Case Study

To Solve Cross-Border Order Workflow Visibility Stifel Integrates Multiple OMSs in Ten Days

The Company

Stifel, a European subsidiary of a global investment bank, provides full-service retail and institutional brokerage, as well as retail and commercial banking services. Recognizing the value of a strong desktop integration strategy, Stifel aimed to future-proof operations, streamline trader experiences, and maintain competitive advantage in an unpredictable market.

The firm responded to major economic and political shifts—including Brexit and the COVID-19 remote work transition—by investing in scalable, modern technology infrastructure. To support growth and continuity across Europe, Stifel acquired a German bank, further strengthening its regional presence and creating a catalyst for transformation.

Challenge: Simplifying Cross-System Trader Workflows

Stifel’s main objective was to simplify and standardize workflows for its sales traders across both in-house web applications and third-party Order Management Systems (OMS)—particularly Fidessa.

Key challenges included:

Managing six separate Fidessa instances after the German bank acquisition
Eliminating redundant workflows and swivel-chair processes
Supporting UK and EU traders in identifying order flow, cross-sell opportunities, and quickly sending IOIs
Avoiding a lengthy, high-cost integration program under tight Brexit timelines

The firm needed a fast, future-ready solution that could serve as the foundation for ongoing application integration and improve user experience across all desks.

Vendor Evaluation: Rapid Interoperability with interop.io and Velox

Through internal research, Stifel selected a combination of interop.io and Velox to integrate real-time data from multiple OMS instances and unify trading workflows under a consistent interface.

The choice was driven by:

Proven support for Fidessa integration
Ability to consolidate data across fragmented systems
Fast deployment timelines to match Brexit-related urgency

The first go-live was achieved with less than ten days of development effort, delivering immediate results for both UK and European desks.

Solution

Velox extracted and consolidated order data from all Fidessa instances into a single web-based app. Using interop.io, the solution enabled sales traders to:

View full European order book coverage in real time
Seamlessly create IOIs in Fidessa directly from the web interface
Eliminate double-keying and system switching
Improve speed and accuracy when responding to client needs

The end result: a modern, frictionless workflow delivered at speed—allowing the firm to stay ahead of regulatory and operational demands.

Outcome

The results were powerful, solving for a variety of pain points and bringing unexpected value.

Complete business coverage: Full visibility of the European Order Book.
Greater client coverage: Sales traders hitting more clients.
Firm reputation: The firm is seen as one entity from the outside world.
Increased productivity: Swivel-chair workflows and the need for double-keying have gone away.
Decreased costs: Sales traders only have to log into one Fidessa.
Happy sales traders: Delivered in less than 10 days!

Ready to Simplify Your OMS Workflows?

Stifel’s success shows what’s possible with the right integration strategy. Whether you’re managing multiple Fidessa instances or seeking smarter trade execution, interop.io can help you build it—fast.

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Future Plans

The bank plans to build on its desktop integration and interoperability strategy in a step-by-step fashion with the integration of Fidessa with 3rd party predictive pre-trade analytics at the point of execution to understand how, where, and when to trade, Excel analytics to facilitate better client conversations and Bloomberg for one-click market microstructure at any point in the trading lifecycle.