In an era where $330 billion in premiums and underwriting profit are at risk over the next five years (Accenture), financial institutions can’t afford to overlook the power of trusted customer data. In our recent webinar, Fueling Scalable Growth with Customer Data: Transforming Your Customer Data Lake into an Intelligent Source of Continuous Growth, experts from Verato and industry-leading financial organizations came together to discuss exactly how to tackle this challenge head-on.
Speakers included:
- Martin Hougaard, GM of Financial Services at Verato
- Adrian Rodriguez, SVP of Data & Innovation at American Heritage Credit Union
- Sameer Soni, Director of Data Modeling and Data Management CoE at Fidelity Data Architecture
Together, they explored how high-quality, unified identity data is the foundation for growth initiatives like hyper-personalization, cross-selling, seamless digital onboarding, and AI-driven innovation.
Why Identity Data Is the Bedrock of Growth
One theme resonated throughout the discussion: growth starts with knowing exactly who your customers are. As Martin emphasized, identity data is the “single source of truth” that enables accurate targeting, personalized engagement, and rapid scaling. Without it, AI models falter, analytics fail, and customer experiences become fragmented — leading to lost revenue and increased risk exposure.
Breaking Down the Data Challenges
Our speakers addressed common obstacles, from siloed systems and fragmented data to technical debt and cultural resistance. Adrian shared how his organization created a dedicated Data & Innovation department to embed data strategy into the business — rather than leaving it siloed in IT. Sameer underscored the importance of integrating systems of record, engagement, and insight to build a true 360-degree customer view.
Activating Your Data Lake for Real Results
Turning a data lake into an engine for growth requires more than just storing massive amounts of data. As discussed, leading organizations embed identity resolution at the point of data ingestion, use real-time API-driven pipelines, and maintain strict data governance frameworks. The goal? Clean, enriched, and actionable data that continuously drives smarter decisions and better customer outcomes.
Enabling Hyper-Personalization and AI Innovation
Trusted identity data powers hyper-personalized offers and experiences, moving beyond one-size-fits-all interactions to individualized journeys that build loyalty and revenue. From real-time KYC checks to tailored product recommendations, the ability to understand and serve each customer at scale is what sets leaders apart.
Looking Ahead: Continuous Innovation and Trust
As fraud tactics evolve and customer expectations rise, future-ready organizations are adopting zero-trust architectures, continuous authentication, and decentralized identity frameworks to safeguard trust while enabling seamless engagement.
Key takeaway? Investing in trusted, unified identity data isn’t just a technical initiative — it’s a strategic growth imperative.
Ready to turn your customer data lake into an intelligent growth engine? Learn more by watching the full webinar on-demand [here].
