NFU Mutual has gone live with Focus Advice Technology’s new advice system, rolling out the platform across its 280 agency offices nationwide.
The system brings together introducers, advisers, operations and compliance teams in a single environment, aiming to cut down on manual work and improve joined-up financial planning.
The deal sees Focus Advice Technology deliver its Microsoft Azure-based, application programming interface (API)-first platform to NFU Mutual.
The system links document management, policy data, valuations, workflow and advice processes, designed to handle over 170,000 clients and more than 15 million documents.
Graham Harvey, head of financial services at NFU Mutual, said: “We needed technology that could solve so many of the modern advice business challenges – joining up systems, automating processes, enabling holistic advice and delivering the scale and performance we require.
“Working with Focus as a true business partner rather than just a software vendor has been fundamental to the success of this relationship.
“This transformation keeps our customers at the centre of everything we do and positions us to deliver the highest quality financial advice well into the future.”
Dave Upton, CEO at Focus Business Solutions, said: “This launch marks the first full deployment of our new, world-class advice platform – a major step forward for Focus and for the wider industry.
“Working with NFU Mutual, we’ve created an advice system that unites every part of the process, from introducer through to advice delivery and operations.
“It’s fantastic to see the platform live and transforming a business of NFU Mutual’s scale.”
Upton added: “This solution addresses so many of the challenges firms have struggled with for years -integration, data access, scalability, performance, and the ability to truly understand and serve clients holistically.”
Ian McKenna, founder of Financial Technology Research Centre and AdviserSoftware.com, said: “Unlike most of the advice tech market Focus have, over an extended period, concentrated on larger enterprises, who have the scale and resources to implement transformational projects.”
“Their customer list includes many of the largest financial institutions in the UK and speaks volumes about what Focus can consistently deliver.
“This deal is a great example of how Focus can be different because of the audience they support.”
McKenna added: “News of an “out of the box” version soon should make them a serious consideration for any firm above 20 advisers.”
