Waters Rankings 2015: Best Enterprise Data Management System Provider ─ Markit

Be that as it may, however, the outcomes of our awards programs are governed by their rules and regulations to the extent that while we might secretly root for the underdog, protocols take precedence. However, given that Markit is yet again in the winners' circle for what has become arguably the most keenly contested of all categories in the Waters Rankings, it appears that this publication's readership does not share our penchant for change.

By winning the best enterprise data management system provider category, Markit, by virtue of its Markit EDM offering ─ which provides buy-side and sell-side firms with a scalable data hub to manage the acquisition, validation, mastering, storage and distribution of data in a consistent, audited environment ─ has won all but one category it has entered across Waters' various awards programs dating back to the inaugural Buy-Side Technology Awards in 2007.

Back then, its owner, Cadis, was little more than a fledgling organization whose future was anything but assured. But it soon found its feet and duly started ruffling feathers, eventually socking it to all and sundry through a potent mix of unwavering focus, outstanding technology, and unrivalled customer service, which became the industry benchmark and served at the foundation for Cadis' rare distinction of never having lost a client.

As we have learnt over the years, quality rarely goes unrewarded in this industry, and with Dan Simpson and Stuart Plane at the helm-both of whom have since left Markit for pastures new ─ Markit EDM has become the de facto leader in this niche against which all other data management tools in the industry are measured. Some speculated that Markit's May 2012 acquisition of Cadis might inadvertently hurt the brand, but none would argue that point now ─ if anything, the acquisition has been a boon for existing user-firms, given the broadness of Markit's other offerings.

According to London-based Markit, it continues to enhance the platform's risk data aggregation functionality to help capital markets firms comply with the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision's Principles for Effective Risk Data Aggregation and Reporting (BCBS 239).