Sean Farrell + Financial Services Technology

IT Matters | Tech Solutions and Strategies for Every Industry

In this episode, host Aaron Bock interviews Sean Farrell, CEO of financial services technology company QDS.
Conversation Highlights:

• The cause for QDS's technology evolution (5:24)
• Considering IT in the organization vs. as part of the solutions provided (8:46)
• Communicating effectively internally as a team set up across 12 states and growing (11:32)
• Cool ways people connected through technology during COVID (13:18)
• Where local community banks and credit unions are struggling with technology (16:28)
• Who is getting most involved in IT decisions from the financial services side, and where QDS is seeing the most objections (18:28)
• What differentiates the technologically advanced financial services organizations (20:39)
• The difference between ITMs and ATMs (23:25)
• Why managed services is one of the trends financial services organizations need to be paying attention to (24:19)
• And why Bitcoin, cryptocurrency and blockchain are other trends to keep up with (26:42)
• Predicting where QDS will be in 5 years, how that will be different than today, and what it means to have a shortening technology cycle (29:06)
• How prioritizing technology is even more important with COVID-induced supply chain issues (32:13)
• Sean's favorite technology that he uses day to day (33:15)
• Why making sure people understand "why" is Sean's overall best piece of advice related to technology (34:43)

Technologies Mentioned:

• Vidyard - video messaging to boost remote sales
• BombBomb - similar to Vidyard
• Bonusly - solution for internal company rewards programs

About QDS
Founded in 1983, QDS is proud to be a family-owned cash automation company that specializes in helping financial Institutions and retailers use the latest technology to automate cash handling. Their decades of experience and variety of products allow them to serve their customers by providing the best solutions to solve their specific needs. They are committed to helping their banking and credit union clients identify and deliver their Branch of the Future strategy. Their goal is to demonstrate how technology can impact their bottom line and deliver a better customer experience. QDS works with retail clients to create efficient cash handling processes and reduce the risk of theft with automation tools and technology.

Chapters

1. The cause for QDS's technology evolution. (00:05:24)

2. Considering IT in the organization vs. as part of the solutions provided. (00:08:46)

3. Communicating effectively internally as a team set up across 12 states and growing. (00:11:32)

4. Cool ways people connected through technology during COVID. (00:13:18)

5. Where local community banks and credit unions are struggling with technology. (00:16:28)

6. Who is getting most involved in IT decisions from the financial services side, and where QDS is seeing the most objections. (00:18:28)

7. What differentiates the technologically advanced financial services organizations. (00:20:39)

8. The difference between ITMs and ATMs. (00:23:25)

9. Why managed services is one of the trends financial services organizations need to be paying attention to. (00:24:19)

10. And why Bitcoin, cryptocurrency and blockchain are other trends to keep up with. (00:26:42)

11. Predicting where QDS will be in 5 years, how that will be different than today, and what it means to have a shortening technology cycle (29:06) How prioritizing technology is even more important with COVID-induced supply chain issues. (00:32:13)

12. Sean's favorite technology that he uses day to day. (00:33:15)

13. Why making sure people understand "why" is Sean's overall best piece of advice related to technology. (00:34:43)