BBVA’s ADA Platform: A Transformative Leap into Cloud Analytics

The ADA platform, a blend of Analytics, Data, and AI named in honor of pioneering computer scientist Ada Lovelace, marks a significant milestone in BBVA’s digital transformation journey. This innovative platform consolidates the management of group data into a single global infrastructure, replacing a fragmented local system. As a trailblazer in the financial sector, ADA has been honored with the World Finance Innovators Award, showcasing its cutting-edge approach through the adoption of Amazon Web Services (AWS) technology.

Enhanced Data Management Capabilities

With ADA, BBVA processes four data petabytes and 40,000 databases daily. This substantial upgrade has significantly improved the accessibility, agility, and security of information management. The cloud’s scalability and processing capabilities have resulted in a remarkable 94% reduction in the availability time of analytical work environments for end users. Additionally, ADA enables BBVA to dynamically allocate resources based on demand, optimizing both costs and performance.

Successful Migration to ADA Cloud Platform

In 2023, BBVA selected Amazon Web Services (AWS) to accelerate its data-driven transformation. A year later, the ADA Cloud platform has become a reality in Europe and Uruguay. This complex migration involved transitioning tens of thousands of processes without service interruptions, underlining BBVA’s commitment to innovation. Plans are underway to extend ADA to additional countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Argentina, in 2025.

Continued Expansion of Data Integration

In 2024, BBVA successfully completed the migration of data from Spain, Uruguay, and other key business sectors, achieving the challenging task of managing tens of thousands of processes with no service downtime. The bank aims to integrate its Latin American data operations into the ADA platform by 2025, further solidifying its global data management strategy.

Strategic Commitment to Innovation

“This recognition underscores BBVA’s strategic commitment to building a global data platform on a public cloud utilizing AWS’s advanced technology,” said Federico Esteban, Head of Data Architecture at BBVA. “ADA empowers us to process structured and unstructured data in real-time, enhancing our ability to innovate and respond agilely to the needs of our businesses in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.”

Empathy in Debt Management

Global Finance has also recognized BBVA Mexico for utilizing behavioral economics techniques to conduct empathetic negotiations with credit card delinquents. Understanding that debt can be a source of stress and loss of control, BBVA implemented a guide to help agents approach customers with empathy during phone conversations about debt repayment. This initiative not only addresses the emotional needs of customers but also leads to improved debt recovery rates.

A Leader in AI Innovation

For the fourth consecutive year, Global Finance has acknowledged BBVA AI Factory as one of the top financial innovation laboratories worldwide. Established in 2019, this center focuses on harnessing AI solutions to tackle complex challenges in the financial sector. BBVA AI Factory’s efforts include developing analytical components that enhance technology solutions, such as personalized recommendations in the BBVA app.

Driving Global Transformation with AI

Expansion efforts in 2024 saw BBVA AI Factory extend its reach to Mexico and Turkey, enriching its operations in key markets. With over 400 professionals, including data scientists and AI engineers, the factory emphasizes fast product development and prompt delivery to a global customer base. The library of analytical components, available through the Mercury library, is partially open to foster collaboration within the Fintech ecosystem, further driving innovation.