SimCorp

2026 InvestOps Report

Survey insights from 200 global buy-side leaders reveal how firms are transforming to compete in the AI era.

The AI Race

After two years prioritizing operational excellence, 2026 marks a decisive pivot toward innovation. While strategic intent is clear, unlocking AI potential requires addressing three foundational gaps:

Data fragmentation undermines AI

63% lack real-time data visibility across the investment lifecycle. AI models trained on siloed data deliver incomplete predictions.
Set parameters hide unknown risks

Only 18% of firms run predictive analytics in their front office, limiting their ability to identify unexpected risks.
Infrastructure gaps widen over time

Only 20% have a unified platform that scale AI beyond pilots. Leaders compound their advantage with each implementation cycle.

65 trillion alternative investment surge

AI adoption hits 70%. Now what?

Seventy percent of investment firms now run AI in their front offices, moving from experimental pilots to production systems. More than half prioritize innovation over operational efficiency for the first time in three years.

The capabilities are tangible: stress-test portfolios in minutes, catch reconciliation errors before they cascade, deliver real-time client reporting. But 63% lack the unified data layer required.

Firms building integrated platforms now gain compounding advantages in speed, insight, and client responsiveness. Early movers set the pace.

Expert perspectives

As AI minimizes innovation cycles, the front office has emerged as the battleground for competitive advantage - demanding differentiation in real-time."
Julia A. Cloud
Global Investment Management Leader, Deloitte Global

True data democratization requires not only technology and access, but a cultural shift, training, oversight, and trust in the systems and the people using them.
Terri Messina
Managing Director, Global Head of Operations for Investment Operations, Principal Financial

As competitive pressure intensifies, the gap widens between firms monitoring familiar patterns and those discovering new ones. The greatest risk lies in the unknown unknowns.
Dean McIntyre
Chief Commercial Officer, SimCorp

The goal is to build a true total-fund view, one that delivers analytics and enables all asset classes to collaborate on enhanced balance sheet management and strengthen risk oversight – ultimately adding value across the entire portfolio.
April Wilcox
Senior Investment Director, Strategic Management & Operations, CalSTRS

Agentic AI marks the industry's next capability threshold - systems that take action in addition to responding to prompts. Twelve months ago, these capabilities didn't exist in production. Today, firms are moving past definitions to integration strategies.
Christian Runge
Director of Engineering for Compliance and AI, SimCorp

Get the complete report

Access the full 2026 Global InvestOps Report with detailed findings, regional breakdowns, and expert commentary from industry leaders across all five chapters.

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