automated trading is now mainstream, or so it would appear.
however, there is a paradox there imo.
with more retail traders doing automated trading, pros are using more and more sophisticated solutions.
I know, I both use automated trading and build software for others.
The best is when you can create your own ATS. sure. But not everyone can do that.
Granted, new off the shelf software makes it much easier.
But consider this, those using similar solutions a couple of years ago are now using very advanced software and specialty brokers and that's an extra edge right there.
So there is still the need for custom, ultra fast and robust software (emphasis on robust, speed is not the only issue in this business, although in several of the bots I programmed it is key).
if you can't do the programming yourself OR, more likely, off the shelf solutions don't allow the kind of trades you want to make, it's always possible to contract someone. be careful about it, you can, for instance, split the project in pieces hiding the complete logic of your ATS.
and then, anyway, there are those who believe automated trading does not work anyway
it always cracks me up when I read the contradictions in this forum. and often by people not actually doing automated trading. anyway..