data from any device. The SaaS solution connects users to data stored in the cloud so that you can use it like an on-premises app but running through a web interface or mobile app. SaaS models are usually licensed on a subscription basis you renew monthly or annually. 2. What are the advantages…