An enquiry management service which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and itemise communication from one conveyancer to another has secured investment and a distribution partnership with conveyancing intermediary and technology platform LMS and its parent company Movera.
Enquiry Manager, which has been developed by Collaborative Conveyancing, formally launched in March 2024 having secured investment from around the property and technology community with prominent estate agency figure David Newnes, Pirie Palmann founder Marion Palmann, and MD of Legal Eye Paul Saunders publicly supporting the venture. Collaborative Conveyancing is the brainchild of Lawyer Checker founder Chris Harris, and Easier2move Director Karen Babington, with enquiry manager designed to ‘harnesses cutting edge AI technology whilst supporting risk and compliance contributing to risk and compliance obligations.’
The tie up will see both LMS and Movera invest in Collaborative Conveyancing, with Enquiry Manager added to LMS’ roster of services and rolled out across Movera’s conveyancing brands ONP Solicitors and Cavendish Legal Group, adding to earlier support from conveyancing and property Services group, Simplify. By introducing a better way of working, which in turn should reduce errors, Chris Harris, says
“Enquiries have been on the lips of conveyancers for a number of years now. I am delighted that we have joined forces with LMS and Movera at this crucial time to offer an automated and measurable solution to the way enquiries are raised and responded to.”
Enquiry Manager’s AI engine has been trained by conveyancers to recognise pre-contract enquiries, extract them from text-heavy blocks like emails, format them and enable more effective management. Given the volume of enquiries raised, Collaborative Conveyancing say they anticipate the partnership could measure the time removed from the current process which is largely reliant on conveyancers recognising when an enquiry arrives in their inbox via information exchanges to clients, other side conveyancers and third parties via email.
Indeed, in June 2024 a Today’s Conveyancer reader poll, the third conducted by the publication over the course of the last 3 years, identified 96% of respondents considered the situation is unchanged or worse than 12 months ago in response to a question about their general attitude towards the current nature of the debate. 70% said the number of enquiries has increased with just 3% saying the number of enquiries had decreased; 26% observed no change. This uptick in enquiries has been accompanied by ongoing debates regarding their relevance where 53% said they felt the relevance of enquiries has decreased, whereas 36% feel it has remained the same.
Movera Group CEO Nick Hale said the tie up would free up conveyancers to focus on their core skills.
“We are excited to be partnering and investing in Collaborative Conveyancing. We believe that digital innovation and automation are key to enhancing customer experiences and streamlining processes. The use of Enquiry Manager will enable our property lawyers to spend more time focused on what they do best: providing the technical support and guidance for clients, creating experiences that are digital when they can be, and personal when they need to be.”
Nick Chadbourne, CEO of LMS adds
“Our partnership and investment with Collaborative Conveyancing further strengthens our desire and ability to positively influence and improve the home buying and selling process. Giving conveyancers easy access to Enquiry Manager via LMS promotes automation of administrative tasks, supports risk and compliance in the enquiry management process and releases conveyancers valuable time which ultimately, we believe will contribute to reduced transaction times and alleviate tension between all parties”
Mark Montgomery, Chief Strategy Officer at Simplify comments
“What Chris, Karen and the team have achieved so far is extremely impressive and the support and involvement of LMS & Movera, alongside existing partners, will add further momentum to the evolution of what is already an exciting product.”
