Cost-cutting wealth manager switches out software for ASP version of tech. Contango Capital Advisors plans to replace the user-run version of Eagle Investment Systems' data-management and performance-measurement software with an ASP version called Eagle ACCESS.

"The efficiency and cost savings opportunities associated with Eagle ACCESS led to Contango's decision to transition to this service," says Contango's CIO Brian Bichler. "We expect to see a 30% annual cost reduction by moving to Eagle ACCESS -- and will likely realize a full return on our investment by the end of the second quarter in 2009."

Fiscally conservative

Contango selected Eagle in 2004 to help centralize and manage its data to improve its management reporting capabilities. Last year the firm examined its internal systems in search of ways to save money and decided to move its middle and back-office applications to a hosted service. With ACCESS, it gets the same technology and functionality it has grown used to along with automatic upgrades, systems support and ownership of hardware and databases.

"Firms are looking for fiscally conservative options for managing their business," says Eagle's president John Lehner. "As a result, we've seen our Eagle ACCESS business grow significantly over the last 12 months, and our pipeline is similarly strong."

Berkeley, Calif.-based Contango is a subsidiary of Salt Lake City-based Zions Bancorporation, a financial-service-firm holding company.

Eagle is part of Bank of New York Mellon's Asset Servicing business. -FWR

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