The Operational Excellence (OPEX) Reference Group – APAC Chapter hosted its June 2025 Live Meetup, spotlighting the pressing theme: Driving Change – From Process Reengineering to Digital Transformation.
The session featured Jose Vivar, SVP of Business Process Design and Transformation at Bank of America, who delivered an insightful and practical exploration of what it takes to embed transformation that lasts.
The virtual event brought together OPEX professionals and transformation leaders to explore how organisations can successfully align process transformation with strategic goals in an era defined by regulatory change and rapid automation.
In a compelling presentation, Jose mapped out the evolution of process improvement efforts in banking—from Lean Six Sigma revolutions to today’s AI-enabled transformation models. He stressed the need to pair process automation with rigorous data management and change management, noting that many organisations fail to sustain improvements due to a lack of cultural readiness and post-implementation reinforcement.
“You can’t automate a broken process. Without standardisation, you’re just accelerating inefficiencies,” Jose stressed, reinforcing the foundational importance of process discipline before introducing automation or AI.
Key Discussion Highlights:
- Aligning Digital Transformation with Business Strategy and Regulatory Expectations
- How Automation Can Reduce Operational Risk but Must Be Built on Clean, Standardised Processes
- Using AI and Machine Learning for Proactive Risk Management and Enhanced Customer Experience
- Balancing necessary low-value controls with customer-centric design
The interactive session also included Q&A with members, touching on topics such as: the ADKAR model as a structured approach to change management, managing psychosocial risks and change fatigue in line with emerging workplace safety regulations, and using AI for predictive risk identification and process self improvement.
About the Operational Excellence Reference Group
Powered by PRIME BPM, the OPEX Reference Group is a cross-industry community that connects transformation professionals to collaborate, share insights, and accelerate operational success. Designed for professionals involved in process improvement, digital transformation, system implementation, compliance, risk management, and continuous improvement, the group offers a platform to stay ahead of trends, gain practical knowledge, and engage with industry leaders through exclusive meetups and sessions.