Technology as an Operations Tool

In an increasingly complex investment environment, asset owners need to manage market challenges while also ensuring their operational skills and tools keep up.

Data collected by Northern Trust in the 2025 Global Asset Owner Peer Study found that allocators anticipate operational challenges and see technology and artificial intelligence as an important part of the solution.

Specifically, as organizations increase efficiency and speed in their operations to help improve margins, seek to reduce manual processes, enhance speed, and improve margins.

While still considering how best to leverage AI, the promise of streamlined operations, enhanced decision-making and revealing insights makes it a transformative force in shaping the future of asset ownership.

Below find some of the insights Northern Trust gathered:

Top Operational Challenges (% selecting top 3)

Increasing efficiencies and automation

77%

Hiring and retaining the right talent

64%

Harnessing the power of AI

56%

Ability to be nimble as investment team needs change

53%

Source: Asset Owners in Focus: Northern Trust Global Asset Owner Peer Study 2025

Making Operational Procedures More Efficient

Increased Technology Adoption

79%

Automation

57%

Outsourcing Investment Office Operations

27%

Insourcing Investment Office Operations

24%

Source: Asset Owners in Focus: Northern Trust Global Asset Owner Peer Study 2025

A Closer Look At Technology Spending

Data integration across different sources

50%

Data accuracy

46%

Data consistency

39%

Data timeliness

35%

Increasing regulatory demands

31%

Source: Asset Owners in Focus: Northern Trust Global Asset Owner Peer Study 2025

Change in Likelihood to Spend on Technologies in Next 12 Months vs. Last 12 Months

  Much less
  Slightly less
  The same
  Slightly more
  Much more

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Source: Asset Owners in Focus: Northern Trust Global Asset Owner Peer Study 2025

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Top Operational Challenges (% selecting top 3)

Making Operational Procedures More Efficient

A Closer Look At Technology Spending

Change in Likelihood to Spend on Technologies in Next 12 Months vs. Last 12 Months

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