Systems for best practice - Oiling the cogs

One impact of the financial crisis has been to reinforce many aspects of good business management. Technology can ease the various processes involved in managing costs, calculating risk, improving product competitiveness and complying with regulatory requirements. Clive Davidson reports

The recent financial earthquake has sent tremors through most elements of the financial sector, not least IT and its sometimes bloated budgets. But while there are reports of redundant IT contractors crowding the bars of many of the world's financial districts, technology remains essential to the functioning of the insurance and pension industries. In fact, there is growing evidence that the crisis is driving increased spending in risk management technology, which is perhaps no surprise. The