In the latest episode of the ELEVATE Podcast Series, host Ellisha is joined by Nick Wakeham, Head of Data Sales at Twenty7tec, and Kim Lugtenaar, Product Innovation Manager at Saffron Building Society, to explore why market data has become one of the most valuable tools lenders have in an increasingly unpredictable mortgage market.
With changing interest rates, evolving customer needs and market conditions shifting faster than ever, lenders are under growing pressure to make informed decisions quickly. But how do you separate market noise from genuine opportunity?
The discussion explores how real-time adviser search data is helping lenders understand changing borrower behaviour, validate product ideas and respond to market movements with greater confidence. Rather than relying on fragmented data sources, assumptions or outdated reports, lenders are increasingly turning to evidence-based decision making to shape product development and pricing strategies.
Drawing on Saffron Building Society’s experience with INSIGHT Pro, Kim shares how access to real-time market intelligence has transformed the team’s approach to product innovation. Research that once required days of gathering information from multiple sources can now be completed in hours, or even minutes, allowing the team to make faster, more confident decisions and respond to changing customer needs much more effectively.
A key theme throughout the episode is moving from “I think” to “I know”. By replacing assumptions with measurable market evidence, lenders can build stronger business cases, identify emerging trends earlier and better understand what advisers and borrowers are looking for today, not what they were looking for months or years ago.
The conversation also looks ahead to the trends shaping the mortgage market over the coming months, including the significant number of fixed rate mortgages reaching maturity, evolving affordability dynamics and the growing importance of customer retention. The panel discusses how high-quality data will play a crucial role in helping lenders navigate these challenges while continuing to deliver strong customer outcomes.
As the market continues to evolve, the message is clear. Good data is no longer simply a reporting tool, it is becoming a competitive advantage. For lenders looking to move faster, innovate with confidence and make better strategic decisions, having access to timely, reliable market intelligence has never been more important.
Listen to Episode 8 of the ELEVATE Podcast Series to discover how data is helping lenders turn insight into action and confidence into better customer outcomes.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iRxxal9Cuho
Watch on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/61u6KdK236OerVeBFed4wS?si=nP2m56jDQt6JpOTghNcCcg
