Electronic trading has expanded significantly, but protocol choice now plays a decisive role in execution quality. RFQ, streaming, portfolio trading, voice negotiation and hybrid approaches each serve different purposes depending on liquidity profile, trade size and market conditions. At the same time, automation is reshaping how low-touch and high-touch flow are separated and managed.

This panel will explore how firms are formalising protocol rules, embedding pre-trade analytics, and improving collaboration between trading and portfolio teams. With both buy side and sell side perspectives, it will highlight how sell side partners support these efforts through data, analytics, and consultative services. Standardised workflows and selective automation can drive consistency while preserving trader judgement.