Northern Trust Automates Data Extraction from Alternative Asset Documentation

Rhea-AI Summary

Northern Trust has introduced an AI-powered solution developed in collaboration with Microsoft Azure to digitize and automate the extraction of unstructured investment data from alternative asset documents. This new technology aims to enhance data accessibility for asset owners, facilitating improved performance, liquidity, and risk analytics. The solution processes over 1.5 million alternative asset documents annually and is part of Northern Trust's broader initiative to optimize alternative asset servicing through advanced technologies, including blockchain and machine learning.

Positive

• AI-powered solution enhances data extraction capabilities for alternative assets.
• Collaboration with Microsoft Azure accelerates technology implementation.
• Improved accessibility of investment data strengthens decision-making for asset owners.
• Northern Trust manages over $1.6 trillion in alternative assets, highlighting market position.

Negative

• None.

The solution leverages Microsoft Azure Applied AI Services to extract unstructured data from investment documents, providing investors with actionable insight

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As part of its initiative to digitize alternative asset servicing, Northern Trust has launched an artificial intelligence-powered solution to extract unstructured investment data from alternative asset documents and make it accessible and actionable for asset owner clients.

Built in collaboration with Microsoft Azure Applied AI Services, which accelerate time to value for enterprises building AI solutions, and business and consulting firm Neudesic, the proprietary solution transforms crucial information such as capital call notices, cash and stock distribution notices, and capital account statements from a variety of unstructured formats into digital, actionable insights for investment teams.

“The integration of unstructured data on alternative assets will fill a crucial missing piece for asset owners who have long sought an accurate view of performance, liquidity and risk analytics across multi-asset portfolios,” said Pete Cherecwich, president of Corporate and Institutional Services at Northern Trust. “Automating investment data is a focus for Northern Trust, particularly for alternative assets due to their complexity and growing investor demand. Our investments in cloud technology, artificial intelligence, blockchain and machine learning will help asset owners achieve a true understanding of their assets and portfolios as a whole.”

Data extraction and integration is the second stage of a digitization process that will help asset owners access more current, robust information regarding their alternative assets – highly manual investments which traditionally only report on a monthly or quarterly basis. Northern Trust previously announced a custom-built robotic process automation solution to capture, categorize and store alternative asset documents on a cloud-based drive.

The new AI-powered data extraction capabilities will read stored documents and fund manager reports on holdings and performance of hedge funds, private equity and other alternative assets and pull out data points including asset names, currencies and market value. The two functions – document capture and data extraction – create an end-to-end, scalable, cloud-based process capable of moving from document receipt notification to digitized, accounting-ready data in just minutes.

“AI and natural language processing offers a profound impact on business processes across industries, and this use case is a stellar example of their potential for alternative asset administration,” said Bharat Sandhu, senior director, Azure AI and Machine Learning at Microsoft . “We’re proud to collaborate with Northern Trust to make these emerging technologies more accessible and put their benefits into the hands of institutional investors seeking greater efficiency and clearer insight into their investments.”

The digitization of alternative asset servicing is designed to provide asset owners with meaningful benefits, including:

• A faster and better ramp-up experience when investing in new assets, empowering asset owners to be more agile about making strategy changes when needed
• Faster delivery of accounting book of record services, including during the peak monthly and quarterly statement cycles that are typical for alternative investments
• Enhanced accuracy rates by moving from manual to automated data entry and exception management
• Increased data transparency

Northern Trust has more than US$1.6 trillion in alternative assets under custody and administration and processes more than 1.5 million alternative asset documents each year. Document capture and data extraction can be customized for other asset classes and trade lifecycle processes, such as derivatives and cash operations. The new solution marks another step in Northern Trust’s digitalization initiative to harness emerging technologies to automate the alternative asset servicing process, a growing sector of its asset servicing business.

About Northern Trust

Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS) is a leading provider of wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking to corporations, institutions, affluent families and individuals. Founded in Chicago in 1889, Northern Trust has a global presence with offices in 22 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., and across 23 locations in Canada, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. As of June 30, 2021, Northern Trust had assets under custody/administration of US$15.7 trillion, and assets under management of US$1.5 trillion. For more than 130 years, Northern Trust has earned distinction as an industry leader for exceptional service, financial expertise, integrity and innovation. Please visit our website or follow us on Twitter.

Northern Trust Corporation, Head Office: 50 South La Salle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603 U.S.A., incorporated with limited liability in the U.S. Please read our global and regulatory information.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210914005449/en/

Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia-Pacific:

Camilla Greene

+44 (0) 20 7982 2176

Camilla_Greene@ntrs.com



Marcel Klebba

+ 44 (0) 20 7982 1994

Marcel_Klebba@ntrs.com

US & Canada:

John O’Connell

+1 312 444 2388

John_O'Connell@ntrs.com

Source: Northern Trust

FAQ

What is Northern Trust's new AI-powered solution for alternative assets?

Northern Trust has launched an AI-powered solution that extracts unstructured investment data from alternative asset documents, enhancing data accessibility for asset owners.

How does the collaboration with Microsoft Azure benefit Northern Trust?

The collaboration with Microsoft Azure allows Northern Trust to implement advanced AI technologies, accelerating data extraction processes for alternative assets.

How many alternative asset documents does Northern Trust process annually?

Northern Trust processes over 1.5 million alternative asset documents each year.

What are the benefits of the new AI-powered solution for investors?

The new solution provides faster data access, improved accuracy, and greater transparency in investment performance and risk analytics.

How much alternative assets does Northern Trust manage?

Northern Trust manages over $1.6 trillion in alternative assets under custody and administration.