As some categories of alternative data mature and become standardised in the investment research process, new research from fintech Exabel with active investment managers and analysts reveals that 76% believe consumer spending data will provide an ‘outsized’ information edge in the near future. 

This is followed by 65% who cited web, mobile and app usage data, and 58% who said employment and people moves data.

When it comes to which class of investors or types of investment strategies are seen as the most progressive or sophisticated in their adoption of alternative data, 66% of those surveyed said fundamental-focused funds/strategies, followed by 16% who said systematic, 7% who cited allocators, and 7% who said venture capital. Around 4% said private equity.

However, in terms of the challenges that most frustrate active investment managers and analysts when working with alternative data, the top three are combining data from different sources (71%), processing raw data into a useable format (53%) and comparing different datasets that are similar (49%).