Financial Firms Double Down on AI Investment, Digital Asset Adoption Surges

• Data harmonization is key when it comes to implementing AI and digital assets with 80% of firms making moderate-to-large investments in AI this year; 50% of executives believe there will be a significant adoption of digital assets and ledger technology within the capital markets over the next several years.
• While 58% of financial services technology and operations executives agree a clear data strategy leads to the maximum rate of return on technology investments, 40% admit to having data quality issues.
• Almost half (41%) of executives feel their technology strategy is not moving fast enough at its current trajectory and 46% feel legacy tech is hurting resiliency.
• Overall, firms expect to allocate 29% of their total IT spend to technology innovation over the next two years, an increase of seven percentage points from last year’s study. 

NEW YORK, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Data strategy has accelerated as a priority focus for the financial services industry as AI, digital assets, operational resilience and personalization become non-negotiable forces in 2025, according to the fifth annual Digital Transformation & Next-Gen Technology Study by global Fintech leader, Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR). Almost half (41%) of executives feel their technology strategy is not moving fast enough at its current trajectory and 46% feel legacy tech is hurting resiliency. Today, when the introduction of a new AI model has the power to send shockwaves through financial markets, Bitcoin ETFs are routinely turning over billions in average daily volume, and cybersecurity has become a global mandate, financial services firms can no longer afford half-measures or indecision when it comes to data harmonization or addressing legacy technology.

“As financial services firms modernize their operations and move away from legacy systems, many are realizing that the right data management strategy has the power to break down silos and achieve the level of data quality needed to realize the potential of AI and sustain prolonged digital transformation within their organizations,” said Chris Perry, President of Broadridge. “With the right data strategy and a clear plan to address legacy tech, firms can drive digital transformation, enable innovation at scale, enhance customer experiences, and foster long-term growth while providing operational resilience and efficiency.”

Over half (58%) of financial services technology and operations executives globally identified data harmonization as the ideal driver for maximizing their return on investment with 60% indicating they’re confident their data quality won’t cause transformation challenges. Therefore, firms are increasing their spend in this area to ensure they’re capable of harnessing transformative technology like AI, digital assets and cloud platforms to achieve a competitive advantage.

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