The client
Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management is a significant force in the investment management industry.
With a legacy spanning 50 years, the firm has built a strong presence by serving institutional investors worldwide.
Sumitomo offers comprehensive portfolio management and investment advisory services, especially in Japanese and Asian equity markets. Their digital infrastructure is tailored to meet the needs of their clients while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
The challenge
Sumitomo encountered several significant challenges in its digital transformation journey.
Their existing solution was running on an outdated version of Umbraco, requiring modernisation and complex integration of fund data from Brown Brothers Harriman (BBH). The platform needed to cater to different user types, each requiring tailored experiences and access to fund information.
Its fund data had to be presented in an intuitive and accessible format through custom component development. As an FCA-regulated firm, the solution needed to comply with financial regulations.
The insight
At GrowCreate, we believe digital platforms should drive trust and efficiency in the financial sector. Partnering with Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management, we delivered a robust, secure solution that simplifies client interactions and supports their commitment to excellence in asset management.
The solution
GrowCreate addressed Sumitomo's key challenges through several strategic implementations. At the solution's core was a successful re-platforming to Umbraco 13, which provided a modern and stable foundation for the company's digital presence. The team established a system to seamlessly import and update fund data from BBH and developed a custom table interface for presenting complex fund information in an accessible and user-friendly format.
The solution included a carefully designed user experience with distinct views and access levels for various users, including professional investors, non-professional investors, and existing clients. GrowCreate deployed the new platform on Umbraco Cloud, a managed hosting service that uses Microsoft Azure to provide a secure and scalable environment for Umbraco CMS. We recommended Umbraco Cloud as it ensures optimal performance and reliability, automatically upgrades the Sumitomo solution to the latest version of Umbraco CMS, and applies security patches and bug fixes.
The development process utilised an agile sprint methodology, with close collaboration between the Sumitomo team and GrowCreate, to ensure that all requirements were met while maintaining high performance and accessibility standards.
Solution benefits
The solution provided several key benefits to Sumitomo:
- Modernised digital infrastructure: Upgrading to Umbraco 13 offered a more stable and scalable platform for future growth.
- Automated data management: Nightly imports of fund data significantly reduced manual processes and improved data accuracy.
- Enhanced user experience: A custom table interface made complex fund data more accessible and navigable for professional investors.
- Improved audience targeting: Segmented views for more personalised content tailored to different user types.
- Technical excellence: Strong Google Lighthouse scores indicated superior performance and accessibility.
- Operational efficiency: Automation of processes and streamlined data handling reduced the team's manual workload.
- Robust security: The Umbraco Cloud/Azure infrastructure provided reliable hosting while ensuring compliance with standards.
The future
Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management has a chance to improve client engagement using its modern platform. They plan to use AI insights, personalisation, and CRM tools to enhance client services.
The company's primary goals are to boost client support, improve efficiency, and advance digital capabilities to stay competitive.
These efforts will strengthen Sumitomo's digital infrastructure and improve client service and operational efficiency. Along with refining the user experience, investing in digital tools, and ensuring compliance, these advancements will help solidify its leadership in asset management while providing excellent value to clients.
Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management is creating a platform ready for future growth and changing client needs by focusing on innovation and continuous improvement.
Services and technology
Strategy and Research
Stakeholder workshops
User research
Market and Competitor Analysis
Business analysis
Engineering
Umbraco CMS
Custom web development
API and systems integration
DevOps engineering
QA and testing
24/7 support and maintenance
Design
UX strategy
Journey mapping
Wireframing
Azure Cloud Services
Architecture
Platform migration
Cloud Managed Services
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