Categories
Categories
2022 categories
The 2022 WatersTechnology Asia Awards features 31 categories (see below), with 23 technology / vendor categories and 8 end-user categories.
Technology & Data Vendor Awards
Best front-office platform
This award will go to the vendor that has introduced innovation across the functions traditionally associated with the front office (OMS/EMS/portfolio management/algorithmic trading and decision support) over the last 12 months (March 2021-March 2022).
Best middle-office platform
This award will go to the vendor that has introduced innovation across the functions traditionally associated with the middle office (risk management/performance measurement and attribution/reporting and compliance) over the last 12 months (March 2021-March 2022).
Best back-office platform
This award will go to the vendor that has introduced innovation across the functions traditionally associated with the back office (reconciliation and clearing and settlement) over the last 12 months (March 2021-March 2022).
Best AI-based solution
This award will go to the vendor that has demonstrated innovative use-cases of AI technology (machine This award will go to the vendor that has demonstrated innovative use-cases of AI technology (machine learning/natural-language programming/advanced analytics/observational learning/neural networks/robotic process automation etc.) across the capital markets.
Best alternative data provider
This award will go to the data vendor/provider that has helped its clients identify new opportunities by utilizing alternative data. The solution/feed should demonstrate efficiency and effectiveness in exploiting unconventional data types/formats to generate business insight.
Best ESG data provider
This award will go to the data vendor/provider that has helped its capital markets clients comply with ESG-driven mandates/investments, while also offering transparency, accuracy, reliability and flexibility through its datasets/feeds.
Best analytics solution
This award will go to the analytics tool that is best able to interrogate large, complex datasets in small timeframes in order to produce fast, actionable insights, especially (but not exclusively) for the front office.
Best EMS
Platforms should feature multi-broker/exchange/execution venue connectivity, pre-trade transaction-cost analysis (TCA), algorithmic trading tools and direct market access, and should show strong integration capabilities with OMSs.
Best enterprise data management provider
The winning platform must demonstrate that it improves data quality, transparency, cleanliness and accessibility, while reducing costs across the enterprise.
Best Market Data Provider
This award will go to the best overall market data provider and will take data delivery, coverage and transparency into account.
Best Reference Data Service
This award will go to the best overall reference data provider and will take data delivery, coverage and transparency into account.
Best front-to-back-office integration
The winning initiative in this category must show that it that has helped align operations/functions/communication/workflows across the front, middle and back offices, driving operational efficiencies, transparency, reliability and resilience.
Best KYC/AML service
The winning platform in the category must illustrate the extent of its KYC/AML/CDD support, providing end-users with increased levels of transparency and accuracy around their KYC/AML/CDD compliance.
Best market surveillance tool
Entries should incorporate real-time surveillance capabilities for both internal and external compliance, including pattern-recognition software and case-building capabilities.
Best OMS
Platforms should feature pre-trade (deal time) and post-trade compliance, support for a range of asset classes including derivatives, a trading blotter, FIX connectivity, and order generation and routing functions.
Best outsourcing provider
Entrants should offer multiple business development and engineering services and responsiveness to client demands and a variety of technology/service delivery mechanisms, while meeting budgetary and time-to-market objectives for clients.
Best reconciliation platform
The winning product in this category must feature exception management, interfaces to widely-used matching engines, and automatic reconciliation of a range instruments (including equities, fixed income, exchange-traded and OTC derivatives).
Best regulatory reporting initiative
This award will go to a regulatory reporting initiative over the last 12 months (March 2021-March 2022) that features flexibility and scalability in order to comply with local, national and international regulations.
Best risk management solution
Functions should include risk-based portfolio modeling, ‘what if’ analysis, stress-testing, Monte Carlo simulations, and the ability to support VaR and NAV calculations.
Best TCA solution
The winning TCA solution should support multiple asset classes, a range of benchmarks in its analysis, the ability to assess venues as well as broker performance, and a granular focus on data and its presentation.
Best trading network
Entries should exhibit high levels of buy-side and sell-side penetration, be FIX-compatible, support large messaging volumes, and demonstrate operational reliability/resilience.
Best Managed Data Service Provider
This award will go to the best managed data service provider and will take data delivery, data management and breadth and depth of the service into account.
End-User Awards
Please note that technology vendors and service providers may not enter the eight end-user categories
Best client communication initiative
Entries should demonstrate their innovative and efficient approach over the last 12 months (March 2021-March 2022) to online client communication, providing them with permissioned/segregated access to performance/service-specific data/information.
Best cloud migration project
This award is open to exchanges and buy-side and sell-side firms that can demonstrate the greatest return on investment and operational efficiency through deploying an internal cloud or integrating one or more third-party cloud environments.
Best IT initiative
This award will go to a firm that has undertaken a truly exceptional IT project or leveraged technology in a new or unique way over the last 12 months (March 2021-March 2022) that sets it apart from its competitors.
Best Analytics Initiative
The judges are looking for a specific data analytics initiative implemented since March 2021 that illustrates innovation, transparency and accuracy.
Best Risk Management Initiative
The judges are looking for a specific risk management initiative implemented since March 2021 that illustrates innovation and genuine problem-solving in the market or credit risk realm.
Best IT team
This award will go to a sell-side or buy-side firm that delivers outstanding support for and results to its end-users. The team must support everything from risk management to compliance and data administration functions, while providing innovative and cutting-edge trading solutions on time and on budget.
Best alternative data initiative
This award will go to an alternative data initiative over the last 12 months (March 2021-March 2022) that shows a clear business case/imperative, and sound data integration and analytics capabilities.
Best AI initiative
This award will go to the AI initiative over the last 12 months (March 2021-March 2022) that exploits the potentials of machine learning and natural-language processing across the firm’s business/operation units. The panel will look into how much value the technologies have brought to the firm, as well as its scalability and flexibility.
Best Data Management Initiative
The judges are looking for a specific data management initiative implemented since March 2021 that solves a specific data management challenge/problem.
*Please note that end-user categories are open to end-user firms only (investment banks, brokers, market-makers, asset managers, hedge funds, pension funds etc.). Technology vendors and service providers may not enter these categories.