Asset Managers Want Integrated Systems
October 16, 2003

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A survey from Trema shows that integrated systems are highly desired by asset managers across the financial services industry. Improvement of investment analysis, decision making and the reduction of operational risk are deemed to be considerable drivers for the investment management industry.

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A survey commissioned by Trema, a provider of strategic software solutions for the financial industry, showed that less than 40 per cent of asset managers have fully integrated solutions, despite more than 60 per cent identifying this area as desirable.

The data for the survey was collected globally, from over 100 investment management companies, pension funds, insurance companies, mutual fund managers and private banks from around the world. Nearly half of the respondents considered reduction of operational risk and automation of trades to be important areas for development. Despite this, when asked if they were considering outsourcing, two thirds of companies replied that it was not an area they were exploring. 

Investment analysis emerged as a key issue throughout the survey's findings, with 59 per cent of respondents indicating that improving investment analysis and decision making are considerable or crucial drivers of their business. Within the investment analysis sector, risk management and analysis was seen as the priority by most.

Roy Williamson, global sales director at Trema commented: "These results demonstrate that there is a genuine need within the asset management industry for fully integrated, front to back solutions. It is interesting to note that, while the reduction of operational risk and cost was important to the majority of the organizations surveyed, few plan to address these issues by outsourcing them. Nearly two thirds of the asset managers surveyed intend to employ integrated inhouse systems."