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Financial Services · Platform & Vendor Management
Platform & Vendor Management for Financial Services Firms
Achieve streamlined platform operations by consolidating vendors, optimising licences, managing risk, and reducing costs across your entire technology ecosystem — so you can focus on clients, not software.
- Vendor sprawl with overlapping tools and rising costs
- Platform integration gaps and data silos between systems
- Lack of vendor risk oversight and compliance verification
- Widespread licence waste and overpayment across subscriptions
Your Platform Stack
Managed & optimised
Xplan
Managed
IRESS
Managed
Class Super
Managed
BGL / SuperPlatform
Managed
Microsoft 365
Managed
+ All other vendors
Audited
20–40%
Typical vendor cost reduction after audit
15–25%
Xplan & IRESS licence savings through right-sizing
10–20%
Volume discount savings on retained vendors
Free
Vendor audit with full cost-saving report
Vendor Management Services
Complete Platform & Vendor Optimisation Solutions
End-to-end management of your financial services technology ecosystem — from the platforms your advisers use daily through to vendor contracts, risk assessments, and integration architecture.
Xplan & IRESS Management
Comprehensive management of adviser platform implementations including configuration, credential management, feature optimisation, security controls, and direct vendor coordination — ensuring your core platforms run at peak performance for every adviser.
Xplan
IRESS
Altius
Class Super & BGL Support
Management and optimisation of Class, SuperPlatform, BGL, and other specialist platforms critical to back-office operations and compliance — with configuration reviews, user training, and proactive issue resolution before they affect adviser workflows.
Class Super
BGL
SuperPlatform
Vendor Risk Assessment
Formal risk evaluation of all vendors covering security certifications, data protection practices, business continuity capabilities, regulatory compliance, and financial stability — producing documented assessments for APRA CPS 230 obligations and board reporting.
SOC 2
APRA CPS 230
Vendor Risk
Platform Integration
Technical integration of multiple platforms reducing data silos, eliminating manual data entry between systems, and automating compliance reporting — with API-based connections between Xplan/IRESS, accounting systems, CRM, and document management platforms.
API Integration
Data Automation
Reporting
Licence Optimisation
Continuous analysis of licence usage across every vendor — eliminating unused seats, negotiating volume discounts, right-sizing subscriptions to actual usage patterns, and removing duplicate tools. Typical financial services practices save 20–40% on total vendor spend after the first audit.
Usage Analysis
Seat Reduction
Volume Discounts
Vendor Relationship Management
Structured vendor oversight including performance scorecards, issue escalation management, contract negotiation, exit clause reviews, and strategic vendor reviews — so your firm retains leverage and accountability over every technology supplier in your stack.
SLA Oversight
Contract Review
Performance Mgmt
20–40%
Typical Vendor Cost Reduction
From a comprehensive vendor audit across your technology stack
Where the Savings Come From
Most practices are overpaying across multiple areas simultaneously. A structured audit surfaces the savings — and turns data into negotiating leverage.
- Duplicate platforms eliminated — $500–$2,000/month per duplicate
- Xplan & IRESS licence right-sizing — 15–25% savings
- Volume discounts on retained vendors — 10–20% savings
- Manual workaround elimination through integration
- Contract renewal leverage from usage data and competitive options
- Removal of automatic renewal clauses on unused subscriptions
We Serve
Vendor Management for All Financial Services Practices
Multi-Platform Practices
Firms running Xplan and IRESS in parallel — or multiple back-office platforms — requiring coordination, integration, and optimisation across disparate systems that don't naturally talk to each other. We unify the experience and eliminate the duplication.
Growing Firms
Expanding practices that have acquired vendors reactively as they grew — accumulating tools without a strategy. We provide the consolidation and rationalisation audit that turns a fragmented stack into a lean, integrated technology ecosystem aligned to the firm's next phase of growth.
Licensee Groups
Licensee networks requiring centralised vendor management — leveraging group volume for better pricing, enforcing consistent platform implementations across AR firms, and maintaining vendor risk oversight at the licensee level for regulatory purposes.
Vendor Optimisation Process
From Sprawl to Strategic Operations
Our systematic approach reduces costs, improves platform performance, and establishes governance over your technology ecosystem — from first audit through ongoing optimisation.
01
Audit
Complete inventory of all vendors, platforms, licences, spending, and integration dependencies across your firm's technology stack. We map every tool, what it costs, who uses it, and how it connects to other systems — surfacing the full picture of your vendor estate before any decisions are made.
02
Rationalise
Analysis of overlapping vendors, consolidation opportunities, licence optimisation, and vendor elimination recommendations. We identify where you're paying twice for the same capability, where tools can be replaced by features already in your existing licences, and where volume discounts are available for negotiation.
03
Integrate
Technical integration of retained platforms, elimination of manual data entry workarounds, and optimisation of data flows across systems. We connect Xplan, IRESS, Microsoft 365, and back-office platforms — producing a cohesive technology environment rather than disconnected tools that create compliance risks through data gaps.
04
Govern
Establishment of a vendor governance framework with performance metrics, risk oversight, contract review cadences, and continuous optimisation processes. Quarterly vendor reviews, annual risk reassessments, and biennial strategic reviews ensure your technology stack stays aligned with firm objectives — and vendors remain accountable.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can we realistically save from vendor optimisation?
Most practices save 20–40% on platform and vendor costs. Common savings areas: eliminating duplicate platforms ($500–$2,000/month per duplicate), optimising Xplan/IRESS licences (15–25% through right-sizing), consolidating small vendors, and negotiating volume discounts (10–20% on retained vendors). We provide detailed cost modelling during audit showing realistic savings specific to your vendor stack and negotiation opportunities.
Can we integrate Xplan and IRESS with other systems?
Yes. Both platforms have APIs and integration capabilities. We can integrate Xplan/IRESS with accounting systems, CRM platforms, document management, reporting tools, and back-office operations systems — reducing manual data entry, improving data accuracy, and providing comprehensive reporting across systems. We work directly with Altius (Xplan provider) and IRESS to ensure integrations are fully supported.
Should we consolidate to a single platform or maintain multiple?
Most practices benefit from a "best-of-breed" approach: one core adviser platform (Xplan or IRESS) with specialised tools for specific functions. We recommend one primary adviser platform, integrated document management, unified email/collaboration, and specialised tools only where they provide genuine unique value. Our audit identifies the optimal combination for your specific workflows and compliance requirements.
How do we assess vendor security and compliance?
We conduct formal vendor risk assessments covering: security certifications (SOC 2 and vendor-held accreditations), data protection practices, business continuity capabilities, regulatory compliance, financial stability, and incident history. For critical vendors (Xplan, IRESS), we conduct deeper technical assessments. Results inform vendor retention decisions and produce documentation supporting APRA CPS 230 third-party risk obligations.
What's involved in vendor contract negotiation?
We help negotiate volume discounts based on usage data, multi-year discounts for commitment, removal of automatic renewal clauses, improved SLA terms, flexible licence models matching actual usage, and risk mitigation clauses. We also review contracts for compliance obligations, data protection terms, and exit provisions. Leverage negotiation typically occurs at renewal — and having usage data and competitive alternatives dramatically strengthens your position.
How often should vendor performance be reviewed?
We recommend quarterly internal reviews of vendor performance against SLAs and support quality; annual formal reviews including performance scorecard, risk assessment, and contract negotiation planning; and biennial strategic reviews assessing technology roadmap and competitive positioning. Our governance framework defines how performance issues are escalated, tracked, and resolved — ensuring vendors remain accountable between formal review cycles.
Ready to Streamline Your Vendor Operations?
Take Control of Your Technology Stack
Stop paying for overlapping vendors, eliminate integration headaches, and establish governance over your platform operations. Our free vendor audit shows exactly where you can save — with specific numbers, not general estimates.