Charles Schwab today unveiled a number of revamped tech offering for RIAs at its Impact 2011 conference in San Francisco.
Among the technology enhancements is a new workflow library designed to be a key part of the Schwab Intelligent Integration initiative. Schwab also announced its partnership with independent software vendor (ISV) Salentica that officials claim will increase the number of RIA firms that can benefit from Schwab Intelligent Integration.
Salentica provides advisors with a customized version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM and is the first Microsoft ISV to participate in the Schwab OpenView Gateway. The integration will benefit those advisors who purchase Salentica Advisor Desk for use in the advisor's office or on a hosted platform.
Salentica is also developing an integration plug-in for firms that have purchased Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 directly from Microsoft as either a desktop or hosted solution.
Neesha Hathi, vice president of technology solutions for Schwab Advisor Services, says Schwab's partnership with Salentica allows advisors who choose to work with Salentica and those who prefer to work directly with Microsoft to reap the benefits of integration with Schwab's custody data.
"Adding to our work with salesforce.com and Junxure, advisors will now have even more choice and flexibility," Hathi said.??Other Schwab Intelligent Technologies on display include OpenView Workflow Library, which features comprehensive best practices and customized workflows for working with Schwab and with Schwab OpenView Gateway CRM providers.
The workflows include precise task lists and assigned roles for the most common activities in advisors' offices to help them process information and respond to clients more efficiently.
Schwab is also showcasing a preview of the first solutions using Schwab Intelligent Integration. The turnkey solution Schwab OpenView Integrated Office and the modular solution Schwab OpenView Gateway for Salesforce are both in pilot with current plans for generally availability by the end of the year.
Junxure 9 with Schwab OpenView Gateway is now entering the pilot phase and currently planned for general availability in early 2012.
Other technology highlights from Impact 2011:
Schwab is showing off its upcoming mobile application for the iPhone and enhancements to the Schwab Alliance web site that supports clients of advisors who custody assets with Schwab Advisor Services.
The first Schwab Advisor Center Mobile app enables advisors to access client balances, positions, and history through their iPhone. Advisors can search by account name or number, access recently viewed information and find service team contact information.
The app is being previewed at IMPACT 2011 and will be available to advisors in 2012.
Schwab is also adding several new customization features to schwaballiance.com, a web site that is used by clients of more than 6,500 advisor firms.
New features include is the ability for advisors to choose to have a notice displayed before a client initiates a trade or move money request, encouraging the client to contact their advisor.
Advisors can also now choose to have their firm logo and contact information (office address, phone number, e-mail address and web site address) displayed on the site.