The word “orchestration” is gaining traction in the world of fintech. More and more companies claim to offer it, but not many define what it actually means.  

For some, orchestration simply means integrating with multiple data providers so that if one fails, you can switch to another. While that’s definitely a component of data orchestration, true intelligent orchestration is so much more: it’s the optimization layer that sits above aggregators, like a control panel for financial data infrastructure. As the open banking market matures, that intelligent orchestration layer is quickly becoming a key component of sustained growth and success.

Basic Orchestration vs. Intelligent Orchestration

What’s the difference between basic orchestration and intelligent orchestration?  

Basic orchestration operates reactively. It recognizes that data redundancy is necessary and thus integrates with multiple aggregators so that you can maintain backup connections and manually switch over when one of them goes down. But that’s about all it does.

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Intelligent orchestration, on the other hand, is proactive. It allows you to seamlessly switch between aggregators depending on the circumstances. For example, an intelligent orchestration system will

1. automatically choose the cheapest provider each time data is requested

Instead of always using the same source, it compares costs in real time and routes requests through the most cost-efficient option.

2. track how well each provider performs for each specific bank

If one provider connects more reliably or faster to a certain institution, the system automatically routes requests there. This improves success rates and reduces failed connections without manual intervention.

3. constantly monitor whether bank connections are working or failing

Instead of checking performance after problems happen, it identifies issues as they occur. That allows it to quickly adjust routing to prevent disruptions. Your users won’t ever notice a problem because the switch happens automatically.

Additionally, an intelligent orchestration system can format data from different providers to look the same. Even if each provider lays out transactions or account details differently (and most do), an intelligent orchestration system will standardize them into one consistent structure. That way, your product doesn’t have to handle multiple data formats.

The New Fintech Stack

We’re entering a new phase of the fintech stack where data aggregation is no longer the top layer.  

The real strategic control point is the orchestration layer above aggregation — the infrastructure that optimizes cost, performance, and reliability across multiple underlying providers. As the next era of fintech emerges, companies that take advantage of orchestration will be able to control profit, perform consistently, and gain strategic advantage.  

That’s what intelligent financial data orchestration actually means.

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If you’re still routing through a single provider or relying on manual failover, you don’t have orchestration. You have dependency.

Ready to see what real control over your financial data stack looks like? Email us at hello@pentadatainc.com to get the conversation started.

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