By Mick Hittesdorf, Senior Cloud Architect at OneMarketData
This spring I had the opportunity to be a panelist at both the STAC Summit in Chicago and the AI in Capital Markets Summit in NYC—two gatherings of some of the sharpest minds in financial technology and infrastructure. We hosted a OneTick booth at both events, where I had several engaging conversations with attendees about their toughest data challenges.
Between panels and chats with attendees at our booth, it became crystal clear where the industry is headed: toward intelligent, cloud‑native data architectures that seamlessly unite research, compliance, and execution.
Below are the key takeaways that have stuck with me—and that we’re already tackling at OneMarketData.
AI ISN'T JUST THE FUTURE–IT'S BEING PRODUCTIZED NOW
At the AI in Capital Markets Summit in New York, I joined the panel “Data as a differentiator – How to build a strong data foundation for trusted AI,” where we dug into questions like:- How can firms improve data discoverability and accessibility for continuous curation?
- How should firms address inconsistencies and ensure clean, high‑quality datasets for AI inputs—and how can AI tools help?
- What are the critical components of a robust data governance framework to mitigate risk and support trustworthy models?
The answer kept circling back to one thing: data strategy. Even the best models and fastest GPUs can’t compensate for fragmented, siloed data. In capital markets, intelligence demands:
- Complete datasets, not locked behind department walls
- Connected pipelines from trade capture to risk reporting
- Contextual enrichment so models understand market microstructure
That’s why we’ve designed OneTick to deliver real-time and historical analytics from a single platform, accessible through multiple language bindings and API’s, including Python and SQL, as well as support for Parquet. OneTick enables AI-driven research, surveillance, and TCA—all in one place
OPEN FOR BUSINESS – OPEN DATA FORMATS IN THE TRENCHES
At the STAC Summit in Chicago, I joined the panel “Open for business: Are open data formats the key to a successful data strategy?” where we dug into deploying Parquet at scale:
- Why Parquet? Columnar storage and blazing‑fast queries make it ideal for years of trade analytics—yet it’s not a turn‑key database.
- The Hidden Work: Effective use demands metadata catalogs, workflow engines, and even full query layers built on Parquet.
- Balancing Act: Openness drives portability and efficiency, but can also introduce engineering complexity (driving the need for a modern data platform and a unified data strategy).
- High‑performance columnar storage for sub‑second queries across years of data.
- Seamless integrations with SQL engines, data catalogs, and BI tools in a modern data ecosystem.
- Simplified governance and reduced data duplication through a single, open format.
- Scalable, unified pipelines that support both real‑time and historical analysis without reinventing the wheel.
CLOUD IS NO LONGER A STRATEGY – IT'S THE STANDARD OPERATING MODEL
From STAC architects to AI panelists, the refrain was constant: “How do we avoid another forklift upgrade?” Cloud‑native platforms like OneTick answer by offering:
- Zero hardware to provision or maintain.
- Unified stream + batch analytics on one platform.
- APIs that serve quants, compliance teams, and data scientists alike.
- Built‑in resilience, global reach, and pay‑as‑you‑go economics.
A UNIFIED FRONT: SURVEILLANCE AND RESEARCH
At both conferences, I listened to many other speakers share their expertise and personal experience. What I heard reaffirmed OneMarketData’s strategy: the very same tick‑data pipelines that power signal research should also drive market‑abuse detection and compliance workflows.
Why build separate stacks when you can:
- Run high‑performance research queries.
- Trigger real‑time surveillance alerts.
- Generate automated TCA and best‑execution reports.
With OneTick’s shared data architecture, you manage one lineage, one governance model, and one analytics engine—then ask whatever questions you need, whether you’re a quant, a risk manager, or a compliance officer.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
These summits drove home four big themes:- Data velocity matters as much as volume
- Contextual analytics power both alpha and oversight
- Unified platforms beat brittle, fragmented toolkits
- AI‑readiness starts with the right data foundation
At OneMarketData, we’re focused on helping firms modernize for today’s realities—and tomorrow’s innovations. I hope you found these takeaways useful. Feel free to leave a comment below or reach out directly to continue the conversation.
If you’re thinking about how to future‑proof your data and analytics strategy, let’s talk!
— Mick
