Empowering innovation at ADSS with PyKX

Chris Dale, Head of Quantitative Trading, and Nikos Tsoskounoglou, Head of Quantitative Research at ADSS, lead the firm’s efforts to transform its data and analytics capabilities – blending cutting-edge technology with a deep commitment to delivering superior client outcomes. In this blog, we explore how their investment in PyKX has supported ADSS’ efforts to empower teams, streamline workflows, and ensure the firm stays at the forefront of the financial services industry.

At ADSS, innovation isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a cornerstone of how the brokerage operates. ADSS offers a broad range of financial instruments and strives to deliver a seamless and competitive trading experience. Central to this mission is investing in advanced technology that enables their teams to work smarter, faster, and more effectively. This focus on empowering its teams to harness data effectively has made PyKX an invaluable tool in ADSS’s innovation strategy.

“The integration with Python enables our trading team to use this data to make proactive decisions, spotting trends that might not be immediately obvious.” – Chris Dale, Head Quantitative Trading, ADSS

Bridging power and accessibility

For years, ADSS has relied on kdb+, renowned for its speed and efficiency in managing time-series data. As a fast, expressive language, ‘q’ — kdb+’s programming interface — has powered ADSS’ real-time analytics and decision-making. However, the increasing prominence of Python in the data science and finance industries created an opportunity for broader accessibility and faster development cycles.

PyKX bridges the gap, combining Python’s ubiquity and extensive libraries with the speed and power of kdb+. By enabling interoperability, PyKX allows ADSS’s team to leverage Python for development while maintaining the robust backend performance of kdb+.

“The ability to tightly couple Python libraries with kdb+ allows us to handle everything from traditional regressions to advanced machine learning models with speed and efficiency.” – Nikos Tsoskounoglou, Head Quantitative Research, ADSS

Accelerating research and innovation

For the quantitative research team at ADSS, PyKX has transformed workflows and increased the pace of innovation. Researchers can now conduct complex analyses using Python’s familiar libraries while tapping into the performance capabilities of kdb+.

“The integration with Python has significantly increased the cadence of our work because our research team can use the tools they’re most comfortable with while still leveraging the power of kdb+.” – Chris Dale, Head Quantitative Trading, ADSS

This increased efficiency is vital in the fast-paced trading environment. With Python’s vast ecosystem of machine learning libraries and analysis tools, ADSS has accelerated data pipeline development, ensuring cutting-edge strategies are deployed quickly and effectively.

Making data accessible across teams

One of PyKX most significant impacts has been democratizing data at ADSS. By making data analysis more accessible, PyKX has enabled both technical and non-technical team members to explore data and uncover insights. Traders without q expertise but fundamental Python knowledge can use PyKX to identify market trends and make data-informed decisions. As Nikos explains, this accessibility enhances the organization’s overall agility.

“It’s not just about quants; PyKX has opened up access to our trading team, who can now explore data, analyze trends, and make proactive decisions.” – Nikos Tsoskounoglou, Head Quantitative Research, ADSS

Transforming backtesting and machine learning

PyKX has also revolutionized how ADSS approaches backtesting and machine learning workflows. For example, the team preprocesses data in kdb+, pulls it into Python for backtesting, and sends the results back to kdb+ for further analysis. This seamless integration reduces bottlenecks and allows for faster iteration.

ADSS has also utilized Python’s extensive machine learning packages, alongside its proprietary tools, to refine predictive models. This capability supports the firm’s commitment to continuous improvement, ensuring strategies are both efficient and effective.

A platform for the future

PyKX has equipped ADSS with the tools to innovate faster, work smarter, and empower teams across the organization. By blending the raw power of kdb+ with the flexibility of Python, PyKX enables ADSS to stay ahead of the competition while delivering unparalleled value to its clients.

For ADSS, the future is clear: innovation isn’t just about adopting the latest technology, it’s about enabling people to work at their best, with the best tools. PyKX has been a critical part of that journey, ensuring ADSS continues to redefine the standards of excellence in financial services.

Learn more about PyKX or Discover how ADSS leverages real-time analytics from KX to enhance customer trust and deliver superior trading experiences.