Digital transformation isn’t complicated. It’s just hard.
Asset and Wealth Management comes with its own set of challenges.
Legacy infrastructure, regulatory scrutiny, generational shifts in client expectations, and increasing cost-to-income ratios are all converging at speed. Unlike first-wave transformation, which grappled with internal resistance, today’s challenges are born of change across both markets and mindsets.
For CTOs and CIOs in the sector, the stakes are unusually high. They are tasked with futureproofing businesses built on tradition, navigating macroeconomic instability while adapting to client demands for seamless digital experiences and personalised service. All within an environment where capital expenditure is cautious, margins are tight, and the pace of both innovation and competition is accelerating.
This Crosstide research focuses on those very leaders, the technologists at the heart of Asset and Wealth Management, who must reconcile short-term delivery with long-term strategic ambition. The data reveals a delicate balancing act: transforming operations without losing the human element, introducing automation while preserving personalised advice, and deploying AI at scale while ensuring responsible governance. And all of this is happening in a sector where people, performance and reputation are deeply intertwined.
But there is also optimism. Firms embracing change aren’t just digitising existing processes—they're rethinking the services they offer, how they deliver them, and how value is created. This signals a broader shift: from one-off, large-scale digital transformation to a mindset of continuous digital evolution.
With strong partnerships, aligned leadership, and the right data and technology platforms, meaningful progress is being made. Technology isn’t replacing the human touch; it’s enabling smarter and more scalable services that deliver measurable value.
Underlying it all is a simple truth: progress is built on the energy of change.
Download now to discover the research insights and advice for senior IT leaders.
