How Chinese Banks Accelerate Digital Transformation with DevOps Maturity Models

Introduction

In the context of digital transformation, enterprises adopt DevOps to improve IT efficiency. The "R&D Operations Integration (DevOps) Capability Maturity Model" series standards led by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) provide guidance. Leading financial institutions have participated in the CAICT‑organized DevOps maturity assessments, improving IT capabilities, integrating team resources and talent, and better supporting business systems.

Participating Institutions

Nine city‑commercial banks and other financial institutions (Zhongyuan Bank, Zhengzhou Bank, One Wallet, Ningbo Bank, Baixin Bank, Zhongbang Bank, Zhongyuan Consumer Finance, Xinwang Bank, Nanjing Bank) have taken part in the DevOps capability maturity model assessments, with a total of 20 evaluation items.

Continuous Delivery (Standard 3) Compliance

Zhengzhou Bank completed two projects, achieving standardized configuration and environment management, automated deployment, layered testing strategy, and a full‑lifecycle continuous delivery platform.

Baixin Bank delivered the “TianCe Credit Middle Platform” project, enabling no‑code product launches, rapid integration of new traffic sources, and 100 % unit test and automation coverage.

Zhongyuan Bank built a cloud payment platform and enterprise mobile banking using micro‑service architecture, container deployment, and elastic scaling.

Zhongbang Bank launched an internet financial service platform with private‑cloud and container technologies, reducing service costs and improving efficiency.

Ningbo Bank implemented a scenario payment system and a financing center system, enhancing payment capabilities, batch‑transfer speed, and internal credit management.

Xinwang Bank developed a distributed consumer credit core system based on micro‑services and domain‑driven design.

Nanjing Bank introduced a digital credit card project with online acquisition, scenario‑driven services, and a closed‑loop business model.

Technical Operation (Standard 4) Compliance

Zhengzhou Bank core business system, launched in 2018, features a “slim” core with product and pricing factories, micro‑service separation, read‑write splitting, flow control, and high‑availability technologies.

Security and Risk Management (Standard 6) Compliance

Zhongyuan Bank adopted DevSecOps, integrating security services into agile delivery, establishing a full‑lifecycle security management system, and building a security technology service platform.

Zhengzhou Bank electronic banking system extends core services to internet channels, offering self‑service and personalized banking.

System and Tools (Standard 8) Compliance

Zhongyuan Bank original development‑operation integration platform evolved its pipeline module with flexibility, standardization, stability, and scalability, built on a distributed micro‑service architecture in a dedicated container‑cloud environment.

R&D Efficiency Measurement

The R&D efficiency insight platform aggregates data across the entire development lifecycle, providing multi‑dimensional metrics, data‑driven decision support, and a closed‑loop improvement mechanism.

DevOps Maturity Model Overview

The DevOps Capability Maturity Model, jointly developed by CAICT, the Cloud Computing Open‑Source Industry Alliance, the High‑Efficiency Operations Community, BATJ, and major financial and telecom enterprises, is the first comprehensive DevOps series standard in China and has been adopted by many leading firms. It was finalized in July 2020 by the ITU‑T, becoming the world’s first international DevOps standard. The model covers agile development management, continuous delivery, technical operation, application design, security and risk management, system and tools, business value management, collaborative development‑operation, and continuous testing.