BPO is diversifying in Japan. Over the past five years, operations commonly outsourced in the fund industry have expanded from data entry to a variety of functions, including even judgmental tasks. Meanwhile, partial outsourcing has emerged as an alternative to turnkey outsourcing.

Nomura Research Institute and Nomura Asset Management recently conducted a proof of concept using natural language analysis, a form of AI, in the asset management industry. If properly customized, AI can quantitatively support portfolio managers’ analysis of qualitative information.

In response to the popularity of virtual currencies such as Bitcoin, central banks around the world are looking into issuing their own digital currencies.