In late 2024 we teamed up with WBR Insights to survey 200 buy-side operations leaders across North America, EMEA and APAC to learn their priorities. 

Why read the 2025 Global InvestOps Report:

• Stay informed: Find out the latest trends and challenges in investment management 
• Actionable insights: Discover how your peers are planning to enhance their operating models, data management and portfolio management.
• Expert commentary: Benefit from the perspectives of industry leaders and experts who share their experiences and recommendations.
• Future-proof your business: Learn how to leverage AI and other emerging technologies to drive innovation and stay competitive.

The survey highlights the importance of a holistic and simplified approach to effectively scale alpha, accelerate time to market, and truly understand risks. It reveals six key themes that provide actionable insights to drive industry transformation:

Operational efficiency 

There is renewed urgency for operational efficiency as the industry reinvents itself and moves away from traditional portfolio models that no longer serve investors. 

The data (r)evolution

58 percent of respondents indicated that the main challenge in their current data infrastructure is maintaining data models and the underlying metadata. 

Beyond resilience in operating models

Many buy-side firms still rely on disparate systems, where each integration point adds complexity. This fragmentation hinders operational efficiency and innovation. 

A unified approach to portfolio management

60 percent of respondents globally point to the inability to manage multi-assets in one view as the primary challenge in supporting the front office 

Focus on core business

There is a clear shift away from the inefficiencies of traditional outsourcing models to smart business services that scale well and leverage best-in-class technology, automation, and standardization. 

Unlocking AI’s potential in investment management

75 percent of respondents recognize the transformative potential of AI but need more information to integrate it into their investment processes.