Who should enter the ‘FinTech Solution of the Year’ category?

The ‘FinTech Solution of the Year’ category recognizes outstanding providers of financial technology that are transforming the delivery of financial services or financial operations. This award celebrates innovative platforms that address traditional pain points in banking, payments, lending, or insurance through the application of cutting-edge technology.

In financial services, entries may show how the solution utilizes open banking, API integrations, or blockchain architecture to facilitate seamless and secure financial transactions. Solutions may demonstrate “frictionless” finance, where technology simplifies complex regulatory requirements – such as KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) – without compromising security or user trust.

In addition, entries may illustrate the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence to provide deeper financial insights, such as predictive credit scoring, automated wealth management, or real-time fraud detection.

Eligible solutions may specialize in areas such as payroll, expense management, or financial accounting – supporting organizations in any sector with their financial operations.

Judges will consider the scalability of the solution, its interoperability with the wider financial ecosystem, and how it empowers users or organization to better manage their financial health. Successful entries will provide clear evidence of market adoption, measurable improvements in transaction efficiency or cost-to-serve, and a rigorous commitment to data privacy and cybersecurity standards.

Person using smartphone and easy payment with click banking

Example Use Cases

FinTech solutions eligible for this award may either provide an outstanding broad solution, or exceptional specialized solutions in one of these areas (among others):

making contactless payment with a phone

Transforming payment experiences through secure, scalable, cloud-based platforms. FinTech solutions streamline digital transactions, enable real-time processing, and support seamless payment experiences across channels and geographies.

Typical use cases:

  • Real-time payment processing and settlement
  • Cross-border payment facilitation and currency conversion
  • Embedded payments within digital platforms
  • Mobile wallet and contactless payment integration
  • Fraud monitoring within transaction workflows

Some examples of results from this application:

  • Faster transaction processing and settlement times
  • Reduced payment friction and cart abandonment
  • Increased transaction success rates
  • Improved customer satisfaction and payment reliability

Young woman talking on a mobile phone while using cash machine Enhancing financial security through intelligent risk monitoring and behavioural analytics. Cloud-based FinTech platforms use AI and real-time data analysis to detect anomalies and prevent fraud before losses occur.

Typical use cases:

  • Real-time transaction monitoring and anomaly detection
  • AML (Anti-Money Laundering) automation
  • Identity verification and KYC (Know Your Customer) workflows
  • Risk scoring and fraud pattern recognition
  • Automated suspicious activity reporting

Some examples of results from this application:

  • Reduced fraud losses and chargebacks
  • Faster detection and response to suspicious activity
  • Improved regulatory compliance and reporting accuracy
  • Lower false-positive rates in fraud screening

woman using credit card with internet banking mobile app sitting at cafe Enabling secure data sharing and ecosystem innovation through cloud-native APIs. FinTech platforms support integration between banks, third-party providers, and financial institutions to deliver new digital services and customer experiences.

Typical use cases:

  • Secure API-based financial data sharing
  • Account aggregation and financial insights tools
  • Embedded finance and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS)
  • Real-time credit and lending decision integration
  • Third-party developer ecosystem enablement

Some examples of results from this application:

  • Accelerated development of new financial products
  • Increased customer access to personalised financial services
  • Expanded partnership and ecosystem opportunities
  • Greater transparency and control over financial data

Person using laptop Modernising credit assessment through automated underwriting and predictive analytics. Cloud FinTech solutions leverage alternative data sources and AI-driven risk models to improve speed and accuracy in lending decisions.

Typical use cases:

  • Automated credit scoring and risk modelling
  • Digital loan origination and approval workflows
  • Alternative data analysis for underserved markets
  • Real-time affordability and eligibility checks
  • Portfolio risk monitoring and performance analytics

Some examples of results from this application:

  • Reduced loan approval times
  • Improved credit risk accuracy and portfolio performance
  • Expanded access to credit for new customer segments
  • Lower operational costs in underwriting processes

Business woman and presentation with graphs on screen for user personas customer insights Empowering individuals and businesses with intelligent financial visibility and control. FinTech solutions aggregate transaction data, automate financial tracking, and provide actionable insights to support better financial decision-making.

Typical use cases:

  • Personal or business financial dashboards
  • Automated expense categorisation and budgeting tools
  • Cash flow forecasting and liquidity monitoring
  • Savings optimisation and financial goal tracking
  • Embedded analytics for financial wellbeing

Some examples of results from this application:

  • Improved customer financial awareness and engagement
  • Increased adoption of digital financial tools
  • Better cash flow predictability for businesses
  • Higher customer retention through value-added insight

Hall of Fame: Previous Winners

Esker impressed the judges with a cloud platform that genuinely transforms how finance and billing operations run at enterprise scale. Its ability to automate complex payment, invoicing, and cash flow processes while delivering measurable business impact stood out clearly. The combination of AI driven insight, strong customer outcomes, and global adoption made Esker a standout in this category. This achievement makes Esker a deserving winner at The Cloud Awards.”

The Cloud Awards COO, Annabelle Whittall

Best Cloud Payment / Finance / Billing Solution 2025/26, Esker
Xero Logo

By addressing the risk that SME businesses could be left behind in a competitive and fast-changing environment due to a lack of accurate information and analysis in a critical, yet technical, function, Xero has shown innovation. Their new ‘Just Ask Xero’ AI feature, with its function-specific training and opt-in focus, is poised to ease workloads while maintaining the accuracy and customer trust essential for wide acceptance in the financial professions.”

Lead Judge, Stephen Backhouse

Best Cloud Payment / Finance / Billing Solution 2024/25, Xero
Xero Logo

Xero is a cloud-based accounting software product that’s easy to use and integrates with more than 1,000 apps.  It’s competitively priced and doesn’t charge extra for additional users, making it an affordable option for growing businesses. Xero also has robust reporting tools and report customization options. Plus, basic inventory tracking in all plans and a capable mobile app. Finally, we were very impressed with the Xero toolset for the automation of the reconciliation process. We at The Cloud Awards think that Xero is the best accounting software for small businesses. Congratulations, Xero!”

Lead Judge, Srini Dharmireddi

Best Cloud Payment / Finance / Billing Solution 2023/24, Xero

Areas to Highlight in Your Submission

Judges score nominations across these five key areas:

  • Innovation: The features or technology that makes your FinTech solution unique - or transformed your market.

  • Impact: Evidence of the positive effect your FinTech solution has brought to your customers.

  • Scalability: How your solution grows or adapts to changing business needs, without significant upgrades or overhauls.

  • User Experience: How intuitive your FinTech solution is to use for users of varying roles or skill levels.

  • Relevance: What makes your solution a worthy winner in this particular category.

Although not formally scored, focus on these areas specific to this category, can help your nomination stand out:

Automation

AI-driven features that increase user efficiency, without compromising accuracy, or 'human touch'.

Integration

How well the solution integrates with existing platforms or software within a customer's systems.

Customization

The options available to users to customize the solution to meet their individual user needs, or that of their industry or sector.

More Cloud Awards Categories

Next Steps to Enter The Cloud Awards

To enter this Cloud Awards category, or any other category in The Cloud Awards, please follow these three simple steps:

  • Download the entry form. Open up the ‘Cloud Awards Simple Form’ document.
  • Complete your form. You only need to complete the form once, even if entering multiple Cloud Awards categories.
  • Submit your entry. Head to the ‘Submit Now’ section on our website, select ‘The Cloud Awards’ and the category/categories you are entering from the list, upload your form and any other materials you would like the judges to review, and process your fees.

Since 2011, The Cloud Awards been helping organizations across the globe gain the recognition they deserve for market-leading innovation in the cloud computing and software sectors.

For a detailed breakdown of all the benefits you receive as an awards entrant as either a shortlistee, finalist or ultimate winner, please see our “Why Enter?” page. The many benefits are replicated across all international awards programs. If you have any questions about this category, please contact us.