Trading platform support is, and has been, going through some heavy changes. It’s a changing world we live in and even putting the current situation to one side (we know it’s difficult but let’s try) it’s worth noting how cost reduction, market consolidations, and changes in approach, etc. have changed the landscape for how trading platforms are supported.

Good front line support for trading platform functionality is now more difficult to access and slower to respond resulting in fewer issues actually being resolved.

Changes in focus from vendors has meant the trading industry has had to come up with, let’s face it, a compromise, to ensure their businesses can continue to operate ‘as normal’. There are many new normals across all industries and sectors at present, but the trading world is highly arcane in nature and therefore any change is difficult for traders and salespeople alike. This has translated into moves towards other models like ‘Live Chat’ style support, which some find impersonal, with fewer experienced people showing up regularly at client sites.

At the sharp end this can mean less voice support and a reduction in face to face support resulting in declining reassurance for users from regular contact with the ‘floorwalkers’. Some trading platform users have found that trading support has been neglected and their experience has suffered as a consequence.

For instance, a Waters Technology article, published last year, reported one Fidessa user citing difficulties with issue resolution:

“It seems like they’ve lost the ability to distinguish between a general issue and an urgent issue that needs to be resolved because it’s putting our clients at risk. We’ve had some issues that have been sitting with them for months.”

Obviously this is a sub-optimal ongoing predicament to be in. Whether due to cost savings, staff attrition rates or other reasons – the provision of first line support has deteriorated.

Even so, the cost of support to a trading firm remains constant in real terms. But in terms of what they get in return, it effectively becomes an added overhead translating to something with a diminishing return.

Added to these ongoing, and somewhat reluctantly accepted concerns, new uncertainties are pushing themselves to the forefront of users minds. The big one currently of course are the changes companies and staff are having to make now to their working arrangements in relation to the current climate and the need to maintain a distributed workforce.

Uncertainties around this mean that some in this space now acknowledge a real need for flexibility and better business continuity planning and scalability options (there have been significant spikes in volumes and volatility) in the approach to providing support for users. One just needs to look at the increasing number of LinkedIn or Facebook posts of people attempting to replicate their office desk at home to see the level of impact.

All of the above factors appear to be leading to a dawning realisation for many trading platform users for two necessary changes:

  • A higher degree of self-sufficiency for navigating a platform and making full use of its features.
  • Fast and reliable turnaround for resolving complex issues and being trained in new functionality without the necessity to call upon a fixed cost resource pool.

So what is the obstacle here?

Think about applications like Word or Excel. How many people who regularly use applications such as these are proficient in just enough to enable them to carry out their daily job? Many of these people are probably utilising less than ten percent of what the application offers and therefore unable to identify avoidable bottlenecks and efficiency gains no matter how simple to implement – 90% of the potential benefits remain unused, an ‘unknown unknown’.

With such a wealth of functionality offered, knowing what *really* matters requires an understanding of both the application and your specific needs.

The same can be said for trading functionality; untapped opportunities for improved workflows are lying undiscovered and unutilised before users’ eyes. Comprehensive support and training in existing and new functionality can pave the way for users to discover that potential including, dare we say, the opportunity of alpha generation due to the possibility of speed of use through innate familiarity.

Communication and tailored collaboration with knowledgeable and experienced support teams is essential. Targeted, independent and focused front line support available from experienced outsourced providers presents a viable support proposition for platform users, wherever you sit in the organisation.

At Leading Point we are not only able to react to issues quickly but also know the information you are looking for (often before you need it) that will make a real difference to your daily trading platform experiences. With an innate ability to speak your ‘language’ we can provide seamless communication. All of this underpinned by an always available service when you and your users need it most.

  • Imagine an innovative trading support experience comprising an equally innovative commercial model enhancing an entire trading platform experience.
  • Imagine the knowledge your users can benefit from through such a collaboration and the degree to which that benefit is passed on to clients
  • Imagine, through the unlocking of that untapped potential, your regular users becoming super users

The time for change is NOW. If you’d like to get in touch, we would be delighted to tell you more about the potential benefits to you and your firm.

 

Untapped opportunities for improved workflows are lying undiscovered and unutilised before users’ eyes.

 

Good front line support for trading platform functionality is now more difficult to access and slower to respond resulting in fewer issues actually being resolved.

 

“It seems like they’ve lost the ability to distinguish between a general issue and an urgent issue that needs to be resolved because it’s putting our clients at risk.”