To make proper and effective investment decisions data is critical, but the key is having the right data, presented in such a way that your team can find what they need to make a good decision quickly. Many firms have the tools to gather data, but often they are in multiple systems, structured differently, and not all the information is available when you would like to review and decide. Not having enough data can lead to a “no” on what may well be a great investment; while at the same time the same result can occur if you have too much data but cannot get through it to make an effective decision. Many firms continue to operate without a middle office, relying on front- or back-office to fill the gap. This often results in the implementation of multiple systems being used and often not for their primary purpose, leading to different interpretations of the same underlying data. More and more we see the need for the middle office growing. It can be an untapped source of value, that with the right technology solution, can change from a cost center supporting mundane, ancillary activities, sandwiched between its more important counterparts, to a value-based program to support a firms full needs.