Introduction

by John Smith, CTO of OSTTRA

Change is the only constant at OSTTRA. Over the past two decades, we have built the essential post-trade infrastructure that underpins global financial markets. But we have never stood still. Our systems evolve alongside shifting regulations, market structures, and emerging technologies.

Today, we are leveraging this foundation — a deep network of shared connectivity, data, and industry standards — to unlock the transformative power of AI. By applying the lessons of the last twenty years, we are uniquely positioned to deliver AI’s benefits while minimising the friction of implementation.

We’ve started this journey from within, equipping all staff with Gemini, empowering our developers with code assist and integrating agents into workflows that drive efficiency across the firm.

In this series of articles, we will explore the specific use cases we are rolling out to our customers, starting with the core principles that guide our approach to innovation for the post-trade community.

The OSTTRA Vision: The New Era of AI in Post Trade – From Reaction to Anticipation

Artificial Intelligence is now a crucial, transformative force in the post-trade ecosystem. At OSTTRA, our clear vision involves leveraging this technology to optimise processes, mitigate operational risks, and deliver unparalleled value and confidence to the global market. We are not simply integrating AI; we are strategically embedding it throughout our technology stack to solve high-stakes, real-world problems and fundamentally enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and security of client operations.

A Philosophy of “Purpose over Hype”

Our approach is Cautiously Ambitious. We believe AI is a powerful solution only when applied to the right challenge, prioritising real-world utility and security over mere novelty. To accelerate innovation without getting caught in the “reinvention trap,” we have forged a deep strategic partnership with Google.

By leveraging Google’s cutting-edge AI infrastructure, pre-trained models, and generative AI capabilities—specifically tools like Vertex AI—we focus on two key areas:

• Accelerated Innovation: Securely fast-tracking our Machine Learning (ML) and AI projects, allowing our central AI team to focus on the most impactful post-trade challenges.
• Focus on Client Value: As expert users of AI, rather than frontier researchers, our efforts are directed entirely toward applying this technology to deliver measurable benefits to our clients

Data Security: Our Unwavering Commitment

The security and safeguarding of client data is paramount. We adopt a conservative, security-first approach, applying the same rigorous data protection framework to our AI applications as to all other mission-critical systems.

Our AI framework is built on three non-negotiables:

• No Client Data Exposure: Client data and information are never exposed to vendors or external parties for AI training.
• No Internal LLM Training: We do not tune or train Large Language Models (LLMs) on client data, eliminating the risk of internal data leaks.
• Strict Governance: We maintain ironclad AI policies and are actively working toward ISO 42001 certification during 2026, ensuring adherence to the highest international standards for AI management.

Transforming Post Trade: An Engine for Client Value

While generative AI is used internally to boost our efficiency, our primary focus is transforming the client experience. We are committed to using AI to help clients resolve disputes, breaks, reconciliation, and processing failures, while providing the advanced insights necessary to prevent them altogether. This directly addresses the significant time and effort firms spend daily on trade processing and reconciliation.

AI’s Role: Resolution, Prevention, and Advanced Insights

AI is fundamentally changing the resolution landscape, which is often a significant drain on operational resources. By analysing vast streams of historical data, powerful AI applications can identify errors and understand their root causes.

• Accelerate Dispute & Break Resolution: Intelligent analysis can pinpoint discrepancies and determine the most likely path to a matched trade, drastically speeding up confirmation. In many cases, AI will identify errors pre-matching or automatically resolve issues through dedicated agents.
• Proactive Prevention: By analysing the reasons failures occur, AI provides clients with deep insights into potential systemic issues. This allows firms to correct problems at the source, transitioning from a reactive “firefighting” mode to a truly preventative operating model.

“We are creating intuitive, intelligent resources that automate tasks currently handled manually.”

Enhanced Self-Service and Future Automation

Beyond resolution and prevention, we are creating intuitive, intelligent resources that automate tasks currently handled manually. Tools like the OSTTRA Digital Assistant are already being rolled out, allowing users to employ natural language queries to receive concise, verified information, replacing traditional manual searches of documentation and support interactions.

Looking ahead, we envision intelligent agents delivering:

• Highly Contextualised Responses: Tailored support that integrates client-specific data.
• Workflow Guidance: Real-time support relevant to a user’s specific platform utilisation.
• Proactive Recommendations: Suggestions to maximise the efficiency of the overall OSTTRA experience.

At OSTTRA, AI is the engine driving a future of reduced operational costs, improved risk management, and a superior client experience. Our strategic adoption and partnership with Google continue to bring unparalleled efficiency and trust to the world of post trade.