The DBX Report, or Digital Banking Experience Report, is an annual initiative launched by Sopra Steria in 2021. This report aims to evaluate banks' global strategic focus and future readiness in digital banking and financial ecosystems. It provides an annual update on the state of the banking industry and its trends, with a strong emphasis on innovation through digitalisation.
Historical background of the DBX project
In 2021, Sopra Steria kicked off the DBX Report in collaboration with Forrester, a renowned research partner. Forrester was tasked with designing the research model, creating the survey, and engaging up to 900 decision-makers worldwide from banks and partnering companies. This collaboration led to the development of a future-readiness assessment model and a scoring framework, categorising players into five maturity levels: Explorers, Technologists, Strategists, Specialists, and Pioneers.
This framework enables year-on-year comparisons based on a consistent model, showcasing the evolution of the financial services industry over time.
Evolution and content of the DBX Report
The DBX Report is an invaluable tool for Sopra Steria, allowing the company to monitor the financial services industry and align with client and ecosystem expectations. Findings are shared internally with strategy, product, service, customer success, and support teams. The report includes several components that evolve each year:
- Comprehensive Data: Covering banks, ecosystems, and end-users, updated annually and shared with banks and analysts upon request.
- Thought Leadership and Content: Year-round development of content, including white papers, infographics, articles, social media posts, and conference materials.
- Digital Maturity Benchmark: Enabling banks to assess their digital maturity against peers, with annual updates providing both instant insights and an evolving perspective over time.
Focus on consumers and key trends
In 2022, the DBX Report introduced a highly anticipated end-consumer dimension, surveying 12,500 bank customers across 14 countries. In 2023, the geographic focus shifted back to the EU, reflecting Sopra Steria’s primary market.
Each year, the report focuses on a specific, timely topic:
- 2022: Digital maturity through the lens of Open Finance.
- 2023: The impact of Artificial Intelligence on the industry.
- 2024-2025: Financial Well-Being with a customer-centric focus.
Financial well-being and digital innovation
In the current economic and geopolitical climate, financial well-being is more crucial than ever. Banks are stepping up, with 52% increasing their offering of digital tools and services to help customers manage their finances better. Digital leaders are at the forefront of initiatives to support financial capability, protection, and inclusive finance. To foster a sense of financial well-being and trust amid rising consumer expectations and a turbulent economic backdrop, banks are prioritising innovation and the digital experience to enhance customer engagement and user journeys.
Challenges for banks
Despite their resilience, banks face several challenges:
- High Operating Costs: Due to legacy technology.
- Cyber Threats: Increased security risks.
- Competition: Pressure from disruptive new entrants.
However, digital transformation continues, driving unprecedented shifts in consumer behaviours and preferences. The 2025 report delves into five core areas shaping the modern European financial ecosystem:
- Payments: Evolution of payment methods.
- Cryptocurrencies: Impact on financial services.
- Generative AI (Gen AI): Applications in the banking sector.
- Data Protection and Privacy: Growing importance of security.
- Sustainability: Integration of sustainable practices in financial services.
The DBX Report 2025 marks the fourth year of this initiative, bringing new insights and initiatives with each edition. By focusing on financial well-being and digital innovation, the report helps banks navigate an ever-changing economic landscape while meeting the growing expectations of consumers. To find out more on the topic, fill the form below and download the report now!