Product Data

ISC understands that the investment management community demands its consulting partners give value through providing quality resource. It expects its consultants to quickly grasp the challenges and assist in delivering solutions.

The Brief

A multi-national client of ISC required a rethink on how new funds were launched. The issue was that with their current systems, process and the lack of a central product database, they were limited in the number of funds they could launch. This limitation was gradually eroding the competitiveness of their funds range as they were not able to react to market demand as quickly as their competitors.

Project Scope

The programme was a multi stream and spanned multiple years. The client was headquartered in London and had development and analysis teams across the globe. The limiting factor slowing down the launch of funds/shareclasses was the number of separate systems which required updating with new fund information and absence of a central product database. This combined with the ordinal requirements of system entry and the number of teams involved necessitated an enterprise level approach.

The scope of the programme, needed to address all these issues, reducing the number of systems to be updated, creating a central repository for product data, and overhauling the BAU teams communications process. Only with an enterprise level solution could all these different silos be knitted together.

Our Role & Value

Our role focused on our consultant’s experience and knowledge within the product specific data space where ISC was able to advise and assist in the creation of a product data dictionary. Collaborating closely with the client, ISC was also able to provide peer relative analysis on how asset managers operate and an understanding of where the bottlenecks appear within the interconnective functions of launching funds. The value of our experience and familiarity with their off the shelf and bespoke systems meant that ISC could shorten the time to achieve MVP thus allowing time for many of the functional “should haves” to become “must haves”.

The Outcome

A complex and technically demanding project resulted in the integration of twenty systems overlaid with workflow and appropriate governance between teams. From a pre-project limit of launching two dozen funds/shareclasses per week, the resulting efficiency gains enabled the client to confidently launch hundreds of funds per week. The increased through-put potential allowed the client to compete in the market, securing existing and attracting new clients.

Consultant Reflections

“In 2019, when I joined ISC, the company had already been operating for 14 years, having weathered the storms of those turbulent years. Having worked with my colleagues for a while now, I can see why they've been around for so long. The team are hard working, pragmatic people who want the best for their colleagues and clients.”

Mike Smeal
Investment Solutions Consultants

Regulatory Change Discipline – Dedication’s What You Need

In this article we explore whether asset managers should have a team dedicated to delivery nothing but regulatory change

READ MORE

Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 & Edinburgh/Mansion House Reforms

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 & Edinburgh / Mansion House Reforms will be occupying minds for a while to come.

READ MORE

How are AI and Big Data relevant to the Asset Management Industry?

Two of the biggest buzzword phrases that look set to transform the world in which we live in the near future are AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Big Data.

Read below for more information

READ MORE

ISC Newsletter July 2023

In this newsletter, read about our latest recruit Patrick Ralison FCCA, MSc., our recent Regulatory Change Forum, and market insights from our experienced consultants.

READ MORE

Welcome to our newest team member Patrick Ralison

ISC are pleased to announce that Patrick Ralison has joined the team as our Senior Consultant

READ MORE

Key Challenges faced by Asset Managers under US T+1

As anyone in the asset management industry will know, there is a 28th May 2024, implementation date for the move to T+1 settlement for transactions in US cash equities, corporate debt, and unit investment trusts. The transition to a T+1 settlement cycle in the US will have a significant impact on asset management firms.

Read below for more information into the key areas which will be impacted.

READ MORE

Unintentional Greenwashing – Product Classification Challenges for Asset Managers

As mentioned in our previous post on ESG investing, unintentional greenwashing is something that every asset manager needs to avoid. In this post we explore the issues faced when categorising products for which ESG characteristics are claimed. Here we offer some suggestions for the key activities that managers can take to minimise the risk of unintentionally categorising products (e.g., claiming article 8 or 9 status when the product in question does not meet the appropriate criteria under regulatory scrutiny), particularly given the reputational damage that could be suffered having promoted an inappropriately categorised product to the market:-

READ MORE

Unintentional Greenwashing – Investing Challenges for Asset Managers

Unintentional greenwashing is something that every asset manager needs to avoid. The implications of getting it wrong are many, but perhaps the most worrying is the reputational damage that can be inflicted on an entire organisation that has failed to prevent it.. Read below for more information

READ MORE

ISC Regulatory Change Forum – 4th July 2023

Are you working within Regulatory Change in the Investment Management Industry?

Our forum can help you….

READ MORE

ISC and FundSense launch AVIATe, the first automated solution

ISC Ltd and FundSense launch AVIATe, the first automated solution to the challenge of compiling annual Value Assessments for UK Retail Funds.

READ MORE
We listen to your needs

We listen to your needs

We understand your problem

We understand your challenges

We suggest a solution

We provide solutions

We help with implementation

We help with implementation

Contact us to find out more

ISC is all about helping our clients be successful. Clients receive a personal relationship with our talented and pragmatic consultants, whose goal is to help them achieve success.