When it comes to operating a modern-day credit union, one critical idea to understand is that any investment in technology that reduces costs needs to simplify efficiency at the exact same time. Not only is this crucial for keeping up with an ever-changing marketplace, but it also assists with long-term stability as well.

The modern banking landscape continues to move ever deeper towards mobile banking apps, purely digital financial services, and frictionless services that require less physical presence by customers. The pandemic put even more focus than before on delivering access to financial services of all kinds without obligating an in-person visit.

A credit union can't continue to do what it's always done. In the modern world we live in: member expectations change all the time. This, coupled with increased competition, cause fluctuations in the financial industry on a regular basis. Therefore, for credit unions to succeed within this context, they need to remain efficient enough to pivot at a moment's notice.

When it comes to operational efficiency, credit unions have room for growth. According to a McKinsey & Company study, credit unions are repeatedly more inefficient when compared to similarly sized banks. The causes of this operational efficiency variance can range, but it almost always boils down to certain processes draining valuable resources. Ask yourself:

The expectations of credit union members are constantly evolving, and it's up to savvy organizations to evolve right along with them. For most, the careful application of the right type of technology is how they do it.

These days, members are flocking to credit unions for a myriad of different reasons. Some want the convenience that credit unions are known for - they want to be able to utilize services where they want, when they want, no matter what. Others strive for the personal level of care and attention to detail that larger financial institutions just aren't capable of offering. Others still strive for both at the same time.

Digital transformation — when done right — can transform your credit union's ability to stand out in a crowded market while optimizing operations and improving the overall member experience. But when it's done wrong, the possibilities are endless — and not in a good way. For example, Hewlett Packard's digital transformation in 2004 was slated to cost $160 million. But because of several failures, it cost them nearly five times that amount.

While the implications of the term "digital transformation" are far-reaching, in practice the situation isn't quite that complicated. It's all about the technological processes that can be put in place today to help better prepare an organization for the potential challenges it will face tomorrow.

For credit unions, undergoing a digital transformation to offer better and more personalized services to members is no longer a recommendation. It is a requirement.

By now, the future direction of financial services has been charted and well documented — it's all about digital transformation. While the direction of the industry is no surprise, the speed at which this runaway freight train is traveling has left many industry insiders concerned, to say the least. According to a 2019 survey, 81% of banking CEOs reported they were concerned about the speed of technological change. And this was before the COVID-19 pandemic exposed universal shortcomings.