This
year
brought
significant
change
for

ICE
Mortgage
Technology.
The
company
made
a
major
shift
within
its
Encompass
loan
origination
system
(LOS).
ICE
transition
from
its
SDK
technology
in
favor
of
built-in
features
and
use
of
modern
application
programming
interface
(API).
APIs
including
Encompass
Developer
Connect
and
Encompass
Partner
Connect.

In
this
executive
conversation,
Nancy
Alley,
Vice
President
of
Product
Strategy,
shares
how

ICE
Mortgage
Technology
is
driving
transformation
in
the
mortgage
industry.
She
explores
the
need
for
innovation,
the
transition
from
legacy
integrations,
and
the
significance
of
the
Encompass
transition
in
October
2025.

This
conversation
has
been
edited
for
length
and
clarity.

HousingWire
(HW):
Why
is
ICE
Mortgage
Technology
transitioning
away
from
SDK
(software
developer
kit)
technology?

Nancy
Alley
(NA):
The
mortgage
industry
is
plagued
by
outdated
processes,
inefficiencies,
and
redundancies.
At
ICE,
we
aim
to
drive
innovation
that
enhances
efficiency,
reduces
costs,
and
lowers
friction
for
lenders
and
borrowers.
Our
approach
focuses
on
four
key
principles:
efficiency,
transformation,
extensibility,
and
reliability.

This
shift
doesn’t
just
modernize
processes.
It
allows
businesses
to
allocate
resources
toward
high-value
initiatives
instead
of
tirelessly
patching
outdated
systems.
Loan
origination
documents,
processes,
and
tasks
become
faster
and
more
reliable.
This
enables
lenders
to
focus
on
growth
instead
of
maintenance.

HW:
How
does
transitioning
from
legacy
tools
like
the
Encompass
SDK
provide
a
competitive
advantage
to
Encompass
lenders?

NA:
Over
time,
we’ve
seen
how
legacy
technology
creates
persistent
challenges
for
lenders,
such
as
developers
leaving,
solutions
that
struggle
to
scale,
and
the
need
for
extensive
manual
workarounds.
Many
of
these
tools
were
designed
to
address
problems
of
the
past
and
haven’t
evolved
to
match
current
needs
and
possibilities.

By
implementing
modern
solutions
developed
with
and
for
our
customers,
like
native
features
within
Encompass
and
APIs
available
on
Developer
Connect
and
Partner
Connect,
we’re
equipping
lenders
and
partners
to:

• Upskill
  their
  development
  teams
  with
  the
  technology
  stack
  they
  want
  to
  leverage
• Deliver
  scalable
  solutions
  quickly
  to
  market
• Automate
  and
  streamline
  workflows,
  saving
  time
  and
  resources
• Deliver
  smoother,
  faster
  experiences
  for
  both
  teams
  and
  borrowers

HW:
We’ve
been
hearing
about
the
October
31,
2025,
deadline.
What
does
this
mean,
and
how
is
the
transition
progressing?

NA:
October
31,
2025,
signals
the
start
of
eliminating
SDK-based
dependencies
within
Encompass.
By
this
date,
our
clients
and
partners
will
transition
to
Encompass’s
modern
native
features
and
APIs.

The
results
of
this
change
are
clear
—
many
lenders
have
already
significantly
reduced
their
SDK
usage
and
embraced
more
efficient,
modern
solutions.
Our
task
framework,
workflow
engine,
and
APIs
simplify
operations,
providing
a
significant
return
on
investment
(ROI)
by
reducing
development
and
support
costs.

NA:
We’ve
been
working
with
our
partners
to
prepare
for
this
transition
for
several
years.
Our
partners
are
using
our
technology
to
offer
an
incredible
range
of
innovative
solutions,
including
cost-effective
title
search
services,
helping
to
match
borrowers
with
eligible
down
payment
assistance
programs,
and
support
for
specialty
loan
programs,
among
others.

Some

lenders
have
achieved
reductions
of
up
to
95%
in
their
prior
usage
just
by
switching
to
an
API-based
integration
for
their
point
of
sale,
one
of
the
heaviest
users
of
the
SDK.

The
2025
deadline
has
helped
organizations
prioritize
this
transition
and
make
the
leap
to
better
efficiencies,
automation,
and
user
experiences.

HW:
What
happens
if
Encompass
clients
cannot
complete
their
transition
by
the
2025
deadline?

NA:
While
we
anticipate
a
smooth
transition,
we
also
understand
that
some
organizations
may
require
additional
time.
For
clients
unable
to
complete
the
shift
by
October
31,
2025,
transitional
SDK
access
can
be
requested
at
no
cost
for
the
first
six
months,
starting
from
October
1,
2025,
to
ensure
uninterrupted
service.

These
transitional
measures
are
not
a
long-term
solution.
We
strongly
encourage
clients
to
act
early
and
partner
closely
with
our
team
and
our
network
of
partners
to
avoid
any
disruption.

HW:
How
does
ICE’s
innovation
strategy
position
lenders
and
partners
for
long-term
success?

NA:
The
mortgage
industry
is
rapidly
evolving,
and
staying
competitive
demands
forward-thinking
strategies.
At
ICE,
our
innovation
isn’t
just
about
technology
—
it’s
about
creating
a
future-ready
industry.

With
the
right
tools,

lenders
gain
the
ability
to:

• Automate
  complex
  processes
  to
  enable
  faster
  loan
  processing.
• Enhance
  operational
  efficiency,
  cut
  costs,
  and
  streamline
  workflows.
• Meet
  compliance
  standards
  with
  confidence
  and
  reduce
  risks.

This
also
allows
teams
to
focus
on
value-adding
tasks
and
strategic
initiatives
instead
of
patching
together
outdated
solutions.
It’s
about
building
a
more
resilient,
future-facing
ecosystem
where
lenders
and
borrowers
alike
thrive.

HW:
Any
advice
for
lenders
or
partners
just
starting
their
transition
to
modern
technology?

NA:
My
biggest
piece
of
advice
is
to
be
open
to
new
approaches.
Take
a
critical
look
at
your
current
SDK
plugins
and
assess
how
their
functionality
can
be
substituted
with
modern
tools.
Also,
once
an
existing
plugin
is
replaced,
don’t
forget
to
uninstall
it.

This
isn’t
just
a
technical
migration;
it’s
a
strategic
investment
in
the
future
of
your
business.
At
ICE,
we’re
committed
to
helping
our
clients
succeed
through
every
step
of
this
transformation.
Together,
we
are
shaping
the
future
of
the
mortgage
industry.