Automation works best when a process follows a consistent pattern, when every trigger produces reliable, measurable results. But for lenders, no two operations look exactly alike. Each organization has its own strategy, structure, and way of doing business, which makes automation more complex.
That’s why it’s so notable when lenders across the industry start asking for the same things. When we hear consistent requests and see similar decisions emerging about mission-critical technology for 2026, it tells us something bigger is happening — a collective move toward smarter, more efficient lending.
We’re seeing the signs at industry events. We’ve been seeing this happen since at least the beginning of the second quarter of this year.
The recent gatherings sponsored by The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC) are cases in point.
In our conversations with lenders in this network, we found that lenders don’t have to look the same or pursue the same strategies to have the same needs.
What Lenders Are Asking For Now
In one discussion after another, lenders told us they are done with platforms that overpromise and underdeliver. The shiny object syndrome that drew huge lender investments during the period of API-driven innovation and then again, more recently, in the rush to AI, is over.
No lender wants to pay premium prices for features that sit unused or don’t deliver a clear ROI. This is driving them away from technologies that were clearly developed by people who have never closed a mortgage loan.
Instead, they are choosing Usherpa.
The requests coming in tell a story. Several TMC lenders are currently in various stages of vendor management, legal approval, and product demonstrations with Usherpa. The momentum isn’t accidental—it signals a clear market shift toward relationship-driven lending that actually works, using technology built by lenders for lenders.
“TMC members are making the switch because Usherpa delivers what today’s mortgage professionals need most: power without complexity, affordability without compromise,” our CEO Chris Harrington said in a recent press release. “These lenders recognize that our platform was built by people who’ve lived the mortgage business for over 30 years. We understand their challenges because we’ve faced them ourselves.”
That experience matters. When your CRM was designed by people who’ve originated loans, managed pipelines, and built referral networks in the real world, it shows up in every feature, every workflow, and every integration.
The Real Barriers Legacy CRMs Create
Continuing to operate with software that doesn’t offer this advantage will cost lenders in 2026. Here’s what most CRM providers won’t tell you: the barriers to adoption are often built into their business model.
High upfront costs. Multiyear contracts. Nickel-and-diming for essential features. Extra charges for Loan Officer Assistants and Admins. Long, expensive onboarding processes that delay results and drain resources.
These aren’t bugs; they’re features of a system designed to lock you in, not help you win.
Usherpa eliminates those barriers entirely.
No high upfront costs. No multiyear contracts. Loan Officer Assistants and Admins are included at no additional charge. And implementations that get your teams up and running quickly, not six months from now.
Relationship Engagement That Drives ROI
The switch to Usherpa isn’t just about better pricing or easier onboarding. Like everything else in our business, it’s all about measurable results.
Usherpa’s Relationship Engagement Platform (REP) combines award-winning Pipelines automation, Done-For-You marketing content, and gold-standard support. This approach positions loan officers and lending teams to build sustainable repeat and referral business, not just chase the next transaction.
Recognized on HousingWire’s Tech100 list for both mortgage and real estate, Usherpa continues to lead the industry in innovation, affordability, and customer engagement.
If you’re ready to see what a CRM built by mortgage professionals can do for your lending business, visit usherpa.com to learn more.
