“The key to change globally is harmonisation and standardisation of the data from the start of the investment chain, this being the issuers and the issuer agents. The standardisation of this data will facilitate automation and enhanced interoperability," says John Kirkpatrick. In this article, Kirkpatrick delves into the pressing challenges confronting global custodians, offering valuable insights on issues like aging technology, margin compression, and the increasing significance of real-time data.