1.

Why DBS had to kick start 2nd phase of Digital transformation when they already
successfully implemented 1st phase in 2009-2014?

 DBS realised threats posted by FinTechs that were offering wide variety of
innovative financial products and services. In fact, large tech companies also decided
to jump into the space, that’s when DBS decided to start the next phase.
2. Why Grab partnered with DBS for wallet app when they already have their own wallet
Grab Pay?
 Grab partnered with DBS through the API platform so that drivers can transfer their
fare earned on Grab directly to their own account.

3. Why DBS called it’s transformation as GANDALF (Google,Apple,Netflix,,DBS,

Amazon,LinkedIn & Facebook)?

a. DBS wanted to change its tech infrastructure to the core. They wanted to make a
bigger impact to its employees for whom it might be a shocking cultural shift, so
GANDALF would enable them to describe a different way of running DBS and help to
make this transformation.

4. Why DBS wanted 85% of tech infrastructure team to be in-house?

a. To create own technology DNA that would help in the transformation.

5. Why DBS wanted its new application to be Cloud ready, act as micro-services and API
ready?
a. DBS wanted its Digital Infrastructure to be future prepared and they believed any
new application that will be build should not become obsolete. Hence they invested
in the technologies which they think were the future.

6. Why DBS wanted to shift from Projects to Platform?

a. Individual projects need separate funding and approval, this result into less freedom
to technology teams in terms of innovation or experimentation. Platform would give
enough freedom to the teams to operate and manage key tech developments. It will
be a fuse of business and technology.

7. Why DBS wanted to embed itself into customer journey using digitalization?
a. DBS predicts that in future customer will access mostly everything through digital
channels, without thinking about banks location or offering. To understand customer
behaviour, DBS wanted to partner with external companies via API and stay
connected with customers.

8. Why DBS build open API platform?

a. In order to create an API ecosystem that will help DBS to embed itself in customer
journey, DBS created open API platform. E.g. Using APIs, customer can use PayLah,
DBS’s mobile wallet for other activities like paying bill for McDelivery etc.