Dudley Building Society has completed the rollout of its new mortgage origination platform to all intermediary partners following a phased launch earlier this year.
The cloud-based platform, developed in partnership with Ohpen, forms part of the society’s wider digitisation programme and is designed to simplify the mortgage application process by reducing administration, improving case visibility and speeding up decision-making.
Developed in response to intermediary feedback, the platform reduces paperwork and signatures, with only the mortgage deed continuing to require a physical signature.
Brokers can also access real-time case updates and key documents directly through the system, reducing the need to chase for progress updates or decision in principle certificates.
The platform provides firms with greater oversight of submitted business, enabling users to manage and track cases through their own secure log-in.
Dudley said the introduction of the new system has also removed or digitised several internal manual processes, allowing underwriters to spend more time supporting complex lending cases.
According to the society, early feedback from underwriting teams has highlighted significant efficiency gains. A referred decision in principle that previously took around 45 minutes to review can now be assessed in as little as three minutes, helping to improve response times while reducing administrative workloads.
The lender said further enhancements are already planned as part of the next phase of development, including integration with broker systems and sourcing platforms to create a more connected intermediary journey.
The launch supports Dudley’s specialist lending proposition, combining manual underwriting with technology designed to make it easier for brokers to submit and progress cases.
Paul Purewal, head of intermediary relations at Dudley Building Society, said: “The challenge for lenders today is not simply digitising a process, it is reducing the amount of effort brokers have to put into placing and progressing cases.
“Brokers already work across multiple systems every day, so any new technology has to earn its place and make life genuinely easier.
“Much of the feedback we receive isn’t about adding more features, it’s around removing friction.
“Time spent chasing updates, rekeying information or dealing with unnecessary administration quickly adds up. By opening up the platform, we are creating a process that gives brokers greater visibility and a more straightforward journey, while allowing us to become more agile as a lender behind the scenes.”
John Squires, head of UK mortgage sales and coordination at Liquid Expat Mortgages, said: “One of the things we’ve found particularly useful is having a clearer view of where cases sit throughout the process, which helps us manage expectations with clients and advisers more effectively.
“The new platform feels intuitive to use and removes a number of the small administrative tasks that can slow things down when you’re handling multiple applications.”
Dan Gracie, director and mortgage adviser at Pavilion Finance Solutions, added: “I think the new platform strikes the right balance. It gives brokers the benefits of modern technology while retaining the personal approach that has always been part of Dudley’s appeal.
“Having everything in one place makes case management simpler, real-time updates keep all parties informed, and the reduction in paperwork has made the whole process noticeably smoother. It’s logically laid out too, with all the right bits in the right places.
“Ultimately, that’s good news for brokers and, more importantly, for clients.”
