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The Conversation at Unbundling Uncovered

Company News

Last week's Unbundling Uncovered event in New York delivered a lot of takeaways about the state and future of the research industry. But the first and most obvious was everyone's appetite to be connecting in person once again.

Two hundred-plus delegates from around the globe convened at Substantive Research's 5th annual event to debate and discuss the questions raised by MiFID II. The agenda addressed ongoing conversations around research budgeting, corporate access, and ESG Research, as well as some more topical issues like the cryptocurrency and the application of data.


The Demand for Data

Simon Edwards, our Chief Revenue Officer, helped kick off the day as part of the conversation on the integration of research and data. A packed room was keen on understanding the role of data plays in the buyside's decision-making process.

Simply put, it is in demand.

While not a new input, it is becoming increasingly valuable for fund managers who find themselves faced with more responsibilities than ever, especially as supply chain and ESG factors have a more influential role on portfolio performance. How that data is priced and budgeted for is still being figured out.

There is an ample supply of traditional and alternative datasets coming from existing providers and a stream of new entries, including established providers from other industries. But despite high availability, data is only valuable if it meets the buyside's current needs, and finding the right data set at the right time can feel like a game of luck.

What also remains a challenge is establishing a consistent, standardized method of aggregating datasets for analysis. Not all firms have the right expertise or resources to validate and make sense of the data acquired. Sellside providers that can package, present, and provide the tools for analysis could have a leg up.


The Move to Web

The packaging, presentation, and personalization of research was another hot topic. Both sides of the industry revisited the recurring conversation about the [slow] death of the PDF.

At BlueMatrix, we see this trend quickening as of late with more research providers moving to HTML reports. Web-based content delivers more flexibility around the construction – and deconstruction – of reports and easy integration of data (charts and models) and multimedia content (video, podcasts, interactive charts, etc.)

HTML also grants you the ability to break up the research report into components for individual consumption and evaluation. This will be increasingly important as data plays a bigger role in valuation. Readership into individual components can inform more personalized content and packaging. You can find out more about our new versatile Portal platform that delivers personalized presentation and delivery.

And thank you to all the attendees and participants for another informative Unbundling event.