Comgest achieves strategic agility and cuts time-to-market in half with SimCorp One

Comgest is an independent, global asset management group focused exclusively on long-term, quality growth equity investing. With EUR 29.2 billion in assets under management and a global presence, the firm serves institutional investors worldwide through a disciplined investment approach and unique founder and employee-ownership partnership model.

Business case

After a decade of successful operations with an internally developed front-to-back system, and continuously aiming to improve its operational process, Comgest recognized the need to achieve greater strategic agility and scalability to support its global growth ambitions. The decision to transition from an in-house solution to an integrated investment platform was driven by several critical challenges:

• Operational scalability constraints: As an international asset management boutique with presence across Europe, North Americas, and several locations in Asia, it has been somewhat challenging for Comgest to maintain consistent and effective technical support to all entities given that IT and project teams are headquartered in Paris.
• Time-to-market: Launching new products and integrating additional instruments had become increasingly complex.
• Technology maintenance burden: Maintaining extensive technical knowledge, training new support staff, and managing complex infrastructure spanning databases to front-end interfaces had become progressively demanding for an asset management boutique focused on investment excellence.
• Future-proofing requirements: The firm needed a solution that could support its growth and diversification ambitions while providing access to the latest technological advances without the operational overhead of continuous internal development.

"One of the core objectives of the project was to transition from an in-house system to SimCorp One in order to refocus on our core business—portfolio management—and to outsource as much of the technical infrastructure as possible." 

Solution

After evaluating eight providers through an extensive RFP process, Comgest selected SimCorp One, a comprehensive front-to-back investment platform for its transformation. The implementation was organized into clearly defined phases, going from strategic high-level definitions to detailed functional and technical requirements. 

Phased implementation approach
The project team implemented the specifications in three phases, ensuring high-quality outcomes in terms of features, planning and budget control. This structured approach proved instrumental in delivering the project on time and within budget demonstrating strong collaboration and project management throughout the process.

Global operational unification
SimCorp One established a unified front-to-back solution across all Comgest entities, ensuring consistent system performance and user experience regardless of location. The platform provides 24/5 user support, particularly benefiting the teams in Asia.  

Customization within standards
The solution incorporates Comgest's business-critical processes, including a tailored pre-trade compliance functionality, while maintaining adherence to platform standards to ensure seamless future upgrades and evolution.

Cloud-first infrastructure
By adopting SimCorp's integrated SaaS offering, Comgest streamlined its operations paving the way for scalable growth and enhanced integration capabilities.

"The SimCorp teams brought extensive experience in implementing their front-to-back solution, supported by a robust set of established standards and frameworks. Despite the project’s scale and complexity, SimCorp was always there to support us and collaborated closely to find the best solutions.”

Business benefits

The implementation of SimCorp One has delivered measurable improvements across front-office capabilities, operational agility, and innovation access.

Strengthened investment identity and front-office capabilities
SimCorp One enables Comgest to maintain and enhance the efficiency in executing its distinctive investment approach by addressing specific operational requirements:

• Multi-portfolio optimization: Advanced simulation capabilities for both single and multi-portfolio setups enable more sophisticated capabilities across Comgest’s global platform
• Advanced trading capabilities: Integration with TS Imagine through SimCorp's partner ecosystem delivers a sophisticated pre-trade compliance functionality, enabling dealing teams to focus on execution excellence
• Local market adaptation: The platform's standardized foundation with flexible configuration supports Comgest's specific operational models, including specialized workflows for Japanese funds and other regional specificities  
• ESG integration: Seamless integration of Comgest's proprietary ESG analytics directly within the investment workflow, reinforcing their responsible investment leadership

Accelerated time-to-market and operational agility
The implementation has improved Comgest's ability to respond to market opportunities while delivering global operational excellence:

• Halved development cycles: New product launches and instrument integrations will now require 3-6 months in development time—a 50% reduction enabled by SimCorp One's comprehensive native instrument support
• Enhanced agility: Native regulatory capabilities and operational flexibility without technical constraints
• Streamlined automation: Enhanced data management, reconciliation processes, and reporting workflows significantly improve operational efficiency while reducing manual intervention and risk
• Global operational support: 24/5 user support across 20+ locations eliminates service gaps and ensures consistent performance during local trading hours

"One of the key drivers to choose SimCorp One was time to market for new products and instruments. We were able to benefit from the SimCorp consultants and their knowledge of the system, and we now have a platform to pursue any strategic development or new activities we want to explore."

Future-ready technology and innovation
SimCorp One provides Comgest with a solid foundation built for future growth and continuous innovation:

• Focus on core competencies: The firm can now focus its efforts more on portfolio management and performance rather than system maintenance and development
• Future-ready innovation: Ongoing access to platform enhancements and emerging technologies, including continuously enhancing AI capabilities, without the burden of internal development
• Scalable SaaS foundation: Cloud-first architecture provides cost predictability, enhanced scalability, and seamless access to new services as they become available

"We chose an external system because we saw the value of working closely with SimCorp as a strategic partner. This partnership is essential for supporting our growth and long-term strategic objectives."