Why 40% of asset managers struggle with channel access?

In asset management, getting your funds in front of investors should be straightforward. But our industry research reveals a troubling reality: nearly 40% of asset managers cite access to distribution channels as their top product distribution challenge according to FE fundinfo latest Asset Managers Report.

This isn't just an operational inconvenience-it's a competitive crisis that directly impacts AUM growth.

Why time to market matters?

Traditional fund data and document dissemination methods are creating significant market delays. In some cases, achieving full representation of a new fund or share class at key data vendors and distributors takes up to six weeks.

During those six weeks competitors are already visible to investors, market conditions may shift, and opportunities slip away. Every day your fund isn't properly listed is a day of potential lost business.

Why distribution access matters more than ever?

The asset management landscape has transformed dramatically. Investors now expect seamless, digital-first experiences with instant access to accurate fund information across multiple platforms. The volume of data has exploded-the average number of fields disseminated by asset managers has increased by over 500% in the last six years alone.

Manual dissemination processes simply can't keep pace. They create bottlenecks that prevent firms from capitalizing on market opportunities and reaching investors when and where it matters most.

The modernisation imperative

Leading asset managers are recognizing that distribution access isn't just about having the right relationships-it's about having the right technology infrastructure to activate those relationships efficiently.

Modern dissemination solutions address the access challenge through:

Centralised data management: A single source of truth eliminates discrepancies and ensures consistency across all distribution channels, speeding up the onboarding process significantly.

Automated validation: Built-in quality checks catch errors at the point of data ingestion, preventing delays caused by rejected submissions or incomplete information.

Extensive network reach: Rather than managing dozens of individual relationships and submission formats, centralised platforms provide direct connections to major data vendors and distributors through standardised interfaces.

Real-time tracking: Visibility into exactly where your fund data stands in the dissemination pipeline allows for proactive management and faster resolution of any issues.

From weeks to days

The firms that are winning the distribution access battle have made a fundamental shift: they've stopped treating dissemination as a back-office function and started treating it as a strategic distribution capability.

By automating manual processes and leveraging established network connections, these firms are reducing time-to-market from weeks to days. They're capturing opportunities their competitors miss and building stronger relationships with distributors by providing accurate, timely data consistently.

The bottom line

In an industry where 100% of survey respondents expect consolidation to continue or accelerate, distribution efficiency is becoming a survival skill. The question isn't whether to modernise your dissemination approach-it's how quickly you can make the transition.

Because while you're waiting six weeks for your fund to appear on a platform, your competitor's fund is already there, capturing the investors you're trying to reach.

WHITEPAPER

Discover proven strategies to reduce time-to-market from weeks to days.

Automating the paper trail - whitepaper