The challenge
In 2017, Lloyds Banking Group recognized the need for a significant transformation within its Payments division. The goal was to enhance efficiency, improve delivery timelines, and foster better communication and transparency within teams. This transformation was part of a broader initiative to modernize the bank’s approach to business and technology.
To initiate this transformation, Lloyds embarked on implementing agile methodologies within its business transformation project. This move was critical in addressing the evolving demands of the banking sector and the expectations of their customers. The transition was led by a dedicated team, of which I was a key member, responsible for stakeholder management, coaching team members, and ensuring effective management.
SOLUTION
Lloyd’s Banking Group had about 150 different payment systems, most of them running on old mainframes (that green screen thing) and were running on Cobol. So naturally, the tiniest change had to go through hard-to-find SMEs and be approved by a few CAB committees.
My team and I concentrated on bringing modern software (Topaz, SonarQube, Jenkins, YAML) and Agile practices like Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment (CI/CD), and tools like Jira and Confluence to help us with the transformation effort.
Since Lloyds is a very big bank, we had to work with various other divisions and consultancies to coordinate on delivery and usage of the end solution. By the end, we had successfully implemented a solution that enabled the IT delivery teams to build, test, and roll out code in a day, as opposed to weeks and months.
CONCLUSION
The transformation at Lloyds Banking Group illustrates how agile practices and modern technology can revitalize traditional banking operations. This shift not only improved efficiency but also showed that collaboration and swift IT deliverables are crucial for success in today’s dynamic financial sector.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. Agile Methodologies and Modern Software Can Revolutionize Traditional Banking Systems: Implementing agile practices and modern software significantly streamlines processes within large, complex organizations.
2. Collaboration is Key in Large-Scale Transformations: Working effectively with various divisions and external consultancies is crucial for coordinating and delivering successful solutions.
3. Efficient Delivery Transforms Business Outcomes: By reducing the time for IT deliverables from months to a single day, the transformation at Lloyds Banking Group highlights the profound impact of efficiency on business operations.
If you’re seeking transformative outcomes for your organization, I’m here to guide you with proven methodologies and hands-on expertise.
