Garanti BBVA Romania

Revolutionizing Digital Banking for Garanti BBVA Romania

At Grapefruit, digital transformation is more than a buzzword, it’s our mission. We were delighted to collaborate with Garanti BBVA Romania to redefine its digital banking landscape. The project’s goal was to assist the bank in becoming an important player in the field and achieve its strategic goals, which went beyond technological developments.

The bank with a focus on customer-centricity

Garanti BBVA is part of the Garanti BBVA Romania Group, together with Garanti BBVA Leasing and Garanti BBVA Consumer Finance, which complete the bank's offer with specific leasing products, fleet management services, as well as consumer loans. In 2023, the bank celebrated twenty-five years of active presence within the Romanian banking system.

Garanti BBVA România is owned by Garanti BBVA Turkey (TGB), the second-largest private bank in Turkey. The majority shareholder of Garanti BBVA Turkey is the Spanish financial group Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA).

Website migration

When Garanti BBVA Romania issued its RFP, we saw it as an invitation to make a lasting impact. The scope was comprehensive, involving a complete website redesign and the launch of a new CMS solution. The project was a high-stakes endeavor, involving multiple stakeholders and requiring meticulous planning and execution to meet the bank's strategic objectives.

Navigating a labyrinth of complexities

The challenges were as diverse as they were exciting. From an older version of the website to aligning with global brand guidelines, we were navigating a labyrinth of technical and organizational complexities. Time constraints, budget limitations, and the involvement of multiple stakeholders added layers of complexity. But at Grapefruit, we thrive on solving complex problems through a holistic approach.

Not just a digital platform

We successfully migrated the website and implemented a WordPress CMS, enabling efficient content management. This empowered the client to manage content efficiently and make quick updates. The new website also aligns with the brand guidelines of Garanti BBVA Romania entities in other countries like Turkey, Spain, Switzerland, Peru etc. Secondary issues like legislative requirements and customer experience were also addressed, making the website not just a digital platform but a comprehensive solution for the bank's diverse needs.

Solution

Our team meticulously managed the project, adhering to high-level requirements that included full migration, new design, content transfer, and the development and integration of forms, special tables, calculators, and a branch/ATM finder tool. Testing and optimization were rigorously conducted before the website went live to ensure a smooth transition. The solution was not just about meeting the immediate needs but was designed to be scalable and adaptable, ensuring long-term benefits for the client.

Implementation

Clear communication was key to the project's success. Weekly status meetings were held to align expectations and discuss progress. The project management tool Redmine was used for task submissions, eschewing email to maintain clarity and focus. Internal meetings were held as needed to clarify progress and address any issues. This structured approach to communication ensured that all stakeholders were aligned and informed, making the project management process seamless and effective.

New digital presence

Post-implementation analytics indicate that the migration had no negative impact on the website's ranking, and some metrics have even improved. The client expressed their satisfaction with the new digital presence, highlighting the ease with which they can now make instant updates. The new CMS system continues to save clients time and resources, allowing them to manage the website independently and keep it updated with the latest campaigns, offers, and services. The project has successfully achieved and even surpassed its initial objectives, establishing a solid reference point for digital transformation initiatives in the financial sector.

Tiberiu Arghir
Digital Marketing Specialist Garanti BBVA

The migration of the website was both a challenging and complex project and the support provided by the Grapefruit team was very good, and they were hands-on through the entire technical process. Also, the fact that there was an Agile project management approach in place from start to the end, made the entire way of working efficient and clear from one iteration to the other and I really appreciated the collaboration with them.

Digital asset that transcended the client’s objectives

Our collaboration with Garanti BBVA Romania was more than just a project; it was a journey of digital innovation, shared knowledge, and forward-thinking. This intricate endeavor necessitated a nuanced comprehension of both the technological landscape and the organizational complexities. Through meticulous planning, state-of-the-art solutions, and a governance model rooted in actionable data, we crafted a digital asset that transcended the client’s initial objectives.