Allianz Asset Management Builds a Fully Digital Investor Experience with PCS
Allianz Asset Management S.A. Is responsible for 16 different mutual funds with a range of investment styles and risk levels, totalling some €196 million in assets. In the past, Allianz’s insurance network was the main channel for selling these funds, with everything done the old-fashioned, manual, paper way. Investor communications also happened offline through traditional mail.
But the way investors expect things to work, and the demands of running a fund business, have changed. Allianz Asset Management realised it needed to move into a modern, digital era that would not only make its operations smoother and cheaper but also give its investors a better experience.
Business Case
Manual processes and limited investor visibility
Subscriptions to mutual funds and general investor support were a real pain. It was all done manually:
- Insurance agents filled out paper forms for every subscription request, re-entering investor details for each transaction.
- These applications were then faxed or emailed and manually logged into the back-office system.
- Verification, settlement, and unit allocation all involved painstaking manual checks.
- Investor confirmations were printed, put in envelopes, and mailed.
This led to:
- Hefty operational and administrative costs.
- A higher risk of errors.
- Long delays in getting information and confirmations to investors.
- A lack of transparency and no way for investors to see their portfolio in real-time.
Solution
PCS Funds Platform & Mutual Funds Portal
Allianz chose the PCS Mutual Funds Portal, which is part of the PCS Funds Platform, to digitise investor servicing and fund distribution.
The platform was rolled out in two stages. This allowed Allianz to quickly create a digital presence while gradually adding more functionality.
Phase A: Investor Information & Digital Access
The first step gave investors secure online access to their portfolio details. This included a responsive web portal showing holdings, historical prices, regulatory documents, and performance data.
Phase B: Transaction Processing & STP Integration
In the second phase, Allianz enabled full end-to-end digital transactions, directly integrated with its back-office systems. Investors can now submit subscription, redemption, and switch requests online. Settlement, confirmations, reconciliations, and approvals are all handled automatically using straight-through processing (STP).
Business Benefits
Operational efficiency and risk reduction
By moving the entire investor transaction lifecycle online and directly integrating the front office with the back office, Allianz drastically cut down on manual processing and operational costs. Subscriptions and redemptions are now automated, eliminating repetitive data entry, speeding up transaction times, and reducing the risk of human error. The back office team can now focus on validation and control instead of tedious manual tasks.
A fundamentally improved investor experience
Investors can now access their portfolios online, submit transactions without needing intermediaries, and see their performance in real time. Confirmations and unit allocation updates are provided immediately after pricing is confirmed, replacing a multi-week process with same-day visibility.
Strategic and commercial impact
Beyond operational improvements, the PCS Funds Platform gave Allianz a competitive edge in its local market by offering digital mutual fund services that aren’t widely available. Making it easier for investors to engage and invest in new funds, along with the ability to promote new products directly through digital channels, has supported higher investor engagement and sales. The platform has also laid a scalable foundation for Allianz’s digital strategy and future growth.