Our 5 key takeaways from the Euroclear Collateral Conference 2024

Taskize recently joined over 600 collateral management professionals at the annual Euroclear Collateral Conference in Brussels – writes John Magennis, Account Manager at Taskize.  

I was there with my colleagues Neville Sharp (Senior Project Manager), Elle Guest (Account Manager) and Helen Adair (Head of Business Development) to showcase how our platform addresses the challenges of modern collateral management. 

We met with a range of industry stakeholders to validate our mapped-out vision for the end-to-end collateral workflow, aiming to understand the key challenges that mattered most to them. Through these discussions, we identified how Taskize can help address those issues and drive meaningful efficiency improvements. 

From live demonstrations to one-to-one conversations and thought-provoking panel sessions, here are my five key takeaways from the event… 

1. Collateral availability 

The market has shifted from collateral scarcity to availability, but the focus has now turned to ensuring liquidity. Despite greater availability, collateral often becomes “trapped” in inaccessible locations, preventing its timely use.   

This highlights the critical need for infrastructure and operational improvements to enable faster, more efficient mobilisation of collateral – and the comms and collaboration required around it — ensuring it is in the right place at the right time. 

2. Challenges of T+1 settlement 

The transition to T+1 settlement in Europe is both a significant opportunity and a challenge. While it offers the potential to harmonise markets across the region, it also introduces risks and operational complexities – as highlighted in a recent interview with our Interim CEO for A-Team Insight.  

Market participants must adopt a calibrated approach to address these readiness challenges, ensuring the infrastructure and processes are robust enough to handle the change seamlessly. 

3. Infrastructure adaptation is key 

Adaptable and interoperable infrastructure is essential to meet the evolving needs of the collateral management industry. This includes reducing fragmentation and enhancing cross-regional collaboration. 

Efficient infrastructure enables markets to respond quickly to new demands while fostering interoperability and reducing inefficiencies. 

4. Technology’s role in efficiency 

In an era where reducing operational costs and risks is paramount, technology is the linchpin for efficiency. Tools like Taskize – which streamline workflows and reduce friction in collateral movement – are indispensable. By optimising processes and enhancing communication, technology ensures smoother operations and better risk management. 

5.Collaboration to drive progress 

The industry’s ability to navigate uncertainty hinges on strong collaboration and a shared urgency to address systemic inefficiencies, adapt processes, and foster innovation. 

We’re looking forward to continuing these conversations at Euroclear’s Asia Collateral Conference in Hong Kong this week.