Mortgage and title clients are undergoing a significant transformation with the shift from Encompass Software Development Kit (SDK) to Encompass Partner Connect (EPC). This change — driven by ICE Mortgage Technology’s updated standards — promises enhanced efficiency, cost savings, and future-proof workflows. However, for many lenders and title agents, the path to compliance can be a bit too much to handle while running a business and dodging compliance risks. But that’s where GridBase comes in.
GridBase is a proven leader in title and lending technology, offering a seamless, coding-free solution that simplifies migration while enhancing operational workflows. GridBase is the universal API for lender and title collaboration. It offers order management, instant title reports, closing agent management, and digital closing capabilities. If one network can eliminate the challenges of integration, why wouldn’t a lender take advantage of it? GridBase is a one-stop shop for integrating EPC. Here’s how it works.
What makes transitioning to EPC challenging?
Migrating to EPC is a pivotal shift for lenders and title agents. While the updated API standards unlock potential benefits, they also pose challenges, including:
- Complex integration requirements: Transitioning from the legacy SDK requires rethinking existing workflows and implementing new connection protocols.
- Increased software development needs: New integrations often require more development resources to ensure compatibility with existing systems. This burdens lenders with introducing potential delays and unforeseen technical challenges.
- Disrupted operations and compliance risks: Even minor operational disruptions can have a cascading impact on productivity and client satisfaction. However, adhering to evolving regulatory standards is unavoidable for lenders looking to maintain operational efficiency.
How does GridBase bridge the gap for lenders?
Despite potential integration challenges, GridBase offers lenders a comprehensive way to remain productive and risk free while shifting to EPC. As an early EPC adopter, GridBase spent over a year refining its Order Management integration to address these challenges in three key ways:
- Coding-free implementation: GridBase’s intuitive platform eliminates the need for complex coding. Lenders and title agents can quickly integrate the solution into their workflows, saving time and resources.
- Bi-directional collaboration: The platform facilitates real-time collaboration between lenders and title agents, enabling uninterrupted document exchanges, milestone tracking, fee data sharing, and notes integration.
- End-to-end workflow optimization: With support for both servicing and loan origination workflows, GridBase enhances efficiency across the lending ecosystem. The solution automates milestone updates, streamlines fee management, and manages diverse document types effortlessly.
Why should lenders act now?
Although GridBase is an excellent solution, time is of the essence — and lenders need to jump into action. However, ICE Mortgage Technology’s 2025 deadline extension for EPC migration provides lenders and title agents with an opportunity to prepare strategically ahead of time. Early adopters like GridBase clients are already reaping benefits, including:
- Improved Efficiency: Faster transaction times and reduced manual intervention.
- Cost Savings: Enhanced workflows reduce operational overheads.
- Regulatory Readiness: GridBase ensures compliance with new API standards without disrupting day-to-day operations.
“GridBase’s proactive approach has placed us ahead of the curve, enabling our clients to experience the benefits of the new EPC integration while minimizing disruptions,” says GridBase’s chief technology officer Kevin Koon-Koon.
Why Gridbase is a solution designed for the future?
Integrating GridBase equips lenders with immediate advantages in an ever-changing market. However, integrating the network also prepares users for the future in several ways. GridBase’s middleware offers robust, adaptable integration capabilities. It connects effortlessly with EPC and integrates seamlessly across client systems. This makes GridBase a critical tool for forward-thinking lenders and title agencies.
