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Xceptor joined industry leaders at InvestOps Connect Europe 2025, where the spotlight was firmly on innovation, operational agility, and the future of technology.
Our very own John Bevil hosted a panel on “How can you best scale core operational processes and capabilities to build towards a standardized global operating model, leveraging the efficiencies of shared processes?”, while Elle Flood led a compelling panel discussion, “Team and Talent. Building high performing teams: How can you enhance cultures within your operational teams to support innovation and drive firm wide transformation”, focused on transformation, talent, and team dynamics in a tech-driven world.
Across the day, several key themes stood out: the ongoing challenge of having the right technology in place, the increasing need and power of real-time data, and the urgency of preparing for regulatory changes in the coming years. In this wrap-up, we’ll take you through the highlights, the challenges our panelists shared, and the role technology and teams play in scaling operations globally.
Scaling Operations: Technology as a Global Enabler
As the financial services and capital markets landscape continues to evolve, so does the role technology can play in processes and workflows. However, many organizations are not embracing it to its full potential just yet.
When asked about the role of technology in scaling operations globally, many attendees explained they saw many benefits and value, citing the top three benefits of technology in global operations as:
- Freeing up human resources and reducing error (67%)
- Scalability based on demand (13%)
- Real-time data and faster, more informed decisions (7%)
These findings reflect what we hear from and see with our clients every day: technology is not just about automation – it’s about empowering teams to work smarter, not harder. Empowering teams with AI, automation, and other technologies available reduces manual effort, enables faster and more accurate decisions using clean, real-time data, and builds more scalable operations - freeing experts to focus on strategic priorities. The result for organizations – a high-performing team.
Standardizing Operations: Still a Work in Progress
While the benefits may be clear, the implementation is often a challenge for multiple reasons.
During John Bevil’s panel, the conversation turned to the challenges of standardizing operational processes across large, complex enterprises. The audience shared what’s holding them back:
- Technology and infrastructure gaps (37%)
- Organizational resistance (32%)
- Regulatory changes (26%)
Unsurprisingly, these are also the main drivers for outsourcing technology alongside cost and scalability. But when asked about the most challenging aspect of operational support, disparate data was cited by three-quarters (75%) of the audience.
This reinforces a familiar truth: without a strong data foundation, even the best processes and platforms can only go so far.
Regulatory Change: T+1 Is Top of Mind
Technology and infrastructure aren’t the only pressure points shaping the future of financial services and capital markets. Uncertainty over future regulations represented the greatest regulatory risk to firms in the coming years, cited three-fifths (60%) of respondents, and a further 26% cited regulatory requirements and legal variations as a major challenge in standardization of core operational processes.
What’s more, when asked which regulation will most impact their firm over the next few years, T+1 was the unanimous answer.
Having seen the impact of T+1 in the U.S., it’s clear that it’s never too early to start planning. Firms need to be proactive, not reactive, and that means having the right tools and workflows in place to adapt quickly and confidently. To get ahead, implementing flexible, future-proof solutions that can adapt to evolving regulatory landscapes without disrupting operations will be key.
Transformation and Talent: The Growth Mindset
While external factors, like regulation and infrastructure are critical in shaping strategies, internal teams and talent are just as important. Elle Flood’s panel shifted the focus to transformation and talent, and how the right mindset can unlock operational excellence.
This panel highlighted the importance of hiring not just for specific skills, but for interchangeable, adaptable talent to build teams that understand the big picture, collaborate cross-functionally, and possess a growth mindset.
“It’s not about knowing every process in detail – it’s about recognizing patterns, seeing synergy, and solving problems holistically,” Elle noted. “At Xceptor, we see this every day: the most successful projects are those who embrace change, think expansively, and are empowered by the tools they use vs a process.”
Final Thoughts: Building the Right Foundations
Despite all the innovation, many institutions are still hesitant to evolve their foundations: data management, interoperability, connectivity, and workflow. There’s still too much friction where front-to-back processes meet best-in-class tools, and too many firms are trying to scale with a one-size-fits-all approach.
But things are changing. With a renewed focus on empowering the end business user, firms are starting to realize that agility, scale, and success all depend on having the right tools in place.
At Xceptor, we’re here to help you build those foundations. Our platform is built to handle both structured and unstructured data at scale, enabling teams to work smarter – not harder. With advanced AI capabilities integrated into our data automation capabilities, we help businesses unlock new levels of efficiency, accuracy, and agility. Whether you're looking to reduce manual intervention, improve data quality, or accelerate innovation, Xceptor provides the tools to transform your operations from the ground up.
Ready to get started? Get in touch with the team to find out more, or schedule a session with our team.
