Taskize at The Network Forum Americas: Transforming custody and post-trade ops

Taskize attended The Network Forum Americas last week, an essential event for the custody and post-trade industry and sponsored by our parent company, Euroclear. 

Attendees had a chance to explore how the Taskize platform is reshaping the future of post-trade operations, making it easier for institutions to work together seamlessly.  

The discussions highlighted key trends, particularly in the adoption of AI, analytics, and workflow automation – areas where Taskize is playing a pivotal role. Here are our six key takeaways from the event.  

1. Reinventing custody for the future 

The custody landscape is evolving rapidly, with custodians shifting from traditional roles toward becoming data providers and industry utilities.  At the same time, the market is collaborating more, with Symphony and Taskize serving as prime examples of enhancing interoperability between front and back offices. 

This transformation relies on close alignment with regulatory bodies, as well as a careful balance between maintaining legacy systems and adopting new technologies. For example, many financial institutions still rely heavily on legacy infrastructure but are also beginning to integrate AI and automation to improve operational efficiencies. 

It was on this subject that I had various discussions around a pressing need to eliminate email from manual processes, particularly in problem resolution, and Joyce Thormann, Chief Representative at our parent company, Euroclear, highlighted Taskize’s role in this regard, emphasizing the need to remove email from workflows.

2. Workflow automation, analytics, and infrastructure 

This session highlighted that these three main areas of focus – workflow automation, analytics, and infrastructure – have undergone significant evolution and transformation: 

• Workflow automation is increasingly being adopted to streamline operations, reduce human error, and enhance efficiency 

• Analytics has become indispensable, acting as the backbone for data-driven decision-making 

• Infrastructure is evolving to support these advancements, with cloud-based solutions and scalable systems becoming the norm.

3. The role of analytics: Extracting and utilizing insights 

Analytics was identified as a critical component in modern business strategies. However, the key challenge lies in translating raw data into actionable insights. Companies must ask themselves: What insights are we seeking? How can data be transformed into strategies that improve outcomes?  

The discussion underscored the importance of leveraging advanced analytics tools and methodologies, such as AI and machine learning, to extract meaningful insights and implement them effectively. As these technologies evolve, they offer more sophisticated ways to predict trends and drive innovation. 
 
4. Limitations of IT and tech services: The need for external vendors 
 
Current IT and tech services often hinder progress due to their limitations in solving complex, real-world problems and this is where external vendors play a crucial role.  

By offering specialized solutions and innovative technologies, external vendors help organizations overcome barriers and achieve their strategic goals. The discussion emphasized the importance of collaboration with external partners to stay competitive and agile in a rapidly changing technological landscape. 

Read Taskize’s guide to outsourcing 

5. Challenges of in-house software and resources

Developing in-house software or maintaining internal resources can be prohibitively expensive, creating significant obstacles for many organizations and often preventing companies from innovating or scaling effectively.  

The panel discussed how relying on external solutions can mitigate these challenges, providing access to state-of-the-art technologies without the same financial burden.

6. Industry-wide collaboration for problem solving

This session recognized several industry-wide problems that require collective action to be addressed effectively. By working together, companies can create solutions that serve the entire market, transforming them into industry utility services. This collaborative approach not only fosters innovation but also ensures that solutions are comprehensive and standardized, benefiting the entire sector. 

As the industry continues to evolve, one thing is clear: collaboration and automation are critical to staying competitive. 

Whether it’s eliminating email from workflows, integrating advanced analytics, or enabling seamless collaboration across institutions, Taskize is at the forefront of this transformation. Our platform is designed to help financial institutions adapt to the future of custody, ensuring they remain agile and resilient in the face of rapid change. 

Based in Denver, Colorado, Rohan Murphy is Business Development Manager for North America at Taskize