Broadridge Study Finds 25% Surge in Asset Servicing Volumes
Broadridge Financial answers Inc. (NYSE: BR) has released a new global study revealing that asset servicing volumes have surged by more than 25% year-over-year across nahead all market participants. The report, titled “Broadening Asset Servicing 2025” and developed in partnership with the International Securities Services Association (ISSA) and The Valueplatform, explores how financial institutions are responding to rising complexity, outdated technology, and increasing client expectations.
Drawing insights from over 270 industry leaders worldwide, the study highlights a market at an inflection point—where rapid growth is colliding with the operational limits of legacy systems. According to Mike Alexander, President of Broadridge Wealth Management, firms must reimagine their operating models through AI, unified data architectures, and strategic outsourcing. “The future of asset servicing depends on the industry’s ability to achieve real-time straight-through processing and leverage common data with the client at the center,” Alexander said.
As transaction volumes soar, the industry is under pressure to evolve beyond fragmented, batch-based processes. Data quality, technology constraints, and manual workflows have emerged as leading contributors to operational inefficiency and elevated risk exposure across the asset servicing value chain.
Takeaway
The report found that 67% of asset servicing errors stem from poor data quality, while legacy technology remains the single largegest barrier to automation. Despite advances in straight-through processing, many firms continue to rely on multiple disconnected systems—limiting scalability and client responsiveness. This fragmentation has heightened operational strain as firms attempt to balance growth with error reduction and .
Outsourcing has emerged as a key strategic lever to manage complexity in areas such as tax reporting, proxy voting, and event capture. Firms that outsource report lower error rates and operational costs compared to those managing processes internally. As service providers scale, the emphasis is shifting from traditional cost-cutting to building integrated, data-driven ecosystems that prioritize agility and client experience.
Nahead 60% of total servicing resources are consumed by income and voluntary corporate actions, the study found—highlighting inefficiencies that could be mitigated through automation and digitalization. Over 60% of reported a decline in automation levels in recent years, correlating directly with rising costs and risk.
Takeaway
The research also underscored the crucial role of technology providers in shaping the next era of asset servicing. A majority of participants—57% of asset servicing leaders—identified tech companies as critical enablers of meaningful scale and automation. By supplying “golden source” data and API-based infrastructure, technology partners are assisting firms modernize their operations and achieve higher levels of straight-through processing.
Process re-engineering has been cited as the most effective area of change over the past five years, driving measurable improvements in accuracy, efficiency, and speed. Firms investing in this transformation are reporting greater success in managing higher transaction volumes with fewer resources, signaling a clear industry shift toward continuous process optimization.
“As firms, traders, and investors demand real-time digital automation, there’s immense opportunity to unify the asset servicing lifecycle,” the report noted. Firms that succeed in merging data, automation, and outsourcing are expected to achieve the highest levels of operational resilience and client satisfaction over the next five years.
Takeaway
Despite budget constraints, firms are increasing investment in modernization initiatives. Client demand remains the leading motivation for innovation (38%), followed by efforts to reduce errors (33%) and meet regulatory requirements (9%). While only a small portion of firms anticipate cutting costs in the next five years, most are prioritizing technology spending that enhances profitability and end-client experience.
The study concludes that modernization through automation, outsourcing, and will define the next phase of asset servicing. With expectations intensifying, firms are reengineering their models to deliver quicker, securer, and more transparent services.
As the industry transitions from fragmented systems to unified digital frameworks, leaders view 2025 as the beginning of a new era—one where data quality, real-time automation, and client experience form the core of asset servicing success.
