NatWest Group July 2024 | Page 15

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For example , public perception of cash changed dramatically in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and made many reluctant to use physical currency due to associated health concerns .
Pillar explains : “ There ’ s nothing wrong with physical cash , but having our partners there helps us understand consumer trends and figure out what types of potential new services and products we want to create , build and offer .”
This sentiment extends as NatWest continues its re-platforming and transformation from a technology perspective , also allowing people to upskill , cross-train and power top talent . When NatWest itself does not have capacity for certain projects , leveraging vendors and suppliers helps keep things on track and avoids customer disappointment , all while making the most of their expertise and skill set .
Specifically , NatWest has a longstanding partnership with Accenture which sees the bank harness the IT and consulting company ’ s network and expertise . For Pillar , from a leadership perspective , this means opening up conversations around industry trends and gaining insights into what other organisations and sectors are striving to achieve .
“ They help us with their global perspective around what ’ s happening – because how you approach payments in India is actually quite different to how the US and UK approach payment systems , for example – so they ’ re able to have really great valuable conversations around that ,” he shares . natwest . com 15