VAS has rebuilt its lender and broker dashboards as part of a wider programme of investment in its valuation technology.
The specialist valuation panel manager said the new platform is intended to give users a clearer view of cases as they move through the valuation process, with outstanding actions brought together in a single dashboard.
Among the changes is a new “Needs your attention” area, backed by email alerts, which identifies instructions requiring action. Users can also switch between their individual caseload and a company-wide view, giving firms greater oversight of activity across their teams.
VAS has also redesigned its quote request process, which it said has reduced the time required to request a valuation quote by half.
Compliance and PVQ status can now be viewed directly from the dashboard, while lenders are able to distinguish between valuations instructed by brokers and those initiated by the lender.
BROKER PANEL VISIBILITY
For brokers, the revised system provides a real-time view of the lenders for which they are approved, removing the need to contact individual lenders before placing a case.
Live cases can also be grouped by lender, allowing brokers to monitor the distribution of business across their panel. VAS provides access to the dashboard without charge.
The company said the redesign follows feedback from a survey of brokers, which identified the portal as one of the more valued elements of its service. Changes have also been made to navigation and the way information is presented.
Louise Chapman (pictured), director of product development and innovation at VAS, said: “Our brokers and lenders told us the portal was one of the things they valued most about working with VAS, so the obvious thing to do was make it even better.
“Almost every change in this release traces back to something a user told us would be nice to have; we’ve redesigned the dashboard around that feedback, with more exciting features being released in the coming months.
“Valuation is one of the few parts of a deal where people are still routinely in the dark about what’s happening and why. This release is about closing that gap. Lenders and brokers now have improved visibility and control, plus we’ve made the process faster.”
VAS said the dashboard launch represents the first stage of a broader product roadmap, with further additions scheduled over the coming months.
Chapman added: “Technology solves a lot, but not everything. Our clients still have six specialist teams behind this platform, and that combination is what makes the difference on complex cases in the specialist and challenger space.”
