Santander has appointed dentsu, the integrated business transformation partner, to support the globalisation of its international growth platform for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Through a new multi-year deal, dentsu will build the Santander international growth platform, which is foundational to the bankās mission to simplify international trade for the worldās SME community, which represents over 90 per cent of the business population and contributes around half of GDP.
The bank says that empowering more businesses to expand internationally will unlock new opportunities, driving transformative impact on a global scale.
Scheduled for launch in Q2 2025, dentsu will manage the design, build, operations and marketing of the platform. It leverages dentsuās integrated capabilities across media, creative, customer experience, business transformation and B2B specialisms. Santanderās technology partners including Salesforce, Adobe and Amazon will also power the platform.
āWeāve seen first-hand what can be achieved when all the pieces of the puzzle are put in place, when businesses can feel empowered to take their next step and realise their true growth potential. Now, itās our time to export,ā explained John Carroll, head of international and transactional banking at Santander. āWeāre ready to take the support we can offer to the next level and help more businesses than ever before across all corners of the globe.
āIām delighted to work with dentsu to work on this next phase. Its knowledge and expertise are second to none and they will be pivotal to the future of this offering. Together, we will pave the way for the future of international trade, in a simpler way that means more businesses can take advantage of the massive opportunity it holds.ā
Supporting international growth plans for SMEs
Santander has outlined ambitious growth plans over the next five years for the platform. It has set its sights on 45 new markets, including 10 core markets for the bank alongside additional markets related to its alliance banking partners.
It plans to provide users with a digital-first customer experience, giving them access to everything they need to enter a new market with confidence. Users will be able to build their knowledge with key industry and market insights, while creating new connections through exclusive discounts and in-market providers with access to bespoke solutions to help break down trade barriers.
Angela Tangas, CEO, UK and Ireland, at dentsu, also commented: āIn a changing macro environment, new business models which create new sources of revenue growth, are fundamental to how clients such as Santander achieve sustainable long-term advantage. For us, this is business transformation, this is innovating to impact.ā
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