5 things you need to know about ISO20022

The way in which financial transactions are made around the world is changing. ISO20022 is the new standard for payments, with financial institutions across the globe having adopted it in recent years as part of a large-scale worldwide migration.

In short, ISO20022 is the new international standard for financial messaging. It defines a common platform for messages used in financial transactions, securities, foreign exchange and more. The aim is to improve communication between financial institutions and facilitate automation, interoperability and straight-through processing.

ISO20022 messages are XML-based, providing a richer and more structured format compared to older standards such as SWIFT MT, while reducing errors and improving efficiency in financial standards. But what does it mean for your business? Here are five things you need to know about ISO20022.

1. It provides a standardised payment format
2. It offers enhanced data and reporting
3. It’ll improve efficiency and compliance
4. It’ll make international transactions more straightforward
5. It provides enhanced security and traceability

1. It provides a standardised payment format

Banks and other financial institutions have, up to now, typically used different payment formats. The thinking behind ISO20022 is to standardise this, domestically and internationally, making the process clearer, simpler and more efficient.

By standardising payment file formats across different banks and regions all over the globe, ISO20022 will reduce the complexity and variability involved in handling both domestic and international transactions, streamlining the process and thereby preventing errors.

Standardising payments in this way makes it much easier for finance teams to process transactions. IFS Cloud solutions, delivered by Muzulu, can handle ISO20022, simplifying transactions for businesses by incorporating a consistent format for domestic and international payments.

2. It offers enhanced data and reporting

ISO20022 offers a more structured and comprehensive data model than earlier payment messaging standards. This richer data structure allows for more detailed information to be included in transactions, enhancing transparency as well as facilitating automation.

As financial input data becomes more standardised, the data included on bank statements is more detailed and complete. This benefits businesses by giving them a clearer overview of financial transactions, providing them with greater control over their finances.

3. It’ll improve efficiency and compliance

The introduction of ISO20022 will allow for greater automation and improved efficiency in payment processing. This will benefit businesses by ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, reducing the risk of non-compliance and the penalties – which can include heavy fines – associated with it.

Furthermore, ISO20022 will reduce the administrative burden associated with manual checks and data entry. This should free up finance teams to take on other tasks, boosting efficiency by saving the time and effort involved.

4. It’ll make international transactions more straightforward

ISO20022 is a single international messaging standard for financial transactions, eliminating much of the complexity that cross-border transactions had previously entailed. It simplifies the process of moving money between banks by providing a consistent format recognised by financial institutions around the world.

This new standard is recognised globally, making it far simpler to transfer money between different countries. Needless to say, this is particularly beneficial for companies operating in multiple countries, as it ensures compatibility with international banking standards.

5. It provides enhanced security and traceability

As ISO20022 provides a standardised, internationally-recognised format for financial messaging, it improves the security and traceability of transactions. This makes fraudulent transactions easier to identify, providing a clear audit trail, as well as assisting with risk management and compliance monitoring.

ISO20022 could therefore play an important role in tackling financial fraud. Also, because ISO20022 offers higher-quality data than previous payment standards, it makes fraudulent payments easier to identify, wherever they are in the global system – which should also help regulators and law enforcement bodies to recover funds from these transactions.

The rollout of ISO20022, though it primarily affects businesses operating in the financial sector, has much wider implications for companies in other industries as well. It involves a significant transformation of financial processes and systems, and it’s important that businesses understand its implications for them so that they can get as much value as possible from the new standard.

Muzulu’s industry-leading IFS consultancy can help you get more out of your new or existing IFS ERP software solution. Get in touch with our team of experts today and book a call to find out more.