During our recent Sikoia event, we sat down with Rowan Clayton, Chief Product Officer at Finova, for a candid fireside discussion about what automation looks like in practice - not just in theory.
Finova’s perspective is uniquely broad. Working across lenders, brokers, and networks, Rowan sees firsthand where automation is gaining traction, where it stalls, and what lenders now expect from technology partners.
Rowan was clear: lenders no longer have the appetite for long, monolithic change programmes.
As he explained: “Long transformation cycles are becoming a thing of the past. The industry needs solutions that deliver time-to-value in months, not years.”
Finova has now delivered specialist lending journeys in under four months - demonstrating that smaller, scoped transformation efforts are often more impactful than sweeping multi-year programmes.
Document reviews, income verification, and supporting evidence remain among the most manual parts of the mortgage process. Rowan emphasised how intelligent document automation, delivered through Finova’s partnership with Sikoia, is already smoothing that friction.
“The synergy of the partnership really works for us,” Rowan said. “Verified data flowing cleanly from broker to lender helps the entire ecosystem.”
This isn’t just about speed. It’s about building provenance and confidence - giving lenders clarity on where data came from and how it was verified.
One of Rowan’s strongest points was that lenders don’t need additional standalone platforms. They need tools that fit into their existing workflow.
“Innovation isn’t about adding more tools,” he noted. “It’s about integrating the ones that really matter.”
Automation delivers the most value when it happens inside LOS, CRM, and broker systems, not outside them. Seamless integration is what turns automation into everyday practice instead of a parallel process.
Rowan reflected on a theme echoed across the entire event: the technology itself is mature, but trust and confidence still lag behind.
“When provenance is clear, compliance becomes simpler - and the market can move faster with confidence.”
Lenders want technology they can audit, validate, and rely on - and that’s increasingly becoming the baseline requirement for adoption.
Rowan closed with a clear message: collaboration is now the industry’s strongest accelerant.
Finova’s partnership with Sikoia is one example, where shared standards, verified data, and integrated workflows help remove duplication and reduce manual effort for both brokers and lenders.
This collaborative approach is where the industry is heading: fewer silos, more shared trust, and technology partners that can demonstrate the same rigour and reliability as financial institutions themselves.
The fireside chat offered a practical view of where automation is actually delivering value today and what lenders expect next.
Rowan’s core message was straightforward:
The next phase of automation is about confidence, collaboration, and practical execution.
At Sikoia, we’re proud to support Finova and the wider industry in making this possible.
To learn more about how Sikoia and Finova are working together to streamline document verification for UK lenders, you can read the partnership announcement here.
Sikoia Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as an Account Information Service Provider (AISP) under the Payment Services Regulations 2017 (FRN: 942979) and as a credit reference provider (FRN: 942616). Sikoia Ltd is a credit broker and not a lender. Credit is subject to status.
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