The Intermediary – November 2025 - Flipbook - Page 38
T E C H N O L O GY
In focus
Why delivery
defines success
L
enders are investing
heavily in cuing-edge
platforms. Technology
can transform how they
operate, but only if it’s
delivered well.
The good news? Delivery doesn’t
have to be the Achilles’ Heel of
transformation. With the right
approach, organisations can turn
complexity into confidence and
land change predictably, safely,
and at pace. Technology sets the
ambition, but delivery turns ambition
into outcomes.
Lenders talk a great game about
modernisation, but it’s rarely as easy
as the headlines suggest. The spaghei
systems of yesteryear still hum away
in the background, with patches that
predate many of the staff members
maintaining them.
Delivery isn’t just about swapping
out technology; it’s about untangling
decades of decisions without breaking
the business in the process. Legacy
systems are the elephant in the room
– complex, poorly documented, yet
critical to day-to-day operations.
Ripping and replacing isn’t always
possible, and pretending they don’t
exist is a recipe for failure. The answer
lies in pragmatism: stabilise what
you have, decouple where you can,
and phase in new capabilities without
breaking the business. The lenders
that succeed are those designing
change around reality, not against it.
There’s a persistent myth that
new technology solves old problems:
replace the platform, automate the
process, and efficiency will follow.
The reality is harsher. Technology
amplifies complexity unless delivery
disciplines keep scope, dependencies,
and operational readiness aligned.
A brilliant system delivered
poorly is a liability, not an asset.
Missed milestones ripple through
organisations, frustrate customers,
and invite regulatory scrutiny. In
lending, where risks are stacked high,
36
The Intermediary | November 2025
the cost of poor delivery dwarfs the
price of any soware licence.
Ambitions that look good on
PowerPoint but never make it to
production are more common
than anyone admits. This year’s
project becomes next year’s delay,
and confidence erodes with every
missed milestone.
Delivery is complex and must be set
up for success. It’s not just a project
plan; it’s a choreography of people,
skills, processes, and priorities.
In lending, complexity increases
because solutions oen span multiple
platforms, third-party providers, and
deeply ingrained processes.
Without a structured approach,
clear decision paths, and a single
version of the truth, initiatives
dri, costs escalate, and confidence
evaporates. Delivery demands as much
design and rigour as the technology
itself, and delivery thinking should
be integrated into design, ensuring
systems are not only technically sound
but operationally viable.
Big-bang implementations are bold,
but pile up risk and delay value.
A phased approach flips that logic:
start small, learn fast, and land
incremental benefits early. Each phase
becomes a confidence-builder, proving
the mechanics work, building trust in
the team, and showing that ambitions
are achievable.
Delivering successfully also depends
on choosing the right partners. When
selecting technology providers, the
conversation oen stops at features
and functionality, and that’s a
mistake. The question isn’t just “Does
the solution look good?” but also “Can
it be delivered?”
A provider’s delivery capability is
as critical as the technology itself.
Ask how they approach change, what
they need from the lender, and what
delivery models they align with.
Look for evidence of mature delivery
capability, not just glossy demos sold
in at the best price.
CHRIS WILSON
is CTO at deploy12
Budgeting is another blind spot.
Delivery is where the real costs and
risks live. Consider what it takes
to implement change safely, what
capabilities you can offer, and what
expertise you need to bring in.
Delivery is not an optional extra; it
shouldn’t be treated as an add-on or
aerthought.
The strongest delivery partners
combine practical industry insight
and established connections across the
technology landscape. They integrate
seamlessly with your organisation,
navigating complexity, building
alignment, and keeping delivery
on track. The right partner brings
assurance by instilling confidence at
every stage.
Not easy, but possible
Every lender faces similar challenges,
yet the path forward is clear: prioritise
delivery as much as technology.
The winners won’t be those who
start the biggest projects, but those
who deliver them well.
At deploy12, we’ve built strong
relationships with the technology
providers that underpin this
ecosystem. These relationships allow
us to understand challenges, move at
pace, cut through bolenecks, and
reduce delivery risk. With proven,
hands-on experience delivering
transformation in the lending
sector, we act as a true extension of
your team.
Every decision we make is grounded
in deep subject-maer expertise,
ensuring solutions are practical,
compliant, and aligned with your
business objectives.
If delivery isn’t designed into
the solution, you’re not buying
technology, you’re buying
problems. ●
