Already known to be cutting edge, Black Diamond shoots for the bleeding edge with total rewrite of its software
RIAs can multi-task, upgrade and customize better with the new portfolio management system
Nevin Freeman
One glance at the applications on your computer will verify that software interfaces are modified copied of other software interfaces. This is good for users because it means they can rely on conventions, but bad because it signals a lack of innovation. Black Diamond’s web interfaces are clearly not carbon copies of other PMSs, but instead show that their development team took the time to think about what seemed like the optimal way to present data. At first things looked a little cluttered, but as I started to see how the BlueSky interface unfolds to reveal just what the user is looking for I caught a glimpse of the clever architecture of the system.
RIABiz Editor Elizabeth MacBride pointed out to me that one of the more interesting points is the trend toward customization, and wondered how often users actually take advantage of the customizability common to many new software applications. I would be interested to know as well.
The thing is that BlueSky seems like it would not provide a very good user experience if the user left the default SkyBoxes/Views/Pages. Rather than just offering flexibility, Black Diamond is requiring that users organize the interface themselves, so that only what they need is there. For many kinds of software I would view this as a bad thing, but for something like a PMS that an advisor uses so heavily all the time, I would guess that the end result will be a boost in productivity, even if it means a small headache to get started.
“Feedback from our beta users has been that they like having the consultative support and, in many cases, having a central firm user (typically the admin. user) coordinate this kind of customization,” Dave Welling said in a followup email.
Related Moves
Orion rescinds RTO order after its staff rebels by hijacking company email list, distributing petition and tipping off RIA media
CEO Natalie Wolfsen suffers first setback and rescinds a return-to-office (RTO) policy after week of protest to work on a more collaborative agreement on a post-COVID new normal
November 23, 2023 at 12:20 AM
A week after he became chairman of Eric Clarke's board, Charles Goldman is heading the search to replace Clarke as Orion CEO-- at Eric's direction
Eric Clarke founded Orion in 1999 and built it to a $3.6 trillion AUA juggernaut, but he believes both he and the company are ready for a big change
May 22, 2023 at 5:13 PM
Cetera hiring Mike Durbin as CEO -- overseeing its existing 'CEO' -- completes Genstar's stellar HR week after it put Charles Goldman atop Orion's board -- with 'exponential' growth in mind for the 'middle market' companies
The Los Angeles broker-dealer nabbed the Fidelity legend to take its $118-billion AUM and 8,000 advisors higher, just as Orion -- also majority owned by Genstar -- makes a similar move.
May 18, 2023 at 1:46 AM
Oisín's Bits: Wealthfront drops old mission statement, declares war on institutions and emphasizes banking future • Seeking Utah charter, Edward Jones may become largest bank in US by branch count • After Advent chief leaves, Black Diamond head steps up
Andy Rachleff cans the old 'democratizing' mission statement at his robo; The 14,200 one-man Ed Jones branches may become branch banks; Steve Leivent consolidates power at SS&C.
July 3, 2020 at 1:12 AM
See more related moves