"The industry has long been aware of the issues associated with out-dated technology and paper-based processes, and it seems as if we are finally turning a corner."
As a result, two-thirds of brokers (66%) believe the biggest benefit of technology in the sector will be to accelerate the mortgage application process.
30% think the development of affordability calculators will have the largest effect, followed by ‘robo-advice’ (21%) and APIs (18%). Intermediaries also cited the use of live chat technologies (13%) – technology that almost one in five (19%) note they are already using and a further 13% say they plan to do so in the near future.
More than a quarter (26.7%) of brokers also recognised the role automation could play in removing wasted effort from the mortgage process.
This was supported by an overwhelming majority of brokers (91%) who feel that the specialist mortgage market should not be threatened by automation, since the complexity of cases means that bespoke underwriting and personalised service will always be needed. As a result, almost two-thirds of brokers (63%) believe that robo-underwriting will never completely replace the human element of the process.
Jon Hall, managing director at Masthaven, commented: “It is exciting to see that both customers and brokers are embracing new technology to help make the lending process at smooth as possible. The industry has long been aware of the issues associated with out-dated technology and paper-based processes, and it seems as if we are finally turning a corner. With the support of lenders and regulators, brokers can begin to incorporate automation technologies with their expertise to deliver specialised, personalised services that satisfy the needs of their customers.
“The key to success is finding the balance between tech and the human element of any loan application. Being digitally-focused is a must, but automation and speed will never replace the support and face-to-face interaction customers want. Instead, brokers should see technology as a way to reduce their workloads and free up additional time to focus on their customers’ needs.”
