Internal challenges fund managers expect to face in 2025
Sourcing and retaining talent is expected to be the top concern, cited by 28.8% of respondents. This has been a dominant concern through each of our CAMMI reports and the response this time around signifies that the competition for top professionals will stay intense in the coming year too. Fund managers know that attracting and maintaining high-quality talent the the lifeblood of their business.
Another key area for 2025 is keeping ahead of technological innovation, with 27.2% of fund managers projecting it as a major challenge.
Alex Di Santo said, “As digital transformation accelerates, the need to integrate new technologies into fund operations will become more important for managers seeking to stay competitive and improve operational efficiency. Innovations like cloud-based operations technologies, blockchain and tokenisation are moving full steam ahead and most managers will not want to be left behind."
Managing data for investors and fund operations remains a significant challenge heading into 2025, with 20.8% of respondents identifying it as a primary concern. This is up from 17.65% in 2024, indicating that the increasing complexity of data management and reporting will continue to place pressure on firms to invest in enhanced data infrastructure and solutions.
The third major challenge is managing data for investors and the fund itself, cited by 20.8% of managers. With the volume of data required for both regulatory and performance reporting steadily increasing, this issue highlights the need for enhanced data management systems to ensure accuracy, transparency, and timely delivery.
Operational efficiency was identified by 15.2% of respondents as a key internal challenge, pointing to the need for streamlined processes and systems that can improve overall performance and cost management.
Finally, regulation and compliance were seen as less pressing but still important, with 8% of respondents highlighting this area as a challenge.
Commenting on the evolving challenges, Alex noted,
Fund managers are preparing for a year where talent acquisition and technological adaptation will be at the forefront. As competition for top talent heats up and digital innovation accelerates, firms will need to balance these challenges to stay ahead in a rapidly changing market.