March 1, 2016 - INDATA, leading industry provider of software, technology and services for buy-side firms, today announced the top buy-side priorities for data management and trading following a survey conducted at its 2016 User Conference held on February 24-26 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The survey consisted of a variety of US and UK investment management firms including institutional, private client and wealth management.
Key highlights from the survey include:
Compliance is the top priority for data management – INDATA clients were asked to rank their data management priorities. Compliance topped the list followed by analytics/indices, other external data including spreadsheets and pricing/market data. In terms of specific data management objectives, more automation of existing external data feeds topped the list, followed by having a consolidated/useable source of data across the firm, cost containment/reduction, and reducing/consolidating the number of data sources.
Demonstrating best execution is currently the top focus for buy side traders – Clients were asked to rank the biggest industry challenges facing trading on the buy-side. Demonstrating best execution topped the list, followed by finding greater liquidity, regulation, and gaining greater efficiencies in other asset classes, i.e. fixed income, currencies.
Selective outsourcing is widely accepted – 100% of survey participants said that outsourcing in selective areas was helpful to their operations. More than 75% of INDATA client attendees currently utilize INDATA SA outsourcing services. (see survey results here).
Commenting on the conference, David J. Csiki, President of INDATA noted, "The survey taken at our recent User Conference in Las Vegas clearly shows that buy-side participants are increasingly seeing that the automation and streamlining of data management and analysis processes is the key for meeting business objectives for compliance, best execution, pricing and market data. We are very appreciative of all of our clients who took the time out of their busy schedules to attend the 2016 INDATA User Conference."
The three day User Conference focused on the full scope of INDATA's product offering including software (iPM Epic), technology (iPM Cloud), and services (INDATA SA), as well as client education, networking, and vendor sponsored events. Investment management firms in attendance had assets under management (AUM) from less than $1Billion to over $70 Billion. Asset classes represented included equities, with a heavy focus on international strategies, fixed income (corporates, treasuries, munis) as well as options and other asset classes such as swaps.
