Strategic Partnership and Competitive Advantage: the Experience of Commercial Bank of Africa (K) Ltd & Fintech Firms

Abstract

This era of dynamic innovations steered by technology and changing customer needs require organizations to be on top of the game in aligning organizations to take advantage of the opportunities that emerge with the changes. At the same time, there is a greater need to assess capabilities and identify ways of leveraging on resources which can be availed in the marketplace. This is true for both goods and services industries because they meet almost similar conditions in the business environment. The public sector and development agencies as well, operate in a dynamic environment necessitating focus on leveraging on private sector resources and capabilities to manage scarce resource against the increasing national and global social economic needs. Strategy remains the vehicle that helps organizations to navigate the changing environment. Strategic partnership is one of those strategies that support organizations to remain sustainable and globally competitive. The traditional business to business partnerships have seen emergence of public private partnerships outside the domain of partnerships for infrastructure. The emerging public private partnerships have wider range of stakeholders covering a wider scope of sectors to address the challenges brought about by social economic factors. The arrangements for business to business partnerships are driven by the need to maximize returns to shareholders while the development driven partnerships have the objective of providing innovative solutions to social economic needs. descriptive research design that entailed the use of primary data through interview guide adminstered was used. Managers interviewed were from commercial bank of Africa (Kenya) limited. These included managers who manage the partnership relationships and managers whose departments are directly affected by the partnerships with Fintech firms. The collected data was analysed by use of content analysis technique. This technique brings out the salient issues that make strategic partnerships work and how the concept of strategic partnership relates with competitive advantage. The study findings established that strategic partnerships between commercial bank of Africa (Kenya) limited and Fintech firms leads to a competitive advantage. The findings further established that partnerships enhance new customer acquisition through creation of digital banking solution. The study findings revealed that strategic partnership between banks and Fintech firms has led to the bank experiencing competitive advantage in the areas of market share, revenue growth, operational efficiency and better customer relationship management. In addition the study findings demonstrated that product development through strategic partnership between the bank and Fintech firms has spurred innovation in the bank and strengthened the brand position of the bank within the financial service sector. This study therefore concludes that strategic partnership can give banks competetive advantage and as such bank should consisder partnership with Fintechs. The study provides more empirical information about strategic partnerships with fintech firms and how they relate to competitive advantage.