Quantit: Pioneering a New Era in Financial Investment Through Cloud-Based Automation
Context
Quantit Inc.
Quantit is an innovative startup that bridges finance and IT, offering a new dimension of investment automation. With a mission to make a financial solutions more accessible to the general public, Quantit leverages data-driven technology and AI to streamline complex financial processes.
Quantit's flagship platform, 'Finter', contributes to the innovation of financial services by designing and automating big data-based investment models. Additionally, Quantit operates 'Olly', a robo-advisory service that provides asset management solutions tailored for both individuals and institutions.
Name Quantit Inc.
Area AI-based Investment Design Platform
Estb. January 2019
Site https://quantit.io
Need for Cloud Transition
Challenges Before Implementation
Q. What prompted you to consider adopting the cloud?
A. Initially, we were running our infrastructure using desktops in the office, but it was unstable and constantly encountering problems. The time constraints were a significant challenge, especially considering Quantit's focus on financial data. We needed computing resource management and automation to complete all model calculations by 9 AM when the market opened, as the previous day's data arrived at 6 AM.
Meeting SmileShark
Q. How did you find out about SmileShark?
A. We were introduced to SmileShark through an AWS manager. While we had basic knowledge of the cloud and had completed the porting process, we had limited access to information about new AWS technologies and features.
Q. What were the deciding factors in choosing SmileShark?
A. No other MSP was as proactive in considering and addressing our requirements as SmileShark. In particular, our account manager went beyond simply signing a contract and engaged in in-depth communication to understand our mutual needs.
The fact that SmileShark was also a startup was a major reason for our choice. We believed that a collaborative partnership, where both of us could grow together, would be a significant asset in the future.
Journey of Technological Innovation
Implemented AWS Services
Q. What AWS services did you implement?
A. We transitioned from an EC2-based on-premises approach to a container-based approach using ECS. This greatly improved the freedom of our development environment. Previously, we were limited by only being able to use the environment installed on EC2, but with the introduction of containers, modelers can now freely use their desired Python versions and libraries.
Q. What changes resulted from implementing Step Functions?
A. We automated model execution and pipelines through Step Functions. We were able to configure processes, such as reading information from the database, pushing images to ECR via Code Build, and preparing the appropriate environment based on the CPU/GPU model, in a graphical format. The biggest advantage is that we can now see and manage the flow of execution results at a glance.
Key Improvements
Customized development environment for each modeler through the container-based transition
Automated data processing pipeline with the introduction of Step Functions
Cost-efficient operation achieved by adjusting computing power based on time of day
SmileShark's Support
Differentiated Technical Support
Q. How was SmileShark's technical support?
A. The technical support through the tech support system was very fast and efficient. Recently, we inquired about an issue that occurred when requesting m7i or c7i instances (on-demand or spot) in the Seoul region, and they provided a detailed explanation along with reference documents. We were particularly impressed by their meticulousness and willingness to thoroughly guide us, without overlooking any supplemental information that could be included in the inquiry.
Q. What about AWS-related information or training support?
A. SmileShark treats us not simply as customers to whom they provide services, but as partners with whom they grow together. They actively inform us of growth opportunities such as ECS training and AWS re:Invent participation, and also share how to utilize PoC credits, which has been very helpful in verifying new services.
Cost Optimization Results
Q. What were your cost savings?
A. Operating a single server used to cost us around $315k ~ $420k per month, but after moving to the cloud, the unit changed to the $7 range. The flexibility of the cloud has been very helpful, especially given the nature of our services, which require different computing power depending on the time of day. We have been able to operate efficiently by scaling up resources when intensive computation is needed during the early morning hours, and scaling down during other times.
SmileShark understood the characteristics of our services, such as concentrated computing processing in the early morning and different computing power needs at different times, and proposed an optimized cloud environment.
- Kim Tae-ho, Technical Director at Quantit
Preparing for a Greater Leap
Quantit’s Future Plans
Q. What are your future plans?
A. Quantit is preparing to expand into Southeast Asia alongside the growth of the domestic IRP (Individual Retirement Pension) market. We anticipate a high demand for automated investment solutions in markets like Vietnam and Indonesia, where there is a shortage of financial experts. To support this, we plan to leverage AWS’s global regions to scale our services and are preparing region-specific data management in compliance with each country’s data protection regulations.
Q. Lastly, do you have any advice for those considering SmileShark?
A. If you’re a startup, I highly recommend them. Although we spend a significant amount on AWS cloud services, other MSPs treated us as a small client. SmileShark was different. If you’re familiar with AWS technology but need advice on optimization or new services, or if you’re looking for a partner to grow with, SmileShark will be an excellent choice.
Detailed services Applied to Quantit
Quantit's Architecture
[Quantit Related Article]
Comments