The Alpha annual Operations and IT Benchmarking Study compares and contrasts the operations cost efficiency and service delivery of leading asset managers by function, and is the market-leading study in the UK.

• The participants cover a large range of the asset management market in terms of size, product and asset mix, degrees of outsourcing, a variety of parent companies, and a variety of operating models
•  Participants are global and have included companies from the UK, Continental Europe, the US, Asia and Australia – over the years, close to 50 of the world’s leading asset managers have taken part in the study
• We have benchmarked over 75% of the major asset management outsourcing deals in the UK
• The Investment Operations study is run on an annual basis with data collection during the spring and presentation of findings during the summer, however, companies can come in at any time and compare their data against out database

The Alpha FMC Transfer Agency (TA) Benchmarking Study compares and contrasts the operations cost efficiency and service delivery of transfer agency providers, and is the market-leading study in the UK and the off-shore centres in Luxembourg and Dublin.

• The participants cover a large range of the asset management market in terms of size, product and asset mix, degrees of outsourcing, a variety of parent companies, and variety of operating models
• The study primarily covers the UK, Luxembourg and Dublin as well as other European markets
• The study compares performance across markets but, where possible, the analysis distinguishes between the different TA business models (e.g. the wholesales focused model vs. the more retail focused model in the UK)

Alpha in association with Spence Marketing Intelligence is running a ground-breaking, Pan-European Distribution Study to address some of the key strategic questions facing companies in their Sales, Marketing and Client Relationship Management functions.

By combining proven industry acumen with Alpha’s robust data-led analysis, the survey will identify actionable steps to improve sales and increase efficiency and provide a unique insight into some of the strategic issues facing Heads of Distribution, including:

• Which distribution strategies best generate growth and client loyalty?
• How effective is my sales process, and how might it be improved?
• How efficient is my ability to generate sales vs. my capability to keep business?
• To what extent should I focus my distribution efforts, geographically and by product, in order to increase efficiency?
• Which business is the most ‘sticky’; and how expensive should it be to acquire such business?
• What drives rebates down most successfully?

Alpha, in association with Affinity Systems, is about to launch a ground-breaking study to analyse and benchmark operational cost efficiency and service delivery across leading European property asset managers.

The Alpha Property Benchmarking study:

• Focuses on measuring business performance
• Incorporates (but does not duplicate) the output from other surveys and services (e.g. IPD, Real)
• Not only compares participant efficiency levels for each of the following Property Asset Management functions, but also correlates these with process, organisational and service quality metrics to deliver meaningful insight at a participant and industry level:
  • Fund Management
  • Research
  • Fund Accounting
  • Financial Administration
  • Treasury
  • Asset Management
  • Property Management
  • Client Service
  • Sales & Distribution
  • Support Functions (including IT, Business Support, Corporate Accounting, Premises, Business Continuity etc)

In 2010 Alpha launched a Fund of Hedge Funds benchmarking study focusing on Investment and Client operations. This is the first study of its kind in the alternative space and a number of leading managers are participating. In addition to the usual cost and service level analysis, this study also focuses on how well companies are meeting the emerging best practice and what changes they are implementing in light of increasing client pressures following the credit crunch.

Alpha is the market-leading provider for benchmarking outsourcing deals in Europe and the USA.

• We have benchmarked over 75% of the major asset management outsourcing deals in the UK, through our Annual Operational and IT Benchmarking Study
• We have advised a number of asset managers at deal renegotiation points and pre-deal – on deal economics, commercial contractual issues and quality metrics (SLAs, KPIs)
• We can provide tailored benchmarking for contractual purposes

Alpha is planning a new benchmarking study to help asset managers better understand how institutional clients view and value the different aspects of the client service relationship with their asset managers, and how they rate the performance of their service providers.   The study will build on our market-leading Operations and IT Benchmarking Study and provides an in-depth comparison of the efficiency of institutional client service processes as well as surveying a range of customers across Europe to assess their key buyer values and how these differ by market. It will also compare and contrast the perceived performance of the participating companies’ client service with those of the other participants and with other suppliers of the surveyed customers.

Following a small scale trial in 2008 Alpha is launching a new benchmarking study to investigate the Holy Grail of asset managers – the investment management function.  

This study builds on our proven methodology that underpins our market-leading Operations and IT Benchmarking Study and provides an in-depth analysis of all the functions that make up the front office of an asset management company, including:

• Research
• Portfolio management
• Trade execution
• Performance analysis
• Risk management

Alpha runs a bi-annual study to investigate and benchmark the product development process and time to market for new products across the leading European asset managers with assets domiciled in Luxembourg and Dublin.  

The study includes an in-depth and data driven analysis of:

• The idea generation process
• Time to market
• Costs associated with bringing new products to market
• Organisational structure of the product development department(s)
• The extent to which processes are outsourced (e.g. filing with regulators)
• Advantages/disadvantages of the two primary pan-European domiciles (Luxembourg and Dublin)

If you are interested in participating or would like further details please contact Nick Baker at nick.baker@alphafmc.com.