Broadridge Invests in CENTRL to Automate AI Due Diligence

Broadridge Financial Solutions has announced a minority investment in CENTRL alongside a strategic partnership to integrate AI-driven due diligence tools into its data and analytics platform, according to the announcement. The collaboration targets financial services workflows where manual processes remain prevalent, particularly in counterparty due diligence and request-for-proposal (RFP) operations.

Current Due Diligence Challenges

Financial institutions manage large volumes of due diligence requests from clients, regulators, and counterparties. These processes require collecting, validating, and updating information across multiple systems, often with significant manual input. Firms may respond to similar requests multiple times using different formats and systems, which increases operational cost and introduces inconsistencies in data.

Regulatory scrutiny adds further complexity, requiring detailed audit trails and accurate reporting. As requirements expand, firms face pressure to improve both efficiency and reliability in how they manage due diligence processes.

AI-Driven Workflow Automation

The partnership integrates CENTRL’s AI-driven platform into Broadridge’s existing solutions, embedding automation into due diligence, research, and RFP response workflows. According to Dan Cwenar, President of Data-Driven Fund Solutions at Broadridge, “By combining Broadridge’s deep industry relationships and data assets with CENTRL’s purpose-built AI technology, we are helping clients modernize due diligence and RFP response workflows.”

The system uses automation to collect, organize, and validate data, reducing duplication and improving consistency. AI models can identify patterns in requests, automate responses, and flag discrepancies that require further review. This approach shifts due diligence from a document-driven process to a data-driven workflow, where information is stored, updated, and reused across multiple interactions.

Sanjeev Dheer, CEO at CENTRL, stated: “By embedding AI directly into due diligence, research, and DDQ/RFP response and communication workflows, we can help firms move from manual, fragmented processes to streamlined, data-driven operations.”

Broadridge’s Expanded Data and Analytics Strategy

The integration supports Broadridge’s broader strategy of connecting data, analytics, and workflows within a unified platform. The company provides services across the asset management lifecycle, including distribution analysis, investor behavior insights, and operational performance tracking.

By adding due diligence automation, the platform extends into areas that directly affect client onboarding, counterparty evaluation, and regulatory compliance. The partnership includes updates to existing products, such as Fi360 RFP Director, incorporating AI capabilities to automate responses and improve efficiency. For asset managers and advisors, this integration reduces the need to manage separate systems for data analysis and compliance processes.

Industry Trend Toward Data-Driven Compliance

The move reflects a broader trend in financial services, where compliance and operational processes are increasingly automated. AI-driven tools are being applied to tasks that involve structured and repetitive data handling, such as due diligence questionnaires and RFP responses.

At the same time, firms must ensure that automated systems maintain accuracy and transparency. Regulatory requirements demand clear audit trails, which means automation must be integrated with monitoring and reporting functions. The partnership between Broadridge and CENTRL aims to address these requirements by combining data infrastructure with AI-driven workflows, creating systems that can scale with increasing demand.

Implications for Asset Managers and Advisors

For asset managers, retirement advisors, and financial institutions, the integration offers a way to reduce operational overhead associated with due diligence and RFP processes. Automated workflows can handle repetitive tasks, allowing teams to focus on analysis and decision-making.

The ability to standardize data across processes can improve consistency and reduce errors, particularly in environments where multiple teams handle similar information. The partnership positions Broadridge within a segment where data, analytics, and automation converge. As firms continue to adopt AI-driven tools, competition is likely to focus on how effectively platforms integrate these capabilities into existing workflows.