IMAIA Open Category Innovation Awards

Box UK is pleased to reveal that its work on international financial institution Investec Asset Management’s website redesign has seen the software consultancy recognised by the prestigious Investment Marketing and Innovation Awards (IMAIA) programme. Joining the likes of JP Morgan, Zopa and Sturgeon Ventures, the project is shortlisted for the “Open Category Innovation Award”, which seeks to reward the best examples of new thinking in the investment industry outside of traditional product or service development sources.

The announcement comes following selection by a judging panel specifically chosen to offer a balance of deep sector understanding and wider outside perspective, after Box UK demonstrated how the numerous innovations underpinning the new site had delivered measurable benefits for Investec Asset Management.

Cutting-edge technology

Inspired by Investec Asset Management’s commitment to being ‘out of the ordinary’, the project was highly focused on seeking new solutions to critical business challenges, with Box UK’s software development team using a number of advanced technologies and techniques to differentiate the financial institution’s online offering and improve performance.

This included hosting the site in a cloud environment on a lightweight and flexible web application framework for increased speed, scalability and flexibility, as well as integrating numerous data sources to provide end-users with instant access to the latest fund and shareclass information.

Complementary user experience activities were also conducted by Box UK’s consultants to ensure that the site adhered to the complex compliance requirements of the finance sector, which dictate what information can be displayed to users across different roles and locations.

New thinking

Speaking about the awards programme Brendan Llewellyn, an independent marketing consultant to the financial services industry who helped lead the panel of IMAIA judges, said: “IMAIA is a new type of awards programme… designed to embrace the entire investment community. Anyone who can demonstrate New Thinking in any of the categories is eligible to enter. This means a small firm of financial advisers can compete on the same level as global companies such as Fidelity. A good idea is a good idea, irrespective of budget, and that is part of what we are looking to recognise.”

Celebrating success

Box UK’s Managing Director Benno Wasserstein said of the announcement: “Being honoured by IMAIA is a great achievement for everyone that’s been involved on the Investec Asset Management website redesign project, particularly after the work was also recently shortlisted in the international FStech awards. It’s a powerful validation of the work we’re doing at Box UK, delivering products and services that push the boundaries of technological capabilities to help our clients achieve their goals, and we look forward to maximising the potential of new opportunities as they arise.”

Results to be revealed

The Investment Marketing and Innovation Award ceremony, hosted by Investment Week and Professional Adviser, will be held on Friday, 4th July at the Royal Garden Hotel in London, where the winners of the Open Category Innovation Award will be announced. In the meantime, read our case study on the Investec Asset Management website redesign to find out more about the project’s innovations.

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About IMAIA

The Investment Marketing and Innovation Awards programme is interested in new ways of thinking across the multi-billion dollar investment industry. Celebrating all that is fresh, new and relevant in investments, the IMAIA categories cover both marketing and proposition development and are designed to recognise and reward innovation and effectiveness within the sector.

About Investec Asset Management

Investec Asset Management is a specialist provider of active investment products and services. Established in South Africa in 1991, the firm has been built from a small start-up into an international business. Their clients include some of the world’s largest private and public sector pension funds and range from foundations and central banks to intermediated and direct investors.

About Box UK

Box UK is a team of thought leaders, consultants and application developers engaged in the rapid and precise design and delivery of high-performance software products and services for progressive enterprises worldwide. Established in 1998, Box UK’s client list includes BBC, LAN Airlines, Investec Asset Management, the National Gallery, Chartered Institute for IT, and EDF Energy.