Regulation as an Engine for Operational Optimization

The Mexican government has issued a hurricane warning for the financial sector: a new regulation that curbs rising bank fees and interest rates. The reason? The government wants banks to absorb their own costs instead of passing them on to customers. This strategic move is much more than a fiscal adjustment; it's the push the sector needed to accelerate its digital transformation.

The traditional business model based on hidden fees is over. Now, the battle for customers will be fought on the field of operational efficiency. Traditional banking is, unintentionally, in a race to adopt the revenue architecture of fintechs, where value is generated through optimizing the generative engine, enabling RevOps, and creating a user experience that truly matters.

Impact on the Playing Field: From Costs to Sustainable Growth

The initial blow is tangible: a projected $10 billion MXN reduction in profits. This is a real risk, but also a golden opportunity for operational optimization. Regulatory pressure is forcing banks to invest heavily in their RevOps technology, like the CRM migration and implementation completed by Santander, which reduced product launch time from weeks to hours. This type of technology optimization allows banks to compete with agility and offer hyper-personalized, low-cost solutions, which was once the exclusive territory of startups. In the long term, this team alignment and business automation will not only retain customers but also open new revenue streams through value-added services.

Fractional RevOps to the Rescue: How to Align Teams and Take Off

For traditional banking to avoid turbulence, sales operations optimization and Revenue Operations (RevOps) are key. Here is a flight plan for marketing, sales, finance, and customer success (CS) teams:

• Cast off the old models. Bet on AI-powered automation to create high-value financial products. Think about micro-loans for SMEs or AI-driven expense management tools. The goal is for product innovation to justify new monetization models, going beyond traditional fees.

• Give your brand's narrative a 180-degree turn. The bank needs to be positioned as a consumer champion, a leader in digital transparency. Campaigns must educate customers about the new benefits of the regulation and how technology is being used for their benefit. Good proactive communication builds trust, and trust is one of the main growth strategies.

• Operational optimization requires business automation. Migrate routine services to digital self-service platforms and AI assistants. By doing so, you free up human agents to focus on high-value interactions, such as solving complex problems and finding new cross-selling opportunities.

• Reallocate capital from old models to technological infrastructure and sales tech stack implementation. You must model profitability and ROI in a future without burdensome fees. Ensure that technology investments are directly tied to improving efficiency and increasing customer lifetime value, using clear and precise revenue metrics and reports.

In summary, the new regulation is the push Mexican banking needed to get into gear and accelerate. Operational optimization and AI-powered automation are no longer a luxury, but a necessity. The one that adapts fastest to this new reality, with strategic B2B consulting and RevOps enablement, will be the one ready for takeoff.