Over the last 12 months there has been a huge amount of discussion in the market about possible ways that technology could enhance the home-moving process – hackathons, conferences, working groups and lots and lots of discussion.
Proptech, Fintech, Cloud tech and every other kind of tech have been discussing what might be possible in the future for homemovers but very few seem to be actually getting on with it.
At My Home Move we’ve banned meeting agenda items titled ‘discuss X or Y’ and instead we have items listed as ‘go/ no-go decision on X’ or ‘agree the way forward on Y’. It’s about driving forward to ‘get on with it’. Here’s a roundup of just some of the things we have actually done in the last 12 months to change the way people buy and sell property.
Technology has always been at the core of our business, making the process smoother and easily accessible for all users. In the last year we’ve implemented and launched a number of new technologies for both our introducers and our clients.
- Introducer eWay – Unveiled at our conference in 2017, this new sales progression portal is in the process of being rolled out to all of our industry partners. Stephen Hayter has been covering the benefits of the portal in depth across our blog, but we believe that its use by our partners will get us working together in better and brighter ways than ever before. Our promise to be more transparent is realised in Introducer eWay’s integration with our internal case-management system, meaning our partners are updated when the case is with a level of detail about activity that is unrivalled.
- Online ID+ – Clients can already submit their ID documents via the secure eWay portal, reducing the risk of postal delays and making the process quicker, but now all clients will also be able to complete enhanced identity checking questions online as part of a seamless process which is added to by:
- Voice Biometrics – Security and combatting fraud is a priority for the conveyancing industry, and we were the first conveyancer to introduce a voice biometrics system that identifies a client based on over 100 points of measurement in their voice print. We’re always finding new ways to enhance our protective measures and voice biometrics is just one of the ways in which we’re preventing fraud.
- Fast-start – Clients can now get started on their case within minutes of accepting a quote, through a wholly automated conflict checking and case allocation tool that works 24/7. Once the case is allocated, the client can complete the online starter forms and select an appointment with their named conveyancer.
- Webchat – New clients needing a helping hand to complete initial forms online can now access Webchat through extended hours, as a less invasive way to resolve queries or issues.
- Automated appointment booking means that clients have a live view of their conveyancers’ availability and can book an appointment at a time that works for them (including evening and weekends).
Alongside technology investment, we’ve also become the only Employer Provider on the national apprenticeships database, offering both the learning and the practical elements of conveyancing apprenticeships. We currently have 25 Licensed Conveyancer or Conveyancing Technician apprentices, with a further intake expected in the Autumn.
We have increased investment in capacity over the last 12 months, growing by 50% to complete more cases each year than our three nearest competitors combined. This included the strategic acquisition of Advantage Property Lawyers and the expansion of our network of home-based conveyancers. To put our scale into context, our national network alone handles enough cases to be a ‘Top 20’ conveyancer for completions.
2018 is already shaping up to be another year of change at My Home Move, particularly where new technologies are concerned. We will continue to be Bigger, Brighter, Bolder and Better; we will continue to revolutionise the customer experience of conveyancing; and we will continue to serve the market by investing in making the process better every year.
Discussion can be great for passing the time, but if you want to create a revolution then ‘getting on with it’ is the key.