Specialist lender Together has partnered with Nivo to provide an instant messaging and data-sharing platform.

The app will allow the lender’s staff to speak to customers in a text-like conversation on their smartphones, slashing processing times and improving completion timescales.

Together will use the system to securely request sensitive documents needed to underwrite applications.

The app – which can be downloaded and used by clients up to the point of funding – is expected to be rolled out to personal finance customers in the next few weeks. The lender is also exploring ways intermediaries can use the platform.

Catherine O’Brien, growth and development manager at Together, comments: “The app has some fantastic built-in features, such as electronic application forms, to make it easier for our customers to send us the documents we need to approve their commercial loan applications.”

“It also means our colleagues can send customers a message at the click of a button, providing a quicker, easier and more secure way of us communicating with them.”

Customers will receive real-time notifications. The app also uses automated bots and messaging, allowing Together to automatically send documents and other customer information out-of-hours.

Polly Taylor-Pullen, business development at Nivo, adds: “Nivo was able to deliver the secure, branded app within two weeks and we can already see that customers are returning documents much quicker, with applications being processed in record time.”

The app is the latest piece of technology adopted by Together and follows its partnership with Digilytics, which uses artificial intelligence to recognise and validate digital application packs from intermediaries.

O’Brien says: “These advances underline our continued focus on innovation and automation as we continue to transform and improve our business for the customers and intermediaries who work with us now and in the future.”