应用程序编程接口（API）帮助彻底改变行业，从旅行到招待。托比格拉梅尔，全球基金服务负责人，国际北方信托，概述了如何在资产管理的数字化方面发挥类似的关键作用 - 鼓励合作支持提高效率，灵活性和创造力。

In an age where the use of data and digital technology is increasingly central to success, many asset managers are moving to digitalise traditional processes and practices – seeking to drive enhanced operational efficiencies and create new digital experiences for themselves and their investors.

少数资产管理领域将不受我们行业的数字化的不受欢迎，这将看到新技术扰乱了资金的制造和分配。在这种转变的核心将是对“API经济”的迁移 - 一种广泛使用的术语，用于描述一组业务模型和过程，基于功能和数据交换。

资产管理是下一个API经济

As they work to digitalise their operations, APIs offer asset managers and service providers exciting possibilities in how they use data. An API is a standardised interface or “adapter” that allows two applications to ‘talk’ to each other automatically. This enables different software components to communicate and share data in real-time, according to a set of clearly defined methods of communication.

Of course, asset managers routinely exchange data with third parties and require it for everyday business functions, from fund valuations to distribution reporting. As their fund administrator and global custodian, Northern Trust works with clients every day to produce and exchange information required for reporting, oversight, risk management and other activities.

但是，通过递送方法（如文件传输）的成立行业流程通常是不灵活和耗时的。在此背景下，对组织的使用API​​S即时交换信息具有明显的优势。

This near-universal, secure means of sharing data among applications has fundamentally shifted how providers compete and what businesses expect today – from industries such as transport (via ride-hailing applications) to hospitality (where APIs are used to check-in or order room service). At Northern Trust we think similar changes are about to happen at significant scale across asset management – it is about to become part of the API economy.

Scaling up use of APIs in asset management

Today, there is no shortage of data available to investment managers. This is because new technology has driven an explosion of available data for our industry – creating a demand for more sophisticated and creative ways to analyse it and put it to good use. But hiring developers and designing proprietary, self-contained solutions can be expensive and time consuming.

As a result, businesses are evolving their focus to include the secureaccessandexchangeof data rather than just the aggregation of it.

As the asset management industry works to digitalise outdated processes, and participants seek to gain competitive advantage, the speed of emerging technology means providers must quickly adopt and integrate it into their solutions. At the same time, users of digital services are becoming steadily more accustomed to accessing greater levels of interoperability and flexibility in the personal technology they use. They also expect the same at work.

API支持协作和定制

Forward-looking asset managers increasingly expect this kind of interoperability and flexibility. Asset servicers need to meet these expectations by rethinking their approach to strategy, development and value proposition.

They should create ways to easily obtain, share and apply technology, rather than try to build proprietary, stand-alone solutions. They will need to pair different combinations of data and systems to support speed of technology adoption – enabling APIs to be developed, secured and deployed quickly.

We believe that in the API economy, key participants in the distribution value chain will also want to choose elements of technology from their providers. For example, platforms could utilise the functionality to open a new account via an API to streamline administration – and create a better onboarding experience for their clients than is generally possible through current industry practices.

Asset managers will also seek to develop custom capabilities that solve problems or give them a competitive edge. APIs will allow them to do this in a fraction of the time required for traditional industry methods of exchanging data – minutes and hours, rather than days and weeks.

How Northern Trust is deploying APIs

Northern Trust has for the past 18 months been developing and testing how APIs can be used to provide new capabilities and connections, including via Northern Trust Matrix™. This is our enhanced platform through which we are digitalising our asset servicing business.

它结合了多种技术和操作模型创新来支持管理和提供数据的新方法，从而实现我们业务的数字转换。它还允许我们支持我们作为其资产服务员的角色的客户端的策略举措。

As we roll-out Matrix’s capabilities across our business, starting with our services for European transfer agency clients, we are driving opportunities for them to expand their API capabilities to gain direct, reliable and secure digital access to data.

We have built an API Developer Portal so our clients’ developers will be able to “plug into” Matrix’s architecture and capabilities. This portal will provide our clients with their own API ecosystem – providing their developers with a platform to discover, understand and subscribe to available data. Think of it as an API ‘store’ that bridges the gap between providers and consumers, allowing clients and third parties to ‘self-serve’ and help themselves to critical data directly and securely.

Are you ready to participate in the API economy?

使用API​​，资产管理人员将获得更好的技术and更好的数据。采摘和选择合适的能力并与这些功能集成，可以揭示有意义的新创新，并导致增强的产品和服务。

我们认为数码网络api将发挥关键作用talisation of asset management – helping to make businesses more efficient, flexible and competitive. While organisations refine the quality of the data used by participants across investment management, APIs will transform how asset managers exchange data and the ease with which they can use it.

In this environment, we think asset managers should expect their providers to work with them and other vendors to provide secure, seamless experiences for them and their investors. The ‘plug and play’ functionality of APIs will have a transformative role to play in supporting this collaboration – and in helping asset managers derive the benefits of digitalisation.

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