The ability to manage and generate insights from vast quantities of data becomes critical in an investment climate that is volatile and uncertain. Building on our previous research on data use and management, our industry survey of more than 900 asset managers, asset owners, insurers and wealth managers reveals why investing in advanced data strategies is an increasingly important priority for the industry.

Many firms see HDS as a strategic imperative with significant economic benefits, enabling them to respond rapidly to new market conditions, customer needs or evolving regulatory requirements. Switzerland’s institutions compare well with their global counterparts in key areas of data strategy. They demonstrate strong data capabilities in back office operations, with 56 percent of Swiss respondents rating their organizations as “very good” at generating financial disclosures and regulatory filings, as well as producing investor statements. They are also ahead of their peers when it comes to strategic asset allocation, with 62 percent of Swiss respondents citing this as an area where data delivers the greatest impact on business investment returns (versus a global average of 57 percent).

The survey reveals that there are other areas where Swiss institutions may need to invest to keep pace. This includes using data to generate risk management insights, an area where only 41 percent of Swiss firms rate their data capabilities as “very good,” compared with a global average of 50 percent. However, Swiss firms are investing in improvements, and nearly half of respondents in the survey (48 percent) expect to have a defined data strategy in place within the next one-to-two years.

The report goes on to reveal how firms in different regions are working towards a HDS. It provides insight into how leaders in HDS expect to boost investment returns, increase revenues and deliver significant cost savings for their organizations. It also shows where firms are prioritizing their technology investments to deliver an enduring competitive advantage.