The vast majority of superannuation funds are expecting to spend more on technology in 2016 compared to 2015 but using tech is easier said than done, Link Group believes.
The super admin firm found the spend of technology was a response to the challenges and opportunities presented by rapid technological change.
Link's survey found 92 per cent of funds expected to spend more on technology next year, with 62 per cent looking to spend an additional 20 per cent or more next year.
Speaking at the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) conference in Brisbane today, Link Group Fund Administration chief executive, Suzanne Holden, said using technology to transform a business was easier said than done.
"Internal change management is as much driven by innovation internally as it is by customer innovation," she said.
"Technology — both in terms of internal and customer facing — and its role in change management is clearly front of mind for most CEOs.
"Businesses are often facing tough competition and cost pressures. This can require an ongoing investment in technology to deliver results."
Link said mobile innovation was predicted to be the key disruptor in 2016 (33 per cent of respondents), followed by data personalisation (25 per cent), aggregators of wealth management (25 per cent), and online digital or robo-advice (17 per cent).
The research house has offered a silver lining after super fund returns saw the end of a five-month streak last month.
A survey of almost 6,000 fund members has identified weakening retirement confidence, particularly among those under 55 years of age, signalling an opportunity for super funds to better engage with members on their retirement journey.
The funds have confirmed the signing of a successor fund transfer deed, moving closer to creating a new $29 billion entity.
A number of measures, including super on Paid Parental Leave, funding to recover unpaid super, and frameworks to encourage investment in the energy transition, have been welcomed by the superannuation industry.
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