Spoiled for choice advisers drive platform | Australian Markets

New evaluation has recognized how financial advisers are narrowing their decisions and due to this fact producing elevated competitors between the foremost investment platforms.

The latest Investment Trends Adviser Technology Needs Report has confirmed a growing physique of analysis revealing that financial advisers are merely utilizing fewer platforms than they’ve prior to now.

It discovered that advisers now use an average of simply two platforms, down from 202 in 2022 and that, more importantly, they’re funnelling a growing share of new business into a single supplier.

In 2025, 71% of new shopper inflows are directed to the adviser’s main platform, up from 65% in 2022, reflecting advisers’ concentrate on simplicity, effectivity, and deeper integration,” the Investment Trends evaluation stated.

Commenting on the findings, Investment Trends director, Cameron Spittle stated advisers are no longer spreading flows throughout a number of platforms.

“They’re backing the ones that meet their expectations and can facilitate their preferred investment philosophy,” he stated. “This consolidation is deliberate and accelerating. For providers, retaining primary status is no longer about brand, it’s about delivering real usability, functionality and value.”

The report additionally highlights a growing divergence in adviser technology methods. One in 4 advisers (23%) now favor a single, end-to-end resolution, up from 18% final yr, whereas almost the identical proportion (22%) favour open structure with seamless integration. However, a important 36% stay agnostic, and one other 9% are uncertain of their splendid setup.

“Technology spend has climbed to $38,000 per practice and it is more important than ever for platforms to be able to integrate seamlessly,” Spittle stated. “Regardless of whether advisers prefer a fully integrated solution or best-of-breed technology stack.”

The Investment Trends report urged that artificial intelligence is but to make a main distinction, noting that platform-based AI use circumstances and integration stay restricted, however adviser demand for more subtle instruments is growing.

It stated 61% of advisers now use AI, largely through third-party options for easy duties, however are more and more looking for embedded, workflow- aligned instruments to help more complicated features reminiscent of strategy development (62%) and assembly preparation (61%).

“AI has moved beyond the hype, advisers are engaging with it, and they’re signalling what they want next,” stated Spittle. “Interestingly, when asked about their preferred access points for AI, advisers favour integration within their advice software, especially for client-facing and strategic tasks.”