Core Banking Transformation is an Ongoing Journey
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re thinking about modernizing your bank’s core, or you’re in the thick of it already. Either way, you’re in the right place.
By Trevor Rodriguez, Chief Delivery Officer, Temenos
There’s no finish line in core banking transformation. The go-live is a critical milestone, but it’s only the beginning of a longer journey of improvement. Today’s leaders think beyond implementation to the entire lifecycle of their platform – continually optimizing, securing, and expanding capabilities to stay resilient and competitive.
Reframing how we deliver banking software
At Temenos, we see delivery as a continuous partnership, not a one-off project. From the initial blueprint through live operations and ongoing enhancements, we work side by side with our clients to plan, execute, and evolve their transformation – minimizing risk, accelerating value, and building a platform that can adapt to whatever comes next.
One lesson stands out from our successful programs: Get the foundations right.
Legacy estates often encode decades of processes. The fastest way to stall progress is to replicate yesterday’s complexity in a new system. The fastest way to create value is to challenge assumptions, simplify where possible, and design for the business you want to be.
We also know transformation is complex. Setting realistic expectations, sequencing scope, and keeping priorities aligned are essential. Our role is to guide clients through what’s possible, draw on proven patterns from global programs, and tailor a roadmap to their goals.
Why the journey never stops
Here’s why I believe continuous transformation is a necessity:
• Competition is everywhere: Banks are contending with new entrants and rapidly shifting customer expectations. Differentiation comes from the ability to ship new propositions fast – safely and at scale.
• Cost pressure is rising: A large share of IT spend still goes to maintaining legacy infrastructure. Modernizing the core unlocks automation, efficiency, and a lower cost-to-income ratio over time.
• Regulatory change is relentless: Frameworks such as the EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), evolving APRA standards in Australia, and OSFI Guideline B10 in Canada raise the bar on resilience, third-party risk, and technology controls.
A service model built for continuous change
Transformation isn’t linear. You may keep your core in “run-the-bank” mode while simultaneously evolving payments, corporate banking, or wealth – delivering new features without disrupting day-to-day operations.
Our services support this across the lifecycle:
• Design and architecture. Target operating model, reference architectures, data and integration strategy, security and resilience by design.
• Delivery and implementation. Proven methodologies, accelerators, and tooling to de-risk builds and shorten time-to-value.
• Customer success for SaaS. Dedicated teams help you get the most from the platform, adopt new capabilities, and plan the next release waves.
• Run operations. Performance, observability, incident response, and continuous optimization to keep services reliable and compliant.
• Continuous modernization. Roadmapping and release management foster innovation in a predictable cadence.
Partner ecosystem and certification
Our partners are an extension of Temenos. To ensure consistent outcomes at scale, we’ve strengthened our Partner Certification framework so clients get the right skills, the right standards, and the right capacity – wherever they are in the world. Transformations can be led by Temenos Services, certified Delivery Partners, or a tailored hybrid model.
What success looks like
From experience, the transformations that create lasting value typically:
1. Start with clear outcomes: Tie the roadmap to business and regulatory priorities – and measure value as you go.
2. Avoid “like-for-like”: Redesign processes where possible; don’t simply re-platform complexity.
3. Sequence for impact: Deliver in waves that balance ambition with risk, unlocking benefits early.
4. Invest in change: Strong sponsorship, empowered product owners, and disciplined scope management keep programs on track.
Product excellence and service excellence go hand-in-hand. We’re committed to both – so you can move forward with a modern platform, an exceptional customer experience, and a trusted partner long after go-live.
