Bill Stone: SS&C’s AI vision at 40

At the SS&C Deliver EMEA Conference 2026, Bill Stone, founder, chairman and CEO of SS&C Technologies, spoke as the company marked its 40th year. He outlined the firm’s approach to artificial intelligence and offered technology guidance aimed at hedge fund managers.

Stone reflected on the company’s origins, saying he started SS&C to provide practical software and services for financial firms. He described a continued focus on solving client operational problems as the company expanded its products and scale.

On AI, Stone framed the strategy around machine learning and automation to improve operational workstreams and analytics rather than to replace established processes. He prioritised applications that reduce manual tasks, speed reconciliation and reporting, and improve portfolio analytics.

Stone stressed the need for strong data foundations and governance to make AI deployments reliable and auditable for regulated firms. He pointed to clear audit trails and control frameworks as requirements for applying AI in back- and middle-office operations.

He highlighted the importance of long-term client relationships and interpersonal ties within teams. Those connections, he said, help with technology implementation and with maintaining client trust while scaling services.

For hedge fund managers, Stone recommended treating technology decisions as strategic. He urged focus on system integration, data quality and operational resilience, and advised assessing third-party providers for hidden operational risk and regulatory impact.

Looking ahead, Stone described continued investment in software, services and automation, with AI integrated into existing platforms and workflows. He indicated the company will keep developing tools for back- and middle-office functions used by asset managers, insurers and alternative managers, while keeping attention on compliance and client service.

The discussion at Deliver EMEA combined the firm’s early history with near-term plans for technology and AI as SS&C marks four decades in business.