Inspire & engage

Innovation

From mass-market D2C to institutional clients, we help deliver customer-first investment products, distribution strategies (including digital solutions) and marketing and communications collateral.

Case Studies

We offer a number of key solutions that fall under our Innovation pillar. Take a look below to see what we can offer you and to read some examples of our work in these areas.

Whitespace opportunities

Our Client

Financial technology firm

Their challenge

Our client offers cloud-based portfolio management and monitoring/aggregation tools for wealth management companies. To expand the proposition, they wanted to identify new distribution channels for certain components of their offering – in particular the platform-based IFA market.

Our approach

To explore the regulatory and compliance issues facing firms in the advisory market, we conducted an initial workshop, allowing us to validate whether there were gaps for the proposition. We then conducted primary research with COO level professionals at advice firms, discretionary fund managers and platforms to test appetite.

Outcome/impact

We mapped the delivery and responsibilities around MPS advice processes and identified aggregation as a key market gap for advisers and DFMs. Our approach also allowed us to identify opportunities to partner with other technology providers already operating in the market, ultimately, our client was acquired by one such partner.

Product development

Our Client

Global asset manager

Their challenge

Historically, our client had run a programme of one-off consumer research projects aligned to specific fund launches. They were looking for a way to scale their research to ensure that customer feedback is embedded into all product innovation and development, rather than ad-hoc. Speed, resource efficiency and application across products and regions were key requirements.

Our approach

We ran a three-month programme of research (utilising our dedicated but controlled environment, the Innovation Hub) across the client’s strategic product agenda including thematics, real assets and ESG. Through multiple dips of activity with 30 UK retail investors, we delivered insight on a series of ideas and concepts, from simple to complex.

Outcome/impact

As a result, our client:

  • Had a complete shift in their approach to investor feedback through the product lifecycle
  • Was provided with a suite of investor insight that can be utilised across the business, by multiple teams covering multiple asset classes and across the entire product set
  • Utilised a more robust, but highly cost-effective solution that can be replicated internationally, where investors are highly engaged throughout

Digital propositions

Our Client

UK-based wealth management and advisory firm

Their challenge

Having built and launched their online D2C proposition, they were not seeing the flows that they wanted and were experiencing considerable drops out. They in turn wanted to understand why this might be and how they could improve their success with target clients.

Our approach

We embarked on a multi-stage programme of work, including:
  • Facilitating a workshop on developing successful digital investment propositions
  • Conducting research with a broad sample of potential prospects to explore the value proposition for different audiences and define the target market
  • Developing the key messaging hierarchy
  • Working with the client to re-engineer the user journey from entry to account set-up, including development of copy, and then testing this new journey

Outcome/impact

Through our research we; developed target market personas to inform all subsequent work, our client completely re-engineered their user journey and the new journey was launched for the new ISA season.

Market Strategy

Our Client

Global asset manager

Their challenge

Our client needed help to deliver an ambitious global growth strategy, that focused on developing their new brand positioning and client engagement models, in order to support the delivery of a market leading service that is both client and centric and sustainable in the long term.

Our approach

We designed a programme of strategic research with institutional, wholesale clients and prospects globally across 18 countries to shape their client experience strategy. At both a regional and sector level, we gained a deep understanding of their different clients’ needs, wants and expectations in an effort to define a best-in-class client servicing model. In doing so, we unearthed areas of unmet client needs, identified points of clear differentiation as well as challenges that would redefine our client’s competitive position.

Outcome/impact

We delivered a series of reports, both country specific and at a global level, that are driving the development of their client experience strategy globally – and enabling them to better position themselves in a digital-first world.

Our Client

Global industry association

Their challenge

Our client wished to understand drivers and barriers to investment in the asset they promote, notably among global institutional investors.

Our approach

To build a detailed picture of investment decision makers’ needs, motivations, attitudes and behaviours, we ran an extensive insight programme across 7 markets over a three-month period. Our programme involved depth conversations with asset owners, investment consultants, CIOs and portfolio managers across the wealth and asset management industry; pop-up communities; quant validation of key findings and social analytics/persona development.

Outcome/impact

The insights delivered through our research programme enabled our client to refine their communications strategy and thought leadership proposition, target social media campaigns more effectively and put in place brand and media tracking KPIs.

Contact us

We believe that the finance industry can play a significant role in addressing today’s social and environmental challenges. Working collaboratively across the industry, we play our part in the transition to a more sustainable future.

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