As 2026 gains momentum, we’re setting our sights on the priorities and initiatives that will define the year ahead. In this exclusive interview, Apiax CEO Philip Schoch shares his perspective on the opportunities, challenges, and strategic projects shaping our roadmap for the year. From product innovation to the future of Embedded Compliance, this conversation offers insight into what’s next—for Apiax and for the broader Compliance community.
Philip, what’s your assessment of the last year?
2025 was a very strong and solid year for Apiax. We saw significant growth, deepened relationships with long-standing clients, and welcomed many new customers who placed their trust in us. I’m incredibly grateful for that confidence. At the same time, the industry has been heavily focused on AI. While discussions and pilot projects have accelerated, true end-to-end implementation of AI-driven Compliance use cases is still the exception rather than the norm. There’s strong intent across the market—but we’re only at the beginning of real operational transformation at regulated financial institutions.
Apiax has expanded its product portfolio in recent years. Which innovations or strategic priorities will define 2026 for Apiax?
We continue to enhance our Cross-border Compliance capabilities, with new features and improvements for our existing customers. However, the majority of our investment in 2026 is directed toward Content Compliance.
The launch of the Content Compliance Check App marked a significant milestone for us. Financial institutions increasingly recognise that marketing and sales material approvals are a major operational bottleneck.
We’re helping firms move from manual, document-by-document reviews to scalable, automated processes. Content Compliance is becoming a strategic priority across the industry—and we believe this is only the beginning.
AI continues to transform compliance workflows. Where do you see the biggest opportunities—and limitations—for AI in Embedded Compliance this year?
Most financial institutions are still in the early stages of AI adoption. While many now permit the use of enterprise-grade generative AI chatbots, these tools are largely used to improve efficiency in isolated tasks—and always with human review.
The next evolution lies in Agentic AI, which enables the orchestration of entire workflows rather than just supporting individual steps. This has the potential to transform compliance processes much more broadly. That said, even with advanced AI systems, regulatory requirements do not disappear.
Cross-border restrictions, disclaimer language, and jurisdiction-specific rules must still be sourced from verified, auditable sources. AI orchestrates and optimises—it even performs structured tasks—but the underlying compliance knowledge must be sourced, structured, version-controlled, and traceable. This foundation remains critical.
What are the most pressing compliance challenges financial institutions are facing today, particularly in areas like cross-border activities and content governance?
The primary concern remains regulatory scrutiny. Institutions are under increasing pressure to demonstrate consistent compliance, especially in cross-border business and client communications. At the same time, firms are expected to operate more efficiently and do more with fewer resources.
As a result, there is significant investment in AI and automation—not simply for innovation’s sake, but to maintain compliance standards while scaling operations. Balancing regulatory certainty with operational speed is the defining challenge of our time.
Taking 2025 insights into 2026
The insights gained in 2025 have reinforced a simple truth: technology alone does not transform compliance—structured regulatory knowledge does. As we enter 2026, our mission remains focused on enabling financial institutions to innovate with confidence, scale with control, and navigate complexity with clarity.