Global Custodian Private Equity 2018 | Page 28

[ D E PA R T M E N T | H E D ] Big data, big deal? Private equity is increasingly consuming big data, and using it to better understand prospective deals and investments, often through AI technology. W hen it comes to technology in financial services, nobody wants to face the ignominy of suffering a Kodak moment, namely getting left behind when all of those around you are aggressively digitalising and future-proofing their businesses. At the same time, very few CFOs will expressly endorse an expensive technology project which does not deliver immediate value. Innovation is therefore something of a balancing act and private equity is taking a very pragmatic and cautious approach towards it. 28 Global Custodian Private Equity Issue 2018