What senior asset servicing leaders need to prepare for in 2026
21 Jan 2026
From integration and data integrity to automation, resilience, and tokenisation, Tom Burke, president of Global Asset Servicing at Broadridge, looks at the priorities shaping 2026
Image: Broadridge
The year ahead will present new challenges for asset-servicing operations. As the industry accelerates toward fully integrated, end-to-end platforms, technology is no longer a back office enabler — it has evolved into the foundation of innovation, defining the speed, accuracy, and resilience of every post-trade function. According to Broadridge’s global study, ‘Broadening Asset Servicing 2025’, conducted in partnership with the International Securities Services Association (ISSA) and The ValueExchange, transaction volumes have surged by over 25 per cent year-on-year (YoY) across all activities, with investors experiencing the steepest rise at 31 per cent. Markets are also moving faster and processing cycles are compressing as automation, data integration, and digital connectivity become central to competitive success.
In this context, asset servicers face both opportunities and risks. The firms that adapt the most efficiently will shape the next phase of market infrastructure. The following trends will define and shape the industry in the year ahead:
1 Integration as the foundation
The industry’s push toward end-to-end platform integration will only accelerate. Linking custody, fund accounting, tax, proxy, and corporate-actions processes on common systems eliminates silos and manual intervention. Integrated data shortens timelines and gives managers and clients a single, authoritative view of positions and entitlements — essential as servicing volumes climb more than 25 per cent YoY and processing windows shrink to real time under T+1.
2 Data integrity: The new currency of trust
In a data-heavy world, quality is everything. Up to 67 per cent of servicing errors still stem from data-quality issues, and manual errors remain the top root cause overall.
Consistent, validated, and lineage-tracked data underpin accurate reporting, valuations, and regulatory reporting. Firms investing in clean data pipelines and governance frameworks will not only cut error-related losses — which doubled in the US$100,000 to US$250,000 range last year — but also enhance client confidence, turning compliance into a strategic differentiator. Seamlessly linking front, middle, and back office data creates a continuous feedback loop for advisers and investors. Better visibility leads to better decisions and fewer errors.
3 Automation to meet surging volumes
Corporate actions events are expanding in both number and complexity, yet resourcing is rising only marginally — on average just?4-6 per cent compared with over 25 per cent volume growth. Intelligent automation and AI have become the only viable route to absorb growth without inflating cost or risk.
Workflow re-engineering is taking the lead, with an expected cost-reduction return on investment (13 per cent), it now outperforms new-technology spend alone.
4 Real-time processing under T+1 pressure
The global move to shortened settlement cycles is forcing financial institutions to adopt real-time event management from capture through to instruction. API-driven workflows, event status dashboards, and exception-based processing are rapidly becoming essential capabilities. The winners will be those who can deliver immediacy and accuracy at scale — giving clients the confidence to act within compressed windows.
5 Preparing for digital assets and tokenisation
Tokenisation is rapidly transitioning from pilot to practical applications. As digital securities and blockchain-based asset registers gain regulatory acceptance, operations teams must be ready to manage onchain events, digital wallets, and potentially new forms of settlement. Investing now in interoperable and adaptable infrastructure will secure a place in tomorrow’s tokenised markets.
6 Embedding ESG and stewardship data
Sustainability reporting is becoming operational, not just strategic. Nearly 70 per cent of survey respondents report growing client demand for integrated ESG and stewardship reporting. Clients expect servicers to manage proxy voting, disclosure, and ESG metrics in one coherent framework. Integrating ESG data into corporate actions processing helps investors align portfolios with policy objectives — and gives operations teams a larger role in stewardship transparency.
7 Sustainability of operations
The journey toward net-zero casts a spotlight on back office efficiency. Paperless workflows, cloud-based processes, and energy-efficient data centers now represent both cost savings and brand value. Demonstrable environmental progress enhances reputation with clients who increasingly consider sustainability integral to vendor selection.
8 Building scalable resilience
Rising transaction loads, cyber threats, and regulatory demands are converging to test every part of the post-trade infrastructure. Scalable architecture, real-time monitoring, and automated recovery have become core to client value perception. Nearly 70 per cent of firms report that resilience and uptime are now directly linked to client-trust metrics — making reliability a commercial asset, not just a control measure.
Visualising the future
Overall, the industry is evolving toward a more connected, intelligent, and data-driven model — one where automation, analytics, and interoperability enable faster entitlements, consistent standards, and richer insights across the trade lifecycle.
As we begin the new year, achieving operational excellence requires balancing technological advancements with a human-centric approach. Senior industry leaders should view these priorities not as discrete initiatives, but as interconnected elements of a unified transformation strategy. Leaders and institutions that align technology, processes, people, and purpose around this vision will set the operational standard for the years ahead.
In this context, asset servicers face both opportunities and risks. The firms that adapt the most efficiently will shape the next phase of market infrastructure. The following trends will define and shape the industry in the year ahead:
1 Integration as the foundation
The industry’s push toward end-to-end platform integration will only accelerate. Linking custody, fund accounting, tax, proxy, and corporate-actions processes on common systems eliminates silos and manual intervention. Integrated data shortens timelines and gives managers and clients a single, authoritative view of positions and entitlements — essential as servicing volumes climb more than 25 per cent YoY and processing windows shrink to real time under T+1.
2 Data integrity: The new currency of trust
In a data-heavy world, quality is everything. Up to 67 per cent of servicing errors still stem from data-quality issues, and manual errors remain the top root cause overall.
Consistent, validated, and lineage-tracked data underpin accurate reporting, valuations, and regulatory reporting. Firms investing in clean data pipelines and governance frameworks will not only cut error-related losses — which doubled in the US$100,000 to US$250,000 range last year — but also enhance client confidence, turning compliance into a strategic differentiator. Seamlessly linking front, middle, and back office data creates a continuous feedback loop for advisers and investors. Better visibility leads to better decisions and fewer errors.
3 Automation to meet surging volumes
Corporate actions events are expanding in both number and complexity, yet resourcing is rising only marginally — on average just?4-6 per cent compared with over 25 per cent volume growth. Intelligent automation and AI have become the only viable route to absorb growth without inflating cost or risk.
Workflow re-engineering is taking the lead, with an expected cost-reduction return on investment (13 per cent), it now outperforms new-technology spend alone.
4 Real-time processing under T+1 pressure
The global move to shortened settlement cycles is forcing financial institutions to adopt real-time event management from capture through to instruction. API-driven workflows, event status dashboards, and exception-based processing are rapidly becoming essential capabilities. The winners will be those who can deliver immediacy and accuracy at scale — giving clients the confidence to act within compressed windows.
5 Preparing for digital assets and tokenisation
Tokenisation is rapidly transitioning from pilot to practical applications. As digital securities and blockchain-based asset registers gain regulatory acceptance, operations teams must be ready to manage onchain events, digital wallets, and potentially new forms of settlement. Investing now in interoperable and adaptable infrastructure will secure a place in tomorrow’s tokenised markets.
6 Embedding ESG and stewardship data
Sustainability reporting is becoming operational, not just strategic. Nearly 70 per cent of survey respondents report growing client demand for integrated ESG and stewardship reporting. Clients expect servicers to manage proxy voting, disclosure, and ESG metrics in one coherent framework. Integrating ESG data into corporate actions processing helps investors align portfolios with policy objectives — and gives operations teams a larger role in stewardship transparency.
7 Sustainability of operations
The journey toward net-zero casts a spotlight on back office efficiency. Paperless workflows, cloud-based processes, and energy-efficient data centers now represent both cost savings and brand value. Demonstrable environmental progress enhances reputation with clients who increasingly consider sustainability integral to vendor selection.
8 Building scalable resilience
Rising transaction loads, cyber threats, and regulatory demands are converging to test every part of the post-trade infrastructure. Scalable architecture, real-time monitoring, and automated recovery have become core to client value perception. Nearly 70 per cent of firms report that resilience and uptime are now directly linked to client-trust metrics — making reliability a commercial asset, not just a control measure.
Visualising the future
Overall, the industry is evolving toward a more connected, intelligent, and data-driven model — one where automation, analytics, and interoperability enable faster entitlements, consistent standards, and richer insights across the trade lifecycle.
As we begin the new year, achieving operational excellence requires balancing technological advancements with a human-centric approach. Senior industry leaders should view these priorities not as discrete initiatives, but as interconnected elements of a unified transformation strategy. Leaders and institutions that align technology, processes, people, and purpose around this vision will set the operational standard for the years ahead.
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