Call for entries

• Best Real-Time Market Data Initiative (Vendor)

Open to data providers (to include companies falling into the categories of providers of data, technology or services, including vendors, exchanges and other marketplaces, interdealer brokers and consultants), who are invited to nominate projects that display exceptional expertise in the area of real-time data collection, processing, distribution and consumption. The winning submission must be limited to internally-focused projects, and must be able to demonstrate how the initiative has delivered value and competitive advantage for the vendor and/or customers through new ways of leveraging and enhancing real-time data. Nominations in this category should be presented in three segments that (1) outline the issue or problem being addressed, (2) detail the actions taken, and (3) describe the results, and should be supported by statements including, but not limited to, client references, usage statistics, and cash values for revenue generated or costs saved as a result.

• Most Innovative Market Data Project (Vendor)

Open to data providers (to include companies falling into the categories of providers of data, technology or services, including vendors, exchanges and other marketplaces, interdealer brokers and consultants), this award recognizes the use of new techniques, technologies and/or content that provides competitive advantage to their data operations, and which has delivered (or promises to deliver) significant efficiencies and/or substantive returns as a result of the creative and innovative use of data and related operations for improved data content and quality, or better organization and management, cost control and compliance. Nominations in this category should be presented in three segments that (1) outline the issue or problem being addressed, (2) detail the actions taken, and (3) describe the results, and should be supported by statements including, but not limited to, client references, usage statistics, and cash values for revenue generated or costs saved as a result.

• Best Research Provider 

Open to any broker, vendor or independent provider of research, commentary or trade ideas, this category recognizes quality in individual providers of proprietary research, as well as aggregators of third-party research content. Submissions should provide evidence of how their service adds value for clients.

• Best Data Analytics Provider 

This category is open to all providers of analytics in the broadest possible terms as something that delivers insight and analysis over and above raw data - from terminals with integrated analysis displays, to traditional charting packages, to benchmarks and indicators, social media and sentiment analysis, and Big Data analytics* (*though not Big Data technologies or databases - see Best Big Data Analytics & Technology Provider category).

• Best Low-Latency Data/Technology Vendor 

Open to providers of content, technology (including data platforms, feed handlers, servers and processors, among other tools) and networks that deliver trading advantages through the provision, facilitation or transportation of low-latency market data. Submissions should include suitable latency figures and other metrics for the judges to measure and compare to other entries in this category.

• Best Supporting Services Provider

Behind and beyond the content, analytics and market data delivery mechanisms often exists an army of providers of everything from supporting technologies, such as latency monitoring or inventory management tools, licensing and contract expertise, specialist recruitment, and consultancy services covering all of the above and more. This award recognizes those who perform these essential tasks, often behind the scenes.

• Best Data Analytics & Technology Provider 

The high volume, velocity and variety has bred new types of datasets and data management and analysis tools, ranging from high-performance databases to sophisticated ontologies, correlation tools and analytics. This award recognizes the providers of innovative tools and technologies serving this need. 

• Best Market Data Newcomer (vendor or product)

This award recognizes new products not necessarily covered by Inside Market Data, as well as startup companies, or established companies new to the market data space that are providing innovative or noteworthy service in any of the categories covered by the Inside Market Data awards.

• Best AI/Machine Learning Data Initiative

From routine data processing to advanced trading strategies, capital markets participants and data suppliers are applying artificial intelligence and machine-learning techniques to create and utilize more accurate datasets that deliver greater insight and competitive advantage. This category is open to vendors and end-user companies that have developed AI/machine learning technologies for use with market or reference data, or have leveraged these tools from third parties to aid in their data management activities, and can demonstrate that the application of the tools delivered significant advantage over traditional techniques.

• Best Alternative Data Provider

• Best Alternative Data Initiative

• Best Counterparty Data Project/Initiative

With poor counterparty data a key source of trade failures, and with regulators around the globe stepping up their KYC requirements, quality counterparty data is critical to financial firms for an array of reasons. In this category, the successful candidate will be one who can deliver accurate and comprehensive counterparty data, and an unrivalled breadth and depth of coverage. Candidates will be expected to provide statistics to demonstrate their accuracy and coverage.

• Best Reference Data Integration Vendor

Investments in accurate reference data are worthless if that data is not easily accessible and cannot be integrated with the other datasets to which it relates. Reference data integration is a key component of any data management architecture. This category is open to companies providing specific solutions for integration of reference data, as well as to third parties that provide custom integration services, and other vendors who can demonstrate a compelling instance of internal reference data integration and how this impacted their own products and services.

• Best Managed Service for Reference Data

The plethora of challenges associated with reference data management involves some very heavy lifting. To ease that burden, financial firms are turning to utilities and managed service providers that can simplify their processes and provide service-level agreements for accuracy. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate accuracy, timeliness, responsiveness and flexibility as part of a true managed service with a competitive cost base. In this category, service-related statistics and client testimonials will be a distinct advantage.

• Best Corporate Actions Data Provider

Corporate actions such as stock splits or dividends can materially affect stock prices, so accurate corporate actions data is essential for anyone trading a stock or valuing their portfolio. Entrants should be prepared to articulate their breadth of coverage and accuracy, and to provide examples that demonstrate the ease of integration of their data into a variety of platforms as an actionable input to corporate actions processing workflows.

• Best Enterprise Data Management Initiative (Vendor)

Open to reference data providers and vendors who are invited to nominate projects that display exceptional expertise in the area of enterprise-wide data management strategy to improve data quality and standardization. The winning submission must be limited to internally-focused projects, and must be able to demonstrate how the initiative has delivered value and competitive advantage for the vendor and/or customers through reducing the operational risk associated with poorly-managed reference data. Nominations in this category should be presented in three segments that (1) outline the issue or problem being addressed, (2) detail the actions taken, and (3) describe the results, and should be supported by statements including, but not limited to, client references, usage statistics, and cash values for revenue generated or costs saved as a result.

• Best Reference Data Initiative (Vendor)

Open to reference data providers and vendors, this award recognizes the use of new techniques, technologies and processes that provides competitive advantage to their reference data operations, by utilizing reference data in a way that increases automation and productivity, and results in higher quality data and reduced risk. Nominations in this category should be presented in three segments that (1) outline the issue or problem being addressed, (2) detail the actions taken, and (3) describe the results, and should be supported by statements including, but not limited to, client references, usage statistics, and cash values for revenue generated or costs saved as a result.

• Best Corporate Actions Initiative (Vendor)

Open to data and technology providers and vendors who are invited to nominate projects that improve corporate actions automation, and results in improved efficiencies and reduced risk. The winning submission must be limited to internally-focused projects, and must be able to demonstrate how the initiative has delivered value and competitive advantage for the vendor and/or customers through reducing the risks associated with corporate actions automation. Nominations in this category should be presented in three segments that (1) outline the issue or problem being addressed, (2) detail the actions taken, and (3) describe the results, and should be supported by statements including, but not limited to, client references, usage statistics, and cash values for revenue generated or costs saved as a result.

• Best Reference Data Newcomer (Vendor or Product) 

Open to reference data providers and vendors, this award recognizes a new provider or a new product launched since March 2015 that provides competitive advantage for users' reference data operations. Nominations in this category should be presented in three segments that (1) outline the issue or problem being addressed, (2) detail the actions taken, and (3) describe the results, and should be supported by detailed statements including, but not limited to, statistical evidence and cash values for revenue generated or costs saved as a result. Vendors may submit projects undertaken for clients, if accompanied by specific client references. Vendor projects citing un-named clients or without supporting evidence will not be considered.

• Most Innovative Regulatory Solution

With multiple new regulatory regimes looming and the emergence of the "Regtech" industry as a rising force in managing regulation-driven data issues, compliance is a foremost concern across the financial industry. From demonstrating best execution to compliance with transaction reporting requirements or adhering to standard documentation, this category recognizes vendors that are delivering truly innovative solutions to these emerging data challenges, and which promise not just base-level compliance, but value-added services that deliver competitive advantage.

• Best Data Governance Solution

Data governance policies and processes are at the heart of any well-run data organization, but represent a complex proposition that becomes increasingly onerous as the size of an organization and its data assets increases. Submissions from solutions providers in this category should include not just product descriptions, but examples of successful implementations and the resulting impact on a firm's data management processes and downstream business-line activities.

• Best Risk Data Aggregation Provider

Increasingly, financial firms' management and regulators alike are recognizing that solving risk issues requires accurate data and effective data management. With these core tenets in place, a firm can be confident of understanding its exposures and managing its positions. The winning candidate in this category will be able to demonstrate their understanding and coverage of risk-related datasets, as well as their ability to aggregate these-and clients' proprietary data-in a meaningful way for end-user firms that supports their ability to derive a competitive advantage through robust risk management.

• Best Overall Data/Service Provider

The Overall Data/Service Provider category wil be decided by editorial from the call-for-entry categories.