BS/2 presented an updated version of Payments.iQ NG and other technological innovations at the IBF 2025 forum in Azerbaijan

On November 19–20, the 9th International Banking Forum (IBF) took place in Baku, organized with the support of Mastercard. This year, the event attracted record industry attention: the forum brought together more than 1,500 participants, 270 companies, and over 50 speakers from the banking sector, regulatory bodies, fintech, and international organizations. Among the speakers were executives of major banks and technology companies, as well as representatives of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Banks Association.

BS/2 traditionally participated as a premium sponsor of the forum and presented its own vision for the development of self-service infrastructure. The company showcased key technological innovations and shared its professional perspective on the evolution of digital services, emphasizing the growing importance of technological transformation in the region.

Presentation by Dmytro Kovalenko: BS/2’s perspective on the digital transformation of Azerbaijan and Georgia

On the main stage, BS/2 Head of Market Development (Georgia, Azerbaijan) Dmytro Kovalenko delivered a keynote speech, offering an analytical view on how the banking ecosystems of Azerbaijan and Georgia are changing under the influence of digitalization. Dmytro highlighted the rapid growth of digital channels, the development of mobile services, e-commerce, and Instant Payment Systems – all factors shaping new requirements for the technological advancement of banks.

Expanding on the topic, Dmytro noted that self-service is becoming one of the key tools for optimizing banking processes. As the number of digital transactions increases, the number of dispute cases inevitably grows as well, making the implementation of real-time dispute management systems a strategically important step. He also pointed out the need for accelerated development of open APIs and Open Banking standards, increased user trust in digital channels, and strengthened cybersecurity measures.

“Transforming bank branches into self-service hubs and introducing functions such as QR-based cash withdrawal or deposit, self-collection, and currency exchange form a new digital ecosystem, where predictive analytics enables more effective management decisions,” Dmytro Kovalenko emphasized in his speech.

The concluding part of his presentation was dedicated to the updated version of Payments.iQ NG, showcased at the forum as part of BS/2’s new digital services architecture.

Payments.iQ NG: updated architecture and key modules

The updated Payments.iQ NG demonstrated at the exhibition became a clear representation of BS/2’s new digital services architecture, which unifies key technological areas and fully redesigned segments of the platform into a single ecosystem. At the center of this solution are three entirely new modules – FlexFlow.iQ, PulseAI.iQ, and Crypto.iQ, which form the core of the updated logic and unlock expanded capabilities of the well-known product.

FlexFlow.iQ is a universal and flexible service and scenario designer that provides banks with a complete set of tools for independently designing, adapting, and launching digital services without code or developer involvement. Key capabilities include:
• centralized management of all digital services and transactions;
• visual no-code scenario modeling;
• configuration of payment rails and routing;
• unified integrations across all channels (ATMs, terminals, mobile applications);
• multilingual interface adaptation;
• fast rollout of new functionality.

PulseAI.iQ is an intelligent analytical environment for automating dispute management, using machine learning to analyze transactional events and technical logs. Core functionality includes:
• AI/LLM-based automatic incident classification;
• automatic creation of an evidence package;
• execution of workflows without operator involvement;
• deep integration and logging via Prometheus, Grafana, and Loki;
• data visualization in analytical dashboards;
• self-learning based on historical data.

The system centralizes work with all types of disputes, significantly speeding up the resolution of disputed operations.

The module that attracted the most attention from visitors was Crypto.iQ, which allows banks to securely and compliantly connect their ATMs to licensed crypto providers and perform digital asset operations directly on self-service devices. It supports buying, selling, converting, and authenticating operations without hardware modifications and without requiring an additional license for the bank, while maintaining full control over risks, audit logs, and user experience. Crypto.iQ enables banks to quickly and responsibly launch or expand digital asset services using their existing infrastructure and scaling at their own pace.

In addition to the new modules, an extended line of solutions forming the updated Payments.iQ NG functionality was demonstrated. These include QR-Pay for QR-code transactions, Cash-in by Mobile Number / AniPay for account replenishment using a phone number, as well as modules such as MobileControl.iQ for mobile-initiated transactions, FaceRecognition.iQ for biometric identification, and FCX for 24/7 currency exchange with dynamic parameters. All solutions operate within a unified digital architecture and integrate with the DsCenter.iQ data management hub, forming a scalable and interconnected infrastructure for the effective development of self-service networks.

BS/2 Business Analyst Alexander Grebenko commented on the importance of the new modules for the region’s banking sector:

“Banks in the region are paying more attention to the quality of customer experience, which is why the fast resolution of disputed situations enabled by PulseAI.iQ is becoming critically important. Crypto.iQ is particularly relevant for the Georgian market, as Georgia is one of the global leaders in the adoption of digital assets — more than 15% of the population has owned cryptocurrency at least once. This product helps banks adapt quickly and effectively to changing customer financial habits. FlexFlow.iQ, in turn, is especially relevant for Azerbaijan, where the culture of using self-service devices is highly developed: with FlexFlow, banks gain the ability to flexibly manage the range of payment services available to users.”

Partner hardware solutions showcased at the BS/2 booth

As part of its exhibition, BS/2 presented equipment from key technology partners, including Diebold Nixdorf ATMs and other modern solutions for developing self-service networks. Among the featured innovations was the intelligent CASH80ALU recycler, shown for the first time at the BS/2 booth. The model is equipped with the innovative CW-BV60 verification module, which provides accurate recognition and verification of banknote serial numbers. Its high processing speed of 8–10 banknotes per second and spacious recycling cassettes (up to 3,400 banknotes each) make the device highly efficient for intensive operations.

A dedicated part of the booth was devoted to Sargent & Greenleaf (S&G) security and access control solutions, a BS/2 partner in this field. The company presented its modern line of A-Series electronic locks designed to enhance ATM network security and improve CIT operations. These devices support one-time code issuance, optimize cash-in-transit processes, and integrate seamlessly with the Cash Management.iQ module. S&G representatives – Irina Omarhali, Sales Support Specialist for Eastern Europe / Central Asia, and Sergey Ko, Sales and Business Development Manager for the same region — provided consultations and demonstrated practical use cases.

During the forum, Sergey Ko presented BS/2 with the S&G award “Fastest Growing Distributor in the EMEA Region”, recognizing the rapid development of the partnership and BS/2’s contribution to advancing innovative security technologies in the market.

Accepting the award, BS/2 Deputy CEO for Commerce Nikolajs Želņins emphasized its significance:

“For our team, it is a great honor to receive this award. We value the trust and deeply appreciate our long-standing cooperation, which has brought mutual success for many years. This award reflects our shared ambition with Sargent & Greenleaf to grow the market, implement cutting-edge solutions, and strengthen our partnership. Thank you, Sargent & Greenleaf, for the recognition and the opportunity to grow together.”

 

Visit of representatives of Georgian banks: exploring BS/2 solutions

At BS/2’s invitation, partners from Georgia attended the exhibition: Tsotne Shelegia, Business Analyst at Basis Bank, and Giorgi Chkhikvadze, Payment Channels Development Manager at Bank of Georgia, accompanied by Emilio Kiris, CEO of BS/2 Georgia.

The guests reviewed the capabilities of the updated Payments.iQ NG platform, biometric identification scenarios, and the FCX solution for round-the-clock currency exchange. These technologies are already being actively deployed in Georgia, contributing to the modernization of self-service networks, increased operational efficiency, and expansion of customer services. The visit highlighted the importance of cross-regional cooperation and demonstrated the readiness of Georgian banks to adopt modern technological standards.

BS/2’s participation in IBF 2025 became an important milestone, allowing the company to underscore its key role in the digital transformation of the Caucasus financial sector. The solutions presented demonstrate how innovations in self-service help banks improve efficiency, enhance customer experience, and expand service accessibility. BS/2 continues to strengthen its presence in Azerbaijan and Georgia, supporting banks in building modern digital infrastructure and shaping new service standards.

Watch a short video about the event: