News Updates
Crowdstrike - July 2024
Before a small software update last week caused the largest IT outage in history, how many of us had heard of CrowdStrike, or understood that a botched upgrade somewhere down the supply chain could leave us stranded at airports, without medical care or unable to receive our salaries?
The incident serves as a very timely reminder of the need to not only understand our direct suppliers, but to understand their suppliers and manage risks across the entire ecosystem.
With ‘nth party supplier management’ already a key focus for regulators, this incident is only going to create heightened scrutiny.
It’s time to take a deeper look at the measures you can put in place to better understand your suppliers' full operating models, identify all the risks, and put in place the plans to ensure your clients aren’t left stranded should the worst happen.
Knadel Solutions provides advice, services and technology to achieve best practice in the selection, onboarding and ongoing management of suppliers.
Please click here to read our full LinkedIn article.
VENDOR iQ and SupplierVision, the leading combination of supplier intelligence and and supplier oversight
We are delighted to announce an alliance between VENDOR iQ and SupplierVision to provide a complete solution to manage your supplier risks.
VENDOR iQ provides intelligent data on your suppliers, alerting you to any external issues across suppliers, delegates, clients, and distributors that may result in a potential risk.
SupplierVision provides extensive, end-to-end workflow across all of your supplier oversight activities, ensuring that the governance, service model and risk monitoring meets market best practice.
Together these two systems provide a comprehensive solution for supplier oversight, ensuring you effectively manage your business risks and meet your regulatory obligations.
If you would like to know more about how VENDOR iQ and SupplierVision can help please contact us on info@vendoriq.co.uk or info@knadelsolutions.com
Please click here to read our full LinkedIn article.
Supplier Consolidation - Reducing Risk, Complexity and Cost
Is proliferation of your supplier universe creating unnecessary cost, risk and complexity?
Supplier proliferation is a growing challenge across the financial services industry.
Third party software and service providers play critical roles in the operation models of all firms. However, many organisations experience an ever-growing supplier universe - either organically as new solutions are tactically selected to address point in time issues, or as a result of merger and acquisition activity.
Regardless of the cause, the implications can be significant:
-
Greater Risk: increasing the burden of Supplier Managers to demonstrate and execute meaningful governance and oversight
-
Added Complexity: challenging the ability to deliver efficiencies from an operating model straddling people, processes, data models and technical architecture across multiple organisations
-
Spiralling Costs: creating the need for greater internal resource to manage suppliers, and paying for duplication of services across two or more providers
-
Missed Opportunity: failing to fully leverage the purchasing power across fewer, larger partnerships
This landscape is contributing directly over 70% of firms admitting that not all supplier risks are identified, escalated and mitigated, and fewer than 30% having full visibility of all supplier costs.
At Knadel Solutions, we are working with clients to systematically review their outsourcing strategy to complement their target operating model; identifying tactical and strategic opportunities to reduce risk, enhance efficiencies and lower costs.
Whether applied to a subset of suppliers to drive an immediate cost save, such as the proliferation of data providers, or more extensively across the entire supplier universe; rationalisation can play a critical role in creating a robust and compliant platform for scalable growth.
If you'd like to know more information, please click here to read our full LinkedIn article
Please contact us to understand how Knadel Solutions can support you in achieving these outcomes at info@knadelsolutions.com
Are your Suppliers enabling growth, increasing efficiency and minimising risk?
Why does Supplier Management matter?
Third parties are critical to the operating models of financial services firms, with over 65% of organisations relying on more than five material suppliers.
These suppliers play a key role in enabling an organisation's strategic ambitions; directly impacting costs and delivering the performance to enhance revenues.
At present investment firms are facing significant challenges, with increasing client expectations, growing regulatory pressures and economic headwinds hitting the P&L. By way of an example, global fund management has seen costs rise 20 times faster than revenues in the last year alone.
Therefore, developing a platform to enable genuine scalable growth is more important than ever, and given external suppliers are one of the largest direct expenses incurred, it is the right time to be asking 'are we getting the right service, at the right price, for the right risk'?
What does the landscape look like today?
Effective Supplier Management needs strong foundations to drive meaningful commercial outcomes, and should not be constrained to a 'tick-box' exercise limited to meeting regulatory obligations.
However, a Knadel Solutions survey identified that whilst 80% of firms agree that Supplier Management is a key focus of the organisation, fewer than 40% are seeing increased investment. As such, there is risk that.
1. Processes and controls may not be robust enough to meet Operational Resilience and DORA expectations;
2. Cost efficiencies identified in the original business case are not being realised;
3. Commercial terms lag the market; and
4. Performance is not enabling the growth objectives
How do I optimise supplier outcomes?
At Knadel Solutions we have drawn on our detailed understanding of market best practice to create a framework against which Supplier Management maturity can be assessed and actions for improvement identified.
In this context, financial services firms need to be challenging themselves, or risk missing a key lever for sustainable growth:
- Do we have a robust and documented supplier governance and oversight framework, to both monitor our suppliers, and drive enhanced outcomes?
- Is it adequately resourced and enabled with the tools and data to provide early insights into risks, issues and service delivery?
- Do we understand the costs, market best practice, and have benchmark data to ensure we are getting the best service at the right price?
How can Knadel Solutions support?
We can apply proven methodologies across a range of capabilities, ensuring your objectives are understood and business outcomes delivered in a flexible and cost-effective manner.
We are subject matters expert, with the data, market insights and real world experience to ensure you achieve a return on your investment.
If you would like to understand more about how to ensure your suppliers are enabling growth, increasing efficiency and minimising risk, please contact us on info@knadelsolutions.com
Please click here to read our full LinkedIn article
Knadel Solutions Survey Findings Featured in Funds Europe
As picked up in the press this week, our Supplier Optimisation survey has shone a light on the need for a greater focus from financial services firms on the ongoing management and oversight of their suppliers to enable growth, lower costs and mitigate risks.
Please contact us if you would be interested in discussing further the findings of the survey, and how our unique offering can ensure your suppliers really do deliver what was promised.
If you'd like to know more information, please click here to read the full press article on Funds Europe and our full LinkedIn article
Knadel Solutions Supplier Optimisation Survey Findings
Are you getting 'the right service, at the right price for the right risk’ from your suppliers?
Supplier Management is a hot topic right now, and our recent Supplier Optimisation Survey has proven that actions need to follow words if financial services firms are going to get what they pay for from their suppliers.
We launched our survey to test the theory that organisations are not applying the same level of commitment to ongoing Supplier Management, as they did to selection, contracting and onboarding; and it has delivered some fascinating findings.
Not only did the great interest and high participation rate show just how much focus there is on this topic, but the results highlight a number of gaps to be addressed to ensure firms are receiving 'the right service, at the right price for the right risk’.
It is clear that organisations understand the critical role suppliers play in their strategies; as a vital lever to enable growth, lower costs and mitigate risks. However, the results of our study show:
Whilst governance and oversight processes are commonplace, gaps do remain, creating risks and possible regulatory exposure;
Technology and data provisioning is often lacking, inhibiting the Supplier Manager's ability to deliver the expected outcomes from the providers; and
Access to broader data points are needed to enable an increase in ongoing commercial discipline to achieve competitive advantages.
In the face of economic headwinds, growing compliance burdens and increasing client demands, more focus than ever is on Supplier Managers to ensure their providers are delivering market leading performance with cost efficiencies. But this survey demonstrates they are often not empowered with the tools and resources to effectively manage and govern the suppliers, and achieve the outcomes that were toasted with champagne the day the contract was signed.
Strong supplier management requires a framework that enables a detailed understanding of the suppliers; reporting to provide early insights into risks, issues and service delivery; and the processes to address findings and optimise performance.
Knadel Solutions offer a fast, low-cost Governance & Oversight Healthcheck to deliver tangible insights and recommendations to enhance Supplier Management outcomes.
Please contact us if you would be interested in discussing further the findings of the survey, and how our unique offering can ensure your suppliers really do deliver what was promised.
If you'd like to know more information, please click here to read our full LinkedIn article
Supplier Governance & Oversight Healthcheck
Financial services firms are under ever increasing pressure to ensure their suppliers are delivering marketing leading performance; at lower cost with minimal risk - whilst complying with their regulatory obligations.
The Knadel Solutions fast, low-cost Governance & Oversight Healthcheck delivers tangible insights and recommendations to enhance Supplier Management outcomes
Framework Review -> Performance Improvement
Issue Identification -> Growth Enablement
Best Practice Recommendations -> Regulatory Compliance
If you'd like to know more information, please click here to read our full LinkedIn article
Supplier Management Optimisation Survey
Further to our recent exciting announcement that Knadel Solutions are now providing advisory services to the investments industry – we have launched a survey to understand how investment firms manage and oversee their suppliers, and to identify the ways in which they can reduce their risk and better enable growth.
We have already had a strong response, with the survey taking no more than 10 minutes to complete, and all responses treated in the strictest of confidence.
We are focused on helping our clients receive the 'the right service, at the right price for the right risk’ from their providers; and through this survey we will be strongly placed to help participants identify where they sit amongst their peers, and the ways in which they can enhance their Supplier Management operating models.
If you are interested in taking part, please contact us at info@knadelsolutions.com
Please click here to read our full LinkedIn article
Introducing Knadel Solutions
We are thrilled to let you know of some exciting new developments at Knadel Software Solutions. We are now providing advisory services to the investments industry.
For a number of years, we have supported our software clients with guidance around the best practice for selecting, onboarding and managing suppliers, and we are delighted to announce that this is now available as a standalone offering. To reflect this development, we have rebranded to Knadel Solutions Limited, and there will be more to come on these exciting developments over the coming months.
If you'd like to know more information, please click here to read our full LinkedIn article about the launch of Knadel Solutions on 14th March 2024.
Link Group Partner with SupplierVision
We are pleased to announce our newest client Link Funds Solutions, a market-leading service provider of administrative, regulatory and support services to investment funds, supporting over £166bn of fund assets under management or administration across Europe.
Link Fund Solutions has partnered with our leading supplier management system SupplierVision, to further enhance the oversight of their third parties and suppliers.
If you'd like to know more information, please click here to read a case study about the benefits of Link Fund Solutions using SupplierVision.
LBG Go Live with SupplierVision
We are pleased to announce the signing of Lloyds Banking Group as our newest client. After completing a pilot of the system, they are now live with SupplierVision. We have therefore been busy onboarding them and have also enhanced the system to add fund specific fields to facilitate their usage of SupplierVision as a funds database.
Vendor Risk Conference
SupplierVision were proud to sponsor the 4th Annual Vendor & Third Party Risk Europe Summit, which took place over the 18th and 19th June at Tower Bridge, London. Dean Lumer (Managing Director of KSS) joined major banks including UBS and Santander in contributing to a lively panel discussion about complying to global regulatory requirements. Other noteworthy topics discussed were GDPR, cyber risk, data analytics and reporting on risks.
SupplierVision launch the SupplierPortal
On 22nd November, Knadel Software Solutions successfully launched the latest version of SupplierVision which contains a new SupplierPortal feature to aid communication between clients and suppliers. The launch event to mark the occasion was held at the South Place Hotel in London, just off Moorgate. The feedback from both the existing clients and prospects that attended was very positive; everyone had an enjoyable evening networking and engaging with the new release features.
This latest release of SupplierVision continues to build on the ethos of the systems design - by using SupplierVision, supplier management activities benefit from being conducted consistently, efficiently and transparently in a single, comprehensive and easy to deploy audited system solution.
SupplierVision at the TRG Conference in Amsterdam
Accelerating growth through innovative technology – How to successfully implement the newest Fintech solutions? – Addressing this topic Knadel Software Solutions hosted a roundtable on the best practice, trends, issues, risks and experiences within Supplier Management in Financial Services.
SupplierVision featured at the Vendor & Third Party Risk Europe, 13-14 June 2018, London
Knadel Software Solutions exhibited their flagship product SupplierVision at the 3rd Annual Vendor & Third-Party Risk EMEA, 13-14 June 2018.
The two day event addressed key topics including: GDPR, Due Diligence, Financial Viability, Critical Vendors, Cyber Threats, Technology, Robotics and Fourth Parties. As well as featuring unique input from our clients and other financial institutions that included: HSBC, M&G Prudential, Santander, UBS, Barclays, BNY Mellon.
SupplierVision exhibited at Cutter Associates Investment Management Council & Forum
Knadel Software Solutions showcased their innovative product SupplierVision at the Cutter Associates Investment Management Council & Forum on the 24th May 2017, London. At this event Cutter Associates introduced their recently completed benchmark study on vendor management. Highlights of this study can be found here.
SupplierVision featured at TSAM London 2017
Knadel Software Solutions exhibited their award-winning product SupplierVision at TSAM London 2017, March 15th. We gave a live demonstration of the system during the Technology and Operations Workstream.
January 2017
As we start the New Year we are delighted to announce that over Christmas an international asset management company went live with SupplierVision. The implementation commenced on 4th October and took 11 weeks to complete. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the client for using SupplierVision and working with us to ensure a successful implementation.
If you would like to know more about our market leading supplier and vendor management system please contact us.
SupplierVision - European Newcomer/Innovator of the Year
We are delighted to announce that at the Funds Europe Awards 2016 ceremony held at the Tower of London on November 3rd, Knadel Software Solutions and SupplierVision was voted European Newcomer / Innovator of the Year.
This prestigious award, decided by an independent panel of judges, is given to a newcomer and innovator in the industry that has demonstrated excellence in innovation, development, growth, client service and commitment to Europe.
We faced stiff competition from the other shortlisted candidates for the award which included Liquidnet with their fixed income dark pools solution and Morningstar with their sustainability ratings product.
It is a huge honour to win such an award and we would like to thank all our clients for their continued support to make this possible.
SupplierVision featured at Vendor & Third Party Risk Europe, 7-8 June 2016, London
Knadel Software Solutions demonstrated SupplierVision at the Vendor & Third Party Risk Europe event, 7- 8 June 2016, London. SupplierVision provides innovative risk management software for comprehensive vendor and supplier management within the financial services industry.
The inaugural Vendor & Third Party Risk Event organised by the Centre for Financial Professionals focused on a number of topics including:
-
Regulation
-
Governance
-
Vendor Categorisation
-
Operational Risk
-
Supply Chain Resilience
-
Intragroup Entities / Affiliates
-
Cyber Security
-
Data & Security
-
Collaboration
The event featured a FCA Keynote presentation from Robin Jones, Head of Prudential Special Supervision, Financial Conduct Authority (UK) as well as the opportunity to hear first hand experiences from global heads, MDs, VPs and senior risk professionals from organisations including AIG, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Standard Life and UBS.
September 2016
Whilst enjoying the last warm days we wanted to give you a quick update on what has been happening to SupplierVision over the Summer.
It has again been a busy and successful period. We released a new version of the system following our first User Group meeting. Thank you to the team at Schroders for hosting us all. This new version of the system encapsulates enhanced breach statistics, extended local currency reporting and enhancements to the tracking of governance meetings.
We have worked with several potential clients piloting the system over the period and we hope to be in a position to announce further successful implementations in the next update.
We demonstrated the system at the inaugural industry conference on vendor risk management and had our first articles on supplier management published in the press.
If you would like to hear more about how SupplierVision can help your company please contact us here.
February 2016
The February 2016 edition of Funds Europe magazine features an extended interview with Dean Lumer, Knadel Software Solutions on the importance of Vendor management.
"The discipline of supplier management has become more important in the investment management market for a number of reasons. Investment managers are increasingly reliant on third parties for their operations. Driven by rising cost and compliance pressures, they are choosing to focus on their core competencies – stock picking and portfolio management – and outsourcing many of their administrative and operational tasks to specialist providers. Consequently there is an increasing realisation among managers that their vendors should be aligned with their own long-term goals and not pursuing their own agenda."
August 2015
Since our last update it has been a busy summer for SupplierVision. Following the success of our first implementation at Schroders we have now gone live with our second client First State Investments and have signed our third client M&G Investments. We have also commenced implementing our fourth client and are looking forward to announcing this client in our next update.
As well as helping firms implement or pilot the system we have also been adding new features to the software, examples include bulk updating of issues, a breach import facility and additional custom fields on contracts. We have also expanded our support team in line with our growth. So it’s been a busy and successful summer and we would like to send a big thank you to all those firms that engaged with us over this period.
If you would like to see SupplierVision and learn more about how the system can instil best practice supplier management across your organisation then please contact us and we will be happy to give you a demonstration.
February 2015
We have had an exciting start to 2015, SupplierVision is running live with a major global investment management firm. A second client has commenced implementation, and a third client, a major asset manager, has successfully completed a pilot of the system. Initial functionality has been extended to offer enhanced workflow for supplier and operational query management, capturing and directing emails. Providing enriched management information and closer control of processes, making quality control easier and facilitating collaborative working with suppliers.
