Financial markets: Literature

The tech revolution of the 1990s forever altered the competitive landscape for financial services companies. Today's interconnected firms face a business environment that challenges them on multiple levels.

This survey identifies current practices, captures significant trends and establishes operational performance benchmarks in five key areas of supply chain management (SCM): new product development, supply chain planning, customer order management, procurement and logistics.

Today, finance is being pulled in two directions: There's a demand for finance to strengthen its traditional fiduciary role as guardian of the assets and controls; and for finance to become more nimble, efficient and effective in supporting business imperatives.

The financial asset growth of the 1990's was an anomaly. As the market normalises, asset managers will need to focus on cost reductions rather than top-line expansion to fuel earnings. This starts with a change of mindset -- from managing assets to managing a complete portfolio of operations.

Traditional valuation techniques often fail to capture or adequately quantify the value created by technology initiatives. Is there an alternative technique that identifies value that would otherwise be left on the table?

Though companies are understandably reluctant to tackle the issue of rising trade funds investment costs, new tools and techniques can help them regain control.

Three strategic initiatives promise the type of far-reaching change that is required to rein in costs today and position firms favorably for the next market upturn.

Companies in the financial services industry are seeking to determine 'what customers will pay for.' IBM's research and experience in this industry has produced a 'three-wave' model showing how various e-business dynamics are evolving.

E-procurement systems have substantially reduced requisition costs and increased internal efficiencies. But the true benefits result from incorporating procurement into a supply chain strategy and building stronger linkages to suppliers and electronic marketplaces.

Electronic bill presentation and payment (EBPP) has reached a point where companies no longer ask whether they should take strategic advantage of this billing process. They are asking, 'How?'

Over the last decade, the steady flow of communication along the information superhighway has risen to tidal wave proportions. Today, online consumers are deluged with an unrelenting stream of electronic communications. Advertising envelops every major Internet search engine.

In today's high-tech economy, the greatest challenge isn't keeping up with technology -- it's keeping up with your customers' rising expectations.

Out of the 74 fixed income electronic trading systems (ETSs) existing in the United States, two dominant types will ultimately emerge. One will cater to price-sensitive investors, and the other will target time-sensitive traders.

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