Waters Rankings 2019: Best Mobile Solutions Provider: FIS

Last year, the prize for the best mobile solutions provider went to Thomson Reuters (now Refinitiv) for its Eikon Messenger platform. This time around, FIS comes out on top for the impressive performance of its Monis Mobile offering.  

The app, which was launched in 2017, offers high-quality data delivered around the clock to convertible bond market participants globally. “The app is a delivery mechanism that focuses on speed and ease-of-use,” says Andrew Bateman, senior vice president of buy-side solutions at FIS. “But what really makes the offering special are the people behind the app and the expert services they provide.”

According to Bateman, the product has evolved methodically over time. He says future versions may deliver more features, but for now the vendor is focused on the timeliness and quality of the underlying data supporting this complex asset class. New features are often rolled out in conjunction with its full suite of desktop, server-based and hosted applications for convertible bond trading, pricing and analytics.

“Over time, our mobile and web applications will receive more of the rich functionality currently provided by our on-premise applications,” he says. “For example, Monis has expanded modeling coverage from traditional convertibles to capital contingent bonds, along with data coverage of the more than 150 instruments already issued in the market.”  

Properly modeling and evaluating convertible securities requires expertise, attention to detail, and speed in order to capture ever-shrinking windows for profitable trade opportunities, he adds. “Our clients look to us to provide that expert analysis on a wider universe of securities than they could cover on their own, allowing them to focus on their core competencies—generating alpha and superior returns for their investors,” he says. 

FIS currently serves 20,000 financial clients in over 130 countries, with a presence in the US, Europe and Asia.