The past year has reinforced what many investment firms already know: change is accelerating. Markets remain dynamic, technology continues to evolve rapidly, and client expectations are rising in parallel. These are the themes in this month’s most-read Kurtosys blog posts. Leading in 2026 will require clarity of direction, supported by strong data foundations, intelligent automation, and AI that delivers measurable value.
2026 outlook: leading with clarity in a world that’s moving faster
Lee Godfrey reflects on how the past year proved that the pace of change isn’t slowing down. From accelerating technology shifts to evolving market uncertainty and rising client expectations, the core message is clear: success in 2026 will come from leaders who stay focused, adaptable, and intentional.
Notable trends shaping the year ahead, include AI moving beyond hype into practical value, uneven productivity growth across regions, and China’s growing impact on the global economy. Ultimately, businesses can’t control every external factor, but they can build resilience by strengthening their foundations, embracing experimentation, and staying aligned to what clients and investors will demand next.
The future of investment reporting building on the data automation and AI journey
In line with the trends set for 2026, we explored the key themes of customisation, automation and data insights that are currently shaping the investment industry in our latest survey.
The findings show that AI is already being adopted in meaningful ways, with many firms using language-model tools for reporting tasks like analytics, commentary, translation, and content creation. At the same time, client portals are becoming central to the investor experience, with most firms offering (or planning) portal access. Overall, there is still work to be done as asset managers attempt to keep up with changing client expectations.
Solving the manual reporting nightmare
In solving the manual reporting nightmare, we explore a challenge many teams know all too well: manual reporting processes that take too long, rely too heavily on people, and leave little room to move quickly when change happens.
Automation helps ease that pressure by removing repetitive steps, improving consistency, and making reporting more scalable. With the right foundations in place, firms can deliver timely, reliable reporting that better meets evolving client expectations.
Looking ahead, the theme of readiness connects all three posts. Whether it’s leadership clarity, reporting innovation through data and AI, or solving the pressure of manual processes, the path forward is about building foundations that enable scale. With the right systems and workflows in place, firms can respond faster, reduce complexity, and deliver reporting experiences that reflect the future of client engagement.
