Navigating ISO 20022 maintenance in a connected world: A vision for harmonisation

The implementation of ISO 20022 in payment infrastructures has been hailed as a paradigm shift towards seamless transactions, heralding flexibility for financial market infrastructures (MIs) and enabling the creation of bespoke ISO 20022 variants. The initial allure of this flexibility, however, led to an unintended consequence — a proliferation of variants with different timelines, versions and market practices. This fragmented landscape has introduced challenges for organisations seeking to achieve high levels of automated ‘straight-through processing’. Different variants affect end-users’ ability to automate reconciliation processes and complicates endeavours to establish and sustain a cohesive ISO 20022 future. As we navigate the intricacies of a globally interlinked financial ecosystem, the role of ISO 20022 maintenance has emerged as a linchpin in the seamless exchange of standardised financial messages. This paper emphasises the importance of streamlining the ISO 20022 environment and messaging life cycle to facilitate efficient maintenance processes, foster broader harmonisation and usher in an era of truly frictionless payments. In proposing this shift, the paper advocates for a transformative approach. It posits two opportunities: the establishment of a unified, industry-led governance structure and the definition of a common message template. These initiatives are envisioned as essential to harmonising the fragmented ISO 20022 landscape, offering a path for end-to-end interoperability across the diverse payment chain. While acknowledging the ambitious nature of these proposals and timelines, the potential benefits are significant. The proposed initiatives could lead to more efficient maintenance processes, enhanced interoperability and a shared framework for ISO 20022 payments. The industry faces a crucial choice — whether to embrace this ambitious evolution or settle for the status quo. The imperative is clear: achieving a more interoperable and harmonised future for ISO 20022 payments is not just an opportunity but a necessity for the industry’s continued growth, resilience and operational efficiency.