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RegTech- Meaning, difference between fintech & regtech,top companies

Written by - Marisha Bhatt

March 8, 2023 6 minutes

The fintech industry in India is a fast-paced industry that has been changing the financial structure of the country. India ranks third in the global fintech market and the volume of digital transactions in the country has been seeing a phenomenal rise in the recent past. It has also surpassed the collective volume of the US and China on certain occasions. RegTech is the latest addition to the Fintech ecosystem and is set to further revolutionalise this space. Given here is the meaning of RegTech and its related details. 

Read More: Latest Changes in RBI’s Digital lending rules

What is RegTech?

RegTech refers to the use of the latest technology in order to facilitate the required regulatory compliance in the financial sector. The term “RegTech” is formed using the combination of the words “regulatory technology”. It refers to the use of any modern technology, such as software or cloud-based solutions which are used by financial institutions for better compliance with regulatory requirements.

The concept of RegTech in India is similar to that in other countries. It is used to meet the regulatory compliances of various regulators like The SEBI, IRDAI, and RBI. This technology will be used in various areas like anti-money laundering (AML), know-your-customer (KYC), fraud prevention, risk management, and regulatory reporting.

How can RegTech transform Indian Fintech Industry?

RegTech is a recent concept in the Indian Fintech industry. However, it is set to transform the same in the following manner. 

  1. Improved Compliance 

The fintech industry is quite dynamic and with the ever-changing regulatory landscape, it can be challenging for financial institutions to keep up with the latest regulations. This is where RegTech comes into the picture and various  RegTech solutions can help in automating complex compliance processes. This effectively reduces the risk of non-compliance and Fintech companies can thereby focus on their core business.

  1. Cost Reduction

RegTech solutions are based on the automation of various complex compliance procedures. This can result in significantly reducing related costs that are currently being done manually. Fintech companies can focus on reducing their operational expenses and thereby increasing profitability.

  1. Enhanced Security

RegTech solutions are also crucial in enhancing the security of the systems of the Fintech companies. This enables such companies to protect sensitive customer data through effective identification and addressing security risks proactively.

  1. Better Customer Experience

RegTech solutions can provide an enhanced customer experience. It can help Fintech companies in streamlining their processes as well as optimisation through a reduction in manual errors. This ultimately results in providing services to their customers at a faster pace and more efficiently resulting in improving customer loyalty.

  1. Innovation

RegTech solutions can also enable Fintech companies with new opportunities for innovation and the development of new products and services. Such innovative products are in compliance with the latest regulatory requirements enabling faster acceptance.

What is the difference between FinTech and RegTech?

FinTech and RegTech are both part of the financial sector and are technology-driven solutions focusing to serve different purposes.

FinTech, or Financial Technology, refers to the use of technology in order to improve and automate financial services. This includes various innovations that have become an integral part of the financial system such as mobile banking, peer-to-peer lending, and cryptocurrency. FinTech focuses on improving customer experience, increasing efficiency, and reducing costs in financial services.

RegTech, or Regulatory Technology, on the other hand, refers to the use of technology to help businesses comply with regulations and manage regulatory risks. RegTech companies provide solutions that include tools such as automated reporting, monitoring, and compliance management software. RegTech focuses on improving compliance processes, reducing risk, and increasing transparency.

While both FinTech and RegTech leverage technology to improve financial services, they serve different purposes. FinTech aims to improve financial services for customers, while RegTech aims to help businesses comply with regulations and manage regulatory risks. However, there is some overlap between the two, as both seek to improve the efficiency of financial services through technology.

What are the limitations of RegTech?

RegTech is quite new in the Indian financial markets. A few key limitations of RegTech in the Indian financial system include,

  • Heavy reliance on high-quality data for RegTech solutions to be effective.
  • Heavy reliance on technology to be efficient and may focus on such excess reliance ignoring human insight and decision-making capabilities. 
  • RegTech can be quite costly for small and medium-sized businesses.
  • The regulation of the financial industry can be quite dynamic and RegTech solutions may not be up-to-date to tackle this dynamic nature.  
  • Data privacy and security can be a huge concern in RegTech solutions. 
  • RegTech solutions focus on one specific regulatory compliance at a time and hence, users may need multiple RegTech solutions to cover all their compliance needs.

Indian Companies in the Regtech space

Some of the prominent Indian companies in the Regtech space are

  • Enforcd
  • Finchat
  • DueDil
  • City Falcon
  • Kyo Labs

Conclusion

The recent technological changes driving every sector of the economy are shaping it into a very dynamic form that is evolving at a rapid pace. The RegTech industry is the sub-industry under Fintech but is becoming a mainstream sector. It is expected that the industry will be more than US$ 20 billion by 2027 globally at a CAGR of approximately 22.3%. Some of the common reasons for the increasing push to this industry are the excessive reliance on technology post covid, the rising regulatory requirements and the cost of compliance, the ease of data analytics offered by RegTech companies, etc. 

FAQs 

What are the industries and applications of RegTech?

Some of the industries and applications of RegTech include the banking and the financial sector, insurance, healthcare, supply chain management, government compliance requirements, and legal compliance

How do RegTech companies help in better risk management?

RegTech companies can help their customer sot identify potential risks and assess them in real time. This provides crucial input in the strategic decision-making process enabling effective risk management

How can the adoption of RegTech help the Fintech industry?

Through RegTech, Fintech Companies can improve their compliance requirements, rescue costs, enhance the security of their portal, provide customers with a better user experience, and more

 What are the main regulatory bodies of the Fintech and RegTech industry in India?

The mani regulators of the Fintech and the RegTech industry in India are the RBI, SEBI, and IRDAI

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