Indian banking’s digital transformation has moved into a more pragmatic phase—one where artificial intelligence is shifting from pilots to production, core systems are being modernised without disruption, and resilience matters as much as speed. At DBS Bank India, technology investments over the past two years have been guided by a clear philosophy: apply advanced technologies in ways that are responsible, explainable and deeply human-centric. In this interview with TechCircle, Ramesh Mallya, Chief Technology Officer, DBS Bank India, explains how AI, cloud-native platforms and incremental core modernisation are delivering measurable impact across customer experience, risk management and internal productivity—while keeping trust at the centre.

Which technology bets made by DBS India over the last 18–24 months have delivered the clearest impact?

Continuity of service is fundamental to trust, and core modernisation at DBS Bank India is undertaken incrementally. Legacy systems are progressively decomposed into smaller services that can be modernised independently. This allows new capabilities to be introduced in a controlled manner, tested rigorously and deployed without disrupting critical customer journeys.

Strong DevOps practices support this approach, with automation across testing, deployment and monitoring. Changes are introduced gradually and observed closely. Continuous monitoring, including predictive and anomaly-detection capabilities, helps identify potential issues early and address them before customers are impacted. This reflects a philosophy of responsible innovation—balancing speed with resilience.

AI is moving from pilots to production across banks. Where is DBS India seeing real gains?

DBS Bank India focuses on use cases where value and responsibility coexist. AI is embedded across customer journeys, operations and decision support, delivering gains in experience, consistency and speed. Customer engagement has benefited from AI-enabled personalisation and conversational interfaces that improve relevance and responsiveness. Internally, AI-driven co-pilots have streamlined processes and reduced manual effort while maintaining appropriate controls. Across deployments, the emphasis remains on alignment with the PURE framework and reinforcing trust among customers and employees.

As digital channels scale, how has DBS evolved its cybersecurity posture?

As our digital footprint has expanded, cybersecurity is embedded by design. Security considerations are integrated early into how platforms, APIs and AI systems are built and deployed.

Cloud environments follow a zero-trust mindset, with continuous verification, strong access controls and layered protections. APIs are secured through robust gateways, encryption and continuous monitoring, enabling participation in connected ecosystems. AI introduces new risks, so its use is governed by responsible design and continuous oversight, while AI itself is also used defensively to detect anomalies and emerging threats earlier.

How critical are cloud-native and data platforms to speed and personalisation?

Cloud-native and data platforms form the foundation of DBS Bank India’s ability to innovate with speed and care. Cloud-native architecture enables faster development and deployment while maintaining resilience as usage scales. Data platforms bring together information across channels to create a holistic understanding of customers, supporting contextual rather than generic personalisation. The use of data and AI is guided by a clear intent to remain helpful, respectful and transparent.

How has DBS driven digital adoption within large Indian teams?

Technology transformation at DBS Bank India is treated as a people journey as much as a technical one. Adoption has been driven by building understanding and confidence rather than mandating change. Leaders play an active role in setting direction and modelling responsible technology use. Continuous learning initiatives build digital and AI literacy across roles, while agile ways of working are supported through cross-functional teams, clear ownership and a culture that values learning and iteration.

Looking ahead, what are the key technology priorities for DBS India?

Looking ahead, DBS Bank India will continue to balance innovation with responsibility. Deepening the use of AI and Gen AI to deliver more proactive, insight-led experiences remains a priority, guided by Responsible AI principles. Strengthening cloud-native architecture and the data fabric will support scalability and faster experimentation, alongside sustained investment in building a future-ready workforce.

The article was originally published on TechCircle.