Article

The family office journey toward operational excellence

Technology and talent considerations present challenges and opportunities

Mar 27, 2023

Key takeaways

Family offices share common concerns about evolving their current operating model.

Technology and data are becoming more of a priority for family offices. 

Talent-related concerns will most affect family office operations in the coming year.

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Family office services

In today’s competitive business landscape, family offices face tremendous challenges and opportunities to maximize efficiency and productivity across the enterprise amid constant change and uncertainty.

Achieving operational excellence is of primary concern to family offices and their many stakeholders as they consider the latest trends and strategies to evolve their current operating model.

RSM recently engaged in an interactive discussion with more than 500 family office executives, family members and their advisors, who provided valuable feedback regarding their collective progress toward achieving operational excellence. We gleaned the following key insights:  

Insight #1: Family offices are on a similar trajectory in achieving operational excellence.

Polling question 1 chart
Polling question 1 chart

Family offices stand to benefit from holding strategic conversations to identify methods and resources to create efficiencies within the enterprise. In reflecting on their current state of efficiency, an overwhelming number (93%) of family office respondents admitted they do not have a fully optimized operating model.  

Insight #2: Technology leads the list of challenges affecting family office operations.

To keep pace with the rapidly advancing business environment, many family offices are turning to  technologies to glean data-driven insights, and also focusing on internal teams to leverage these insights to drive faster and more informed decision-making. It was no surprise to learn that for the majority of our family office respondents, data and reporting (41.4%) and digital excellence and integrated technologies (41.1%) stand to have the greatest impact on their operations.  

Polling question 2 chart
Polling question 2 chart

Insight #3: Finding and developing talent presents the greatest staffing opportunity.

Polling question 3 chart
Polling question 3 chart

Post-pandemic workforce trends are creating distinct challenges for every business, including family offices. This sentiment was confirmed by 38% of family office respondents who said talent-related concerns will have a significant impact on their operations over the next 12 months. More specifically, nearly an equal number of family office respondents rated identifying and hiring the right talent in the market (21.2%) and upskilling or reskilling existing talent (21.0%) as the most pressing challenges they face in the coming year.

To learn more about operational excellence in the family office, watch and share the recordings of our first three sessions and register for the remaining session today!

Session 4: Operational excellence for the family office: Streamline processes to facilitate sustainable growth 
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET

2024 Family Office Operational Excellence Report

Insights from 100 family offices on technology integration, cyber risk, strategic outsourcing and other drivers behind the journey toward operational excellence.

"We have decided to reduce unnecessary costs and optimize resource allocation to enhance overall operational efficiency."

- North American Family Office

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